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Local training group tells Evanston council its four‑month program can move residents into $50,000‑a‑year manufacturing jobs
Summary
Ed Kogan of Cymbal Training Institute told city staff the institute’s four‑month CNC and industrial maintenance programs place graduates into manufacturing jobs that can pay about $50,000; program cost is $12,500 out of pocket, but Cook County grant funding can make training free for eligible unemployed residents.
Ed Kogan, representing Cymbal Training Institute, presented a workforce-development program aimed at placing local residents into manufacturing jobs through short, skills-focused training.
Kogan said the nonprofit has trained workers since 1985 and now focuses on rapid, employer-facing tracks designed to move people into full-time work within about four months of part‑time instruction. He described two primary tracks: CNC operator/setup training and industrial maintenance (a pathway for robotics and maintenance technicians).
Cost and funding: Kogan said the out‑of‑pocket price for the program is $12,500 but that unemployed residents may qualify for a grant the presenter named as the “workforce investment opportunity” grant which can make the program free to eligible applicants. “If you’re unemployed, that’s free,” Kogan said in answer to an online question about cost. He also said Cook County administers significant federal workforce funding and that the program partners with employers who post openings to the institute’s job board.
Outcomes and participants: The presenter said graduates routinely begin earning roughly $50,000 a year after completing the program. He cited examples of recent participants including high school students from Evanston High School and said the training is structured so students working evenings or weekends can complete it while supporting families.
Why it matters: City staff noted the program can fill local manufacturing labor needs and underscored opportunities for Evanston residents to access short-term training that leads directly to industry placements. Staff also offered to share information through the city newsletter and pointed residents to outreach materials and application links for small grants such as the city’s Love Your Block program.
What’s next: Kogan invited questions and said more information is available through the institute and the city’s workforce newsletter; staff said they would continue to promote training opportunities in city communications.
