Share, learn, and discuss at ManufacturingRenaissance.org

Do you have stories, opinions, or information about manufacturing-related issues? Share them with the world at ManufacturingRenaissance.org, a new blog by the Renaissance Council’s fiscal and operational sponsor, CLCR. ManufacturingRenaissance.org is a place for manufacturers, policymakers, community developers, educators, and anyone else who cares about manufacturing-related issues in Chicago and beyond. It’s a place to [...]

Austin Polytech informational meeting on November 10

Discover Austin Polytechnical Academy, an innovative high school in Austin that prepares students for college and high-tech, high-paying careers in manufacturing! Join us at our upcoming informational meeting to learn how APA can help you build your future: Wednesday, November 10, 2010 5:30 to 6:30 pm Bethel New Life Amberg Hall 1140 N. Lamon, Chicago,  IL [...]

How MEPs can help drive a manufacturing renaissance

Starting new initiatives like Austin Polytech is an important step toward establishing Chicagoland as the global leader in advanced manufacturing, but it’s equally important to support and develop existing resources like the US Department of Commerce’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program. The primary focus of an MEP is to serve manufacturers with fewer than 500 [...]

The State of State and Local Government: An Economic Development Council luncheon featuring Rick Mattoon

Join Rick Mattoon, senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and leading member of the Renaissance Council’s Executive Committee, for an Economic Development Council luncheon and discussion of Illinois’ fiscal future: Wednesday, October 27 12:00 p.m. The Tower Club 20 N. Wacker, 39th floor For more information or to register, email edcchicago@ameritech.net, call [...]

Press coverage triple-whammy for Austin Polytech

What do Chicago Tonight, The New York Times, and the Chicago Tribune have in common? They all featured great stories about Austin Polytech this month. On October 14, WTTW’s acclaimed current affairs show, Chicago Tonight, aired a segment about Austin Polytech by Chicago News Cooperative reporter Ash-har Quraishi. The segment complemented a New York Times [...]

Rebuilding the Jobs Pipeline

Check out the new Encyclopedia Britannica blog post “Rebuilding the Jobs Pipeline” by Edward E. Gordon, noted author and president of Imperial Consulting Corporation. Ed is an expert on workforce issues. There are more than 1.7 million manufacturing jobs in the Chicago metropolitan area. Chicagoland has one of the largest concentrations of small advanced technical [...]

APA Tigers win Homecoming Game!

Austin 52 and Manley 20. Go Tigers! Click here for more photos

APA welcomes new NIMS instructor Mr. Pablo Varela

Please join us in welcoming our newest addition to the APA team, NIMS instructor Mr. Pablo Varela, who will work closely with machine shop instructor Mr. Tom O’Brien to prepare juniors to earn up to two machining certificates from the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS). Mr. Varela has over 20 years of industry experience, [...]

Renaissance Council co-chair Jorge Ramirez elected president of Chicago Federation of Labor

Congratulations to our co-chair Jorge Ramirez on his recent election as president of the Chicago Federation of Labor! “We need to invest in manufacturing so we can remain one of the greatest and most advanced producers of the world’s goods,” Jorge wrote in the Chicago Sun-Times. “America’s unions are committed to this rebuilding process, and [...]

APA partner Johnson Controls leads mentoring activity for seniors

On September 22, APA partner company Johnson Controls brought 20 staff members to Austin Polytech for a mentoring activity with nearly 100 seniors. Following an informational presentation about renewable energy, Johnson Controls selected six students for a competition to see whose wind turbine design generates the most energy. The seniors then split into small groups, [...]