Anyone who is unemployed or underemployed needs to know about this!
A Career Connect Training Event
Wednesday, August 20 from 7-8:30 PM
At Faith Lutheran Church, 41 N. Park Blvd., Glen Ellyn IL
Come to learn about opportunities in advanced manufacturing and to apply for training.
This fall at Technology Center of DuPage in Addison, Jane Addams Resource Corp. will hold evening classes
in both welding (350 hours, 14 weeks) and CNC machining (500 hours, 20 weeks). CNC is Computer
Numerical Control: automated operation of a machine by a computer program, which is used in most local
manufacturing.
Classes will be open entry/exit, which means that trainees may advance through the programs at a faster or
slower pace depending on their skill level. Applicants must be18 or older, eligible to work in the U.S. and be
low income. 99% of people who aren’t working will be eligible. To learn more about this opportunity, visit
www.dupageunited.org and read about Career Connect.
RESERVE YOUR SPOT BY AUGUST 18
Email joewdutra@gmail.com with “Career Connect Reservation 8/20” on the Subject line. Include
your name, address, phone number, and email address.
Additional events at other locations will be held during the summer. To receive the new event list, email
joewdutra@gmail.com with "CCMW Event List" on the Subject Line.
Background information & FAQ’s
Why Manufacturing?
DuPage County is home to an estimated 50,000 working poor (source: DuPage Federation). The rise of unemployment
and the shrinking job market have made many families experience want, often for the first time. People in the metro-west
area of Chicagoland need a way to prepare for and connect to quality living wage careers in growing employment sectors
that currently lack qualified candidates for existing openings.
DuPage County manufacturers will need to replace 9,000 retiring employees, despite the projected 8% drop in
manufacturing employment over the next 10 years. While many resources exist related to manufacturing, they are greatly
underutilized, mostly due to lack of a recruiting agent to inform and connect job seekers to employment in the
manufacturing sector. Additionally, the current system of resources is often very difficult for both job seekers and
employers to navigate, leaving good people without work and good jobs unfilled.
Metro West Manufacturing Workforce Collaborative: Three organizations working together
The DuPage County Board has budgeted $200,000 to support the Metro West Manufacturing Workforce Collaborative.
This is seed money to recruit, train and place people who are underemployed or unemployed into existing good paying
jobs. There are 1700 manufacturing companies in DuPage County many of whom are unable to grow or expand due to
lack of qualified job applicants. This is a huge opportunity for economic growth and development.
CCMW is part one of the Collaborative. It will recruit, assess, and support suitable candidates from the ranks of the
unemployed and underemployed. It will connect them to the training that best fits an applicant's abilities and
circumstances, and help them connect to quality living-wage jobs in western Cook, DuPage and the Fox River towns of
Kane and Kendall Counties. CCMW was founded by the leaders of DuPage United after over 30 months of research,
communitywide listening sessions, relationship building and public actions.
Part two of the Collaborative is the Jane Addams Resource Corp. JARC provides highly respected free training for careers
in advanced manufacturing. JARC uses an open enrollment boot camp training model that lasts 15 – 20 weeks for CNC
and welding training. The number served can scale up quickly depending on available suitable candidates and
manufacturers' needs. JARC's DuPage County training will begin in September 2014. The project will be supply and
demand driven.
Part three of the Collaborative is the Alliance for Illinois Manufacturing (AIM), which places qualified jobs seekers into
open jobs among the 600 manufacturers who are members. These jobs start at $25,000/year and salaries range to $60,000
with 5 years experience. Trained applicants have a 95% hire rate.
Together, CCMW, JARC, and AIM make up the Metro West Manufacturing Workforce Collaborative. CCMW will
connect good people to good jobs. JARC will train them, and AIM will place those trained into jobs
For the remainder of 2014, CCMW's capacity will be narrow in scope. Over the summer of 2014, it plans to recruit a
beginning class of 10-15 candidates for its direct collaboration with JARC. As those students finish training and are
placed into jobs, CCMW will fill open training spots with new recruits. CCMW will also serve as many candidates as
possible through partnerships with other qualified training facilities in the county. After the first year, similar projects in
other parts of the country typically place 100-150 individuals every 12 months.
FAQ’s
1. When will Career Connect Metro West start recruiting?
Recruitment events are underway. August 20 from 7 to 8:30 will be held at Faith Lutheran in Glen Ellyn. Other events
are also scheduled.
2. How do I apply for training?
You must attend a recruitment event. An event list will be posted on www.dupageunitd.org. You may ask to be contacted
with the schedule, by sending an email to joewdutra@gmail.com. Include the following information: name, address,
phone number, email address; use a Subject of "CCMW Event List."
3. When is training available?
Career Connect will make every effort to connect all potential applicants to a training resource that best suits them,
including College of DuPage, Jane Addams Resource Corporation, and others. Each training facility offers training on
different schedules and different times of the day.
4. What courses will be taught by JARC and how long is each training?
Welding Fast Track – 350 Hours, 14 weeks
CNC Fast Track – 500 Hours, 20 weeks
The curriculum is designed for the number of hours shown; however, the programs are open entry/open exit, which means
that trainees may advance through the programs at a faster or slower pace, depending on their skill level. The intensity of
the program helps to foster a simulated work environment. We hope to run classes 5 hours a day, and 5 days per week to
maintain that level of intensity. Current plans call for classes from 3:30 to 9 pm, including breaks.
5. When does enrollment for JARC training begin and where will JARC training be located?
We plan to screen applicants in July and August. Evening training starts in September at Technology Center of DuPage,
in Addison. However, recruiting and screening will continue year round per the JARC open entry format. JARC provides
classes on a rolling application. Classes are offered as there are enough students to fill them.
6. What qualifications will I need to be considered for JARC training programs?
Applicants must be 18 or older, eligible to work in the U.S. and be low income. The latter is based on household size and
income; 99% of people who aren’t working will be eligible. A high school diploma or GED is not required. The only
criminal offense that we will not work with is a sexual offense. There is no requirement for previous work history in
manufacturing. The main things that we look for are good attitude and reliability.
7. Will I be guaranteed a spot in JARC training classes?
No. Applicants will be asked to complete an application, attend an orientation and complete a math and reading
assessment. After that, they will be asked to come in for an interview with JARC. We look at the whole person – work
history, interest in a career in welding or CNC, criminal background, educational background. We want to know if there
is family support for going to school, if they have a good attitude, if we think they are going to be reliable, etc. After that,
we check their references. Then we notify them if they are accepted or denied.
8. What happens to people who apply to Career Connect for JARC training, but do not meet these minimum
qualifications?
Every effort will be made to find another program that will fit your needs and circumstances.
9. Are there income restrictions for receiving services at CCMW?
People of all income levels can receive services from Career Connect, but JARC training is reserved for low income
applicants (see above).