October 01, 2018

As National Manufacturing Month Kicks Off, Duckworth, Durbin Announce over $400,000 to Boost Illinois Manufacturing

 

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced $445,090 in federal funding today to help the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) in Peoria continue its work to help small businesses grow throughout Illinois. This funding comes from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

“Investments like these help Illinois small business create jobs, improve efficiency and spur economic development,” said Duckworth. “I’ll keep working with Senator Durbin to secure federal funding that strengthens American manufacturing and helps our small businesses all across the state innovate and stay competitive in the global 21st century economy.”

“Small, emerging, and rural firms throughout Illinois and the Midwest must be able to grow their businesses, and with the support they’ll receive from this grant they can continue to do just that. More businesses will now have the assistance they need as they continue to adapt, survive, and grow,” Durbin said. “I look forward to continuing to work with Senator Duckworth to bring these important investments to Illinois.”

The Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) assists businesses throughout Illinois with leadership, strategy, customer engagement, operations and workforce development. The IMEC has offices in Carbondale, Chicago, DeKalb, Peoria, Rockford and Schaumburg and has a proven return on investment of 19 to 1. Each year, they help

In February, Duckworth introduced the Community College to Career Fund Act (CC2C), legislation to help close the “skills gap” by making education more affordable for students pursing degrees in high-skill industries. Duckworth also met with IMEC leadership in April of 2017 as she toured ACE Metal Crafts in Bensenville, Illinois.

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