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Kane County jobs committee updates: IMEC manufacturing programs, disability workforce camp and regional SelectUSA spin-off
Summary
County staff and committee members reported on ARPA-funded manufacturing programs with IMEC, an expanding pipeline program and a Sparkforce camp for individuals with disabilities, plus regional promotion via a SelectUSA spin-off event.
Kane County staff and committee members on Friday reviewed workforce and manufacturing initiatives funded or supported through county partnerships and ARPA dollars, including IMEC-run manufacturing programs, a Sparkforce camp for people with disabilities and regional business outreach tied to SelectUSA.
Mark Van Kirkoff briefed the committee on the county's continued membership in the Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership and on a recent SelectUSA spin-off event organized with World Business Chicago and county partners. "Access to World Business Chicago's data team for the region has been huge," Van Kirkoff said, and he described a roundtable at the spin-off event that brought about 50 foreign companies to ask questions about doing business in the region.
Committee staff and partners also highlighted local workforce-development programs supported with ARPA funds. Crystal (staff) drew attention to a flyer in the committee packet for a Sparkforce program for individuals with disabilities, run in partnership with IMEC and scheduled June 9to 18 with job shadowing and tours at local manufacturers. "If you know anyone who may benefit this or you have a partner that you can share this with, please share this out," Crystal said.
Staff reported 20 companies are currently in the county's "lighthouse" manufacturing program funded by ARPA; IMEC and partners plan to add roughly five additional companies that had earlier been unable to enter the cohort because of capacity limits. IMEC will also conduct a targeted survey of Kane County manufacturers to develop a detailed benchmark of their needs, staff said.
The committee discussed transportation barriers to participation in the Sparkforce camp and noted additional local workforce programs, including Project SEARCH at Delnor, funded by the county workforce development board. Committee members emphasized coordination: the programs aim to expand pipelines to talent and link trained individuals with local employers.
Ending Committee members asked staff to follow up on transportation options and to report back on the manufacturer survey and plans to expand the lighthouse program. No formal committee action was taken on these program updates during the meeting.
