October 10, 2017

On National Manufacturing Day, Duckworth Tours AAR in Rockford

 

[ROCKFORD, IL] - In recognition of National Manufacturing Day, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) toured the AAR facilities in Rockford and highlighted the importance of workforce development on Friday. A photo of the tour is available here.

"I applaud companies like AAR not only for their innovative work in the aviation industry, but also because of the jobs they provide to hardworking Illinoisans in Rockford," Duckworth said. "I'm proud that a company on the forefront of technological breakthroughs is based here in the great state of Illinois and that they are developing the next generation of manufacturers."

AAR partners with Rock Valley College to train students in manufacturing, which is a model that Duckworth has championed through her Community College to Career Fund (CC2C) Act. This legislation would encourage collaboration between businesses and community colleges to develop workforce training programs and curricula that reduce the "skills gap" that makes it harder for graduates to find jobs and harder for employers to fill openings. The programs and curricula supported by Duckworth's CC2C Act would better prepare students for careers with employers in their communities in high-demand industries like manufacturing, healthcare, clean energy and information technology.

"We were honored to welcome Senator Duckworth to one of AAR's five MRO facilities in the U.S., where we provide good-paying jobs to American workers," AAR President and Chief Operating Officer John Holmes said.

AAR is based in Wood Dale, Illinois and provides aviation services to commercial and government entities. Through the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the Chicago Rockford International Airport, AAR has brought hundreds of jobs to the Rockford region.