Gearing up the Windy City

For old-line manufacturers, adapting to new technologies and finding new growth opportunities can be key to survival. Check out this video by Crain’s Chicago Business about how an 86-year-old Chicago manufacturing company, Brad Foote Gear Works, has harnessed the winds of change in its favor.

US Manufacturing Continues 18-month Growth Streak

The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) issued its January 2011 report today on economic activity in the US manufacturing sector. Last month’s results were overwhelmingly positive: “The manufacturing sector grew at a faster rate in January as the PMI registered 60.8 percent, which is its highest level since May 2004 when the index registered 61.4 [...]

Labor and Business Unite on Infrastructure Investment

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and the US Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Donahue have issued a joint statement supporting President Obama’s State of the Union address and his call for investments in infrastructure. “America’s working families and business community stand united in applauding President Obama’s call to create jobs and grow our economy through investment [...]

Out-Innovating, Out-Educating & Out-Building Our Competitors

In his latest weekly address, President Obama discusses his visit to a company in Manitowoc, Wisconsin and how it exemplified his agenda for America to “win the future” spelled out in the State of the Union Address. The president also visited GE in Schenectady, New York last week. Check it out on the January 28 [...]

Fund up to 50% of Employee Training with an ETIP Grant

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO) Employer Training Investment Program (ETIP) supports Illinois workers’ efforts to upgrade their skills and remain current in new technologies and business practices. Apply Now! Grant applications are due February 25 ETIP grants may reimburse Illinois companies for up to 50 percent of the cost of training their [...]

Joan Fitzgerald on US competition with China on green tech

Check out “We Need a Manufacturing Agenda” by Prof. Joan Fitzgerld, director of the Law, Policy and Society Program at Northeastern University and author of Emerald Cities: Urban Sustainability and Economic Development. In this recent editorial for the New York Times, Joan discusses what it’ll take for the US to stay competitive on green energy [...]

Manufacturing is “the shining star of this recovery”

For the first time since 1997, the US manufacturing sector is creating more jobs than it eliminates. Over the last year, the number of jobs in manufacturing grew by 1.2%, or 136,000. The Wall Street Journal reports: After a steep slump during the recession, manufacturing is “the shining star of this recovery,” says Thomas Runiewicz, [...]

Battling a skilled labor shortage

As part of their Retooling Chicago series, Crain’s Chicago Business profiled a program at Advanced Technology Services (ATS) to connect veterans with high-skilled jobs in manufacturing:

The Renaissance Council in Crain’s Chicago Business

Twice this December, Crain’s Chicago Business turned to the Renaissance Council for expert opinion on manufacturing in Chicago. Check out executive director Dan Swinney’s comments in the December 6 article “Skilled labor in peak demand at precision firms” and the December 8 edition of Chicago Business Today, “Home-field advantage“:

Austin Polytech on PBS NewsHour

In October, WTTW’s acclaimed current affairs show Chicago Tonight aired a feature segment about Austin Polytech, spreading the word about our program to viewers across the Chicago area. Last night, audiences throughout the United States learned about Austin Polytech as our local story aired on the acclaimed national news show PBS NewsHour. If you missed [...]