Chicago

Chicago Manufacturing Renaissance Council

In 2005, CLCR formed the Chicago Manufacturing Renaissance Council in partnership with the City of Chicago, the Chicago Federation of Labor, and the Illinois Manufacturers' Association. The Renaissance Council is a dynamic coalition of business, labor, government, and community leaders working to make Chicago the global leader in advanced manufacturing.

Our signature initiative, the Renaissance Council embodies CLCR's commitment to building partnerships with stakeholders at all levels of society. The Renaissance Council has its own range of programs, including: assisting community colleges in upgrading their programs; promoting opportunities for local manufacturers to enter the wind turbine supply chain; and changing the image of manufacturing.

Austin Polytechnical Academy

Austin Polytechnical Academy is a small engineering- and manufacturing-focused public high school on Chicago's West Side with approximately 400 students. Established in 2007 by the Chicago Manufacturing Renaissance Council, Austin Polytech partners with over 65 small and mid-size manufacturing companies from the Chicago area to prepare students for college and careers in all aspects of advanced manufacturing.

APA partners help teach students about manufacturing through facility tours, guest lectures, job shadowing, and paid internships. This innovative school boasts a state of the art, NIMS-accredited Manufacturing Technology Center, made possible by over $150,000 in private investment. Austin Polytech is the centerpiece of CLCR's development vision for Austin.

Austin Manufacturing Training Center

Chicago's West Side community of Austin was once a vibrant industrial center, until factory closings eliminated 15,000 jobs and unemployment skyrocketed to 21%. There are over 27,000 manufacturing jobs in nearby communities, but without access to the necessary training, Austin residents can't find work in in the industry.

The Austin Manufacturing Training Center is an important component of CLCR's development vision for Austin. Beginning in 2011, the AMTC will use Austin Polytech's Manufacturing Technology Center for adult training programs during evenings, weekends, and summers. Trainees will earn nationally recognized certifications from the National Institute for Metalworking Skills.