Kaskaskia College Awarded $6 Million for New KC Manufacturing Academy
Kaskaskia College (KC) has been awarded a $6 million capital grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to construct the new KC Manufacturing Academy, a 37,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility dedicated to advanced manufacturing and industrial trades education and training.
The KC Manufacturing Academy will be constructed on the northwest side of the College’s main campus in Centralia and will include additional parking to support the new facility. For the first time in KC’s history, the College will have a facility specifically designed for the education and training of students pursuing careers in manufacturing and the skilled trades.
“This is a transformational moment for Kaskaskia College,” said Kaskaskia College President George Evans. “For the first time in our history, we will have a facility built specifically around the education and training needs of manufacturing and the skilled trades. The KC Manufacturing Academy will give our faculty the space, technology, and resources to take hands-on learning to an entirely new level while allowing us to adapt as industry and workforce needs continue to change. Most importantly, it will create new pathways for students to gain highly technical skills, earn valuable credentials, and move directly into careers with the employers who are driving our regional economy.”
The $6 million award is part of more than $20 million in capital grants announced by Governor JB Pritzker and DCEO to establish five new Manufacturing Training Academies at downstate Illinois community colleges. Kaskaskia College and Parkland College received the largest individual awards at $6 million each.
The grant does not require matching funds from Kaskaskia College, allowing the College to undertake the state-funded project without a required local financial match. Plans call for the KC Manufacturing Academy to support training in automation, CNC machining, industrial maintenance, logistics, and robotics while providing modern equipment and learning environments that reflect the technology found in today’s manufacturing industry.
KC intends to fully transition existing manufacturing and industrial trades programs into the new facility while creating additional capacity for programs and training opportunities as regional workforce needs evolve. Bringing these programs together in a purpose-built facility on the main campus will further strengthen KC’s ability to serve students, current workers, and regional employers.
“The KC Manufacturing Academy represents an important investment in the future of Kaskaskia College and the communities we serve,” said Kaskaskia College Board of Trustees Chair Bill Hawley. “This award also speaks to the high regard the State of Illinois has for the work being done at Kaskaskia College and the impact KC continues to have throughout our district. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to thank President Evans and the faculty and staff who work tirelessly to serve our students and the citizens of District 501. Their commitment continues to move Kaskaskia College forward and create new opportunities for the communities we serve.”
Manufacturing plays a critical role in the economy of Kaskaskia College District 501, and the new Academy will strengthen the College’s ability to work directly with regional employers to align education and training with workforce needs. The facility will provide opportunities for students beginning their careers as well as current employees seeking to develop additional skills or train on emerging technologies.
“As a champion of workforce development, the Greater Centralia Chamber of Commerce works closely with Kaskaskia College and local industries to connect area students with career opportunities through our Education to Workforce initiative,” said Marcus Holland, Executive Director of the Greater Centralia Chamber of Commerce. “It is exciting to see an investment of this magnitude coming to our region to further close the skills gap and prepare our communities for growth. As manufacturers expand and recruit, the KC Manufacturing Academy will strengthen Kaskaskia College’s ability to meet their evolving workforce needs.”
“As a local manufacturer, one of the biggest challenges we face as we grow is finding people with the technical skills needed in today’s manufacturing environment,” said Aaron Robb, Founder and CEO of 618 Plastics. “Kaskaskia College has been a great partner to our local community, and having the new KC Manufacturing Academy right here in our region is a huge investment in both our workforce and the future of companies like 618 Plastics. KC’s commitment to providing students and existing workers with hands-on experience in automation, robotics, machining and industrial maintenance will help build the skilled workforce we need to continue growing, investing and creating more manufacturing opportunities right here in Southern Illinois.”
The project builds upon years of investment in KC’s manufacturing and industrial trades programs. The College currently provides hands-on education and training in areas including welding, machining, industrial technology, HVAC, and carpentry, with continued investments in equipment and technology that reflect today’s workplace.
KC has also expanded manufacturing education beyond the main campus through its Mobile Manufacturing Lab, which provides hands-on exposure to manufacturing technologies and careers throughout the College district. The new Academy will significantly expand that work by creating a permanent, purpose-built environment where students, faculty, and industry can come together around advanced manufacturing education, workforce development, and innovation.
“The KC Manufacturing Academy will allow us to prepare students for manufacturing careers that are available right here in our region,” said Joy Fitts, Kaskaskia College Dean of Workforce Engagement and Industrial Career Services. “Manufacturing is the number one industry in our district in terms of jobs and economic impact, so it’s important that our training reflects employers’ workforce needs. We want our manufacturing partners to know that we’re listening to what they need and that we can adapt our training as technology and workforce needs change. Ultimately, this is about creating a stronger pipeline of skilled workers and giving students the hands-on experience and confidence to walk into a manufacturing facility ready to succeed.”
“The KC Manufacturing Academy will allow our students to train in an environment that looks and functions much more like the highly automated facilities they will enter after graduation,” said Lyle Gross, PhD, Kaskaskia College Associate Professor of Industrial Technology. “Instead of working primarily with individual pieces of equipment or smaller lab stations, students will be able to integrate, wire, program, and troubleshoot complete manufacturing systems using full-sized industrial robots, CNC equipment, and automation technology. That experience will give students a much more comprehensive understanding of how modern manufacturing systems work together and better prepare them to build, maintain, and troubleshoot the technology already being used by manufacturers throughout our district.”
“For welding students, there is no substitute for hands-on experience, and the KC Manufacturing Academy will give us an opportunity to take that training to the next level,” said Cory Wellen, Kaskaskia College Associate Professor of Welding. “The larger, more open learning environment will remove some of the physical barriers we currently work around and allow students and instructors to work together more effectively. Students will be able to learn and practice their skills in a facility designed to more closely reflect the environment they will experience in the workforce. That experience will help them build not only their technical abilities, but also confidence, problem-solving skills, and understanding of what will be expected of them on the job. Our goal is for students to leave KC prepared to walk into their first day of work ready to contribute.”
The state’s Manufacturing Training Academies initiative is designed to strengthen Illinois’ manufacturing workforce pipeline and provide residents with pathways to high-demand technical careers. State funding will support construction, facility improvements and modern equipment at the five participating community colleges.
In addition to Kaskaskia College, grants were awarded to Illinois Central College, Lake Land College, Lewis and Clark Community College and Parkland College.
Development of the KC Manufacturing Academy will now move forward, with additional information regarding construction, program transitions and project timelines to be announced as plans are finalized.
Kaskaskia College is a public community college in Centralia, Illinois, within South Central Illinois District 501, serving all or part of nine counties, including Bond, Clinton, Fayette, Marion, Washington, Jefferson, St. Clair, Madison, and Montgomery. Committed to making education accessible, they host the Centralia Crisp Manufacturing and Trades Center and has education centers in Greenville, Nashville, Salem, Trenton, and Vandalia, Illinois. The Higher Learning Commission accredits the college, which offers a broad spectrum of degrees, programs, and certification options, specializing in 2-year associate degrees and trade school programs. Founded in 1940, Kaskaskia College was the first Class I Community College established in Illinois.