Danville Area Community College has been awarded a $360-thousand dollar grant to implement an Industrial Career Pathways program. The money from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will provide short-term training opportunities for up to 75 unemployed and manufacturing workers.
DACC plans to use the money in support of the College’s management of the American Job Center. ‘’The intent is to build a sustainable, competency-based program to support local manufacturers. We’re helping local industry and we’re helping train people for good jobs,’’ says DACC Executive Director Brian Hensgen of the work being done at the American Job Center. ‘’The training will be customized according to the unique needs of the manufacturing companies throughout the region,’’ added Hensgen.
The Industrial Career Pathways program provides a robust 40 hour Mechanical Skills Curriculum, and an OSHA 10 hour General Industry credential. It can be customized to include Lean Manufacturing and basic communication skills. Participants who complete the ICP program not only achieve a score for mechanical troubleshooting ability but also earn the ACT National Career Readiness Certificate to verify they possess the essential skills needed for a career in manufacturing.
Part of the funding from the Industrial Career Pathways grant will go towards the purchase of training modules and specialized equipment.
Of the 75 unemployed and incumbent workers the grant requires DACC to assess and train, at least fifty will be eligible to receive federal funding as dislocated workers or those living in poverty. The other 25 will be currently employed workers.
Since the grant funds equipment and training models for the College, DACC will be able to sustain the program well beyond the three-year life of the grant. DACC plans to launch the program by summer.
[Information for the above story provided by the DACC Marketing and College Relations Department.]
