Cook County Announces Eight Manufacturers Participating in Good Jobs Chicagoland

(Cook County, IL) — As National Manufacturing Month concludes, Cook County proudly announced today that eight leading manufacturers have signed on to provide essential training to 250 new and current employees through the Good Jobs Chicagoland program. This federally funded initiative, led by the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, represents a major investment in Cook County’s workforce and economic future. 

The Cook County Bureau of Economic Development and OAI, Inc., a workforce service provider, serve as backbone organizations for the initiative. Together, they collaborate directly with manufacturers to develop customized training programs that meet specific industry needs and support long-term growth.  

These eight companies are the first manufacturers to participate in Good Jobs Chicagoland, and they will benefit from an investment of $1 million to support careers in a sector that offers opportunities for growth, advancement and good wages in Cook County. 

Several other manufacturers are set to participate, with contracts currently in the final stages. 

“Cook County is thrilled to support local manufacturers in meeting their talent needs with the resources and financial support provided by Good Jobs Chicagoland,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “October is Manufacturing Month in Illinois, and we celebrate the impact of the manufacturing industry in Cook County. This sector continues to thrive, offering well-paying, rewarding careers.” 

Good Jobs Chicagoland is an employer-driven initiative supporting economic growth in key sectors in Cook County, including manufacturing.   

As part of this initiative, Cook County partners with the National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) to consult with manufacturers on their talent needs and develop industry-recognized, customized programs. 

OAI, Inc., through its Park Forest location, leads this initiative in Cook County’s Southland and has coordinated the participation of several manufacturers in that area, including many involved in the Calumet Manufacturing Industry Sector Partnership (CMISP). 

“Good Jobs Chicagoland is committed to cultivating a skilled workforce that allows underrepresented persons to generate wealth for themselves and their families,” said OAI, Inc. CMISP manager Mike Gonzalez. “Additionally, the local manufacturers benefit from the program by filling skills gaps, at no cost to the employer.” 

Freedman Seating Company, a family-owned business on the West Side of Chicago that manufactures bus, rail, marine, delivery truck, specialty and commercial-vehicle seating, has become a champion for Good Jobs Chicagoland and was one of the first manufacturers to sign on. 

Freedman is working with NIMS to provide training to over 100 employees and utilize Smart Training Solutions to manage employees’ progress.  

Training will focus on welding, Computer Numerical Control (CNC) programming and operating, metal-working skills, and other disciplines. 

Craig Freedman, CEO of a nationally renowned seating company that employs about 700 people, is excited about these new resources.  

“It allows us to train a significant portion of our workforce, but more importantly, it provides a platform to scale our training for the future,” Freedman said. “Training of our team will now be standardized within and across departments. This training will foster career advancement for our employees, positively impacting retention and morale. We think there’s going to be a big payoff.” 

Other manufacturers who have signed on to Good Jobs Chicagoland include: 

• Agrati Inc., which is part of a worldwide fastener company and has a location in Park Forest, IL 
• Central Steel and Wire Company, which has a location in University Park, IL 
• Federal Signal, which produces signaling devices for police, fire and EMS services, and has a location in University Park, IL 
• Ferrero, a sweet-packaged food company with a location in Chicago, IL 
• Morrison Container Handling Solutions, of Glenwood, IL 
• Sterling Solutions, which develops matting solutions to ensure site access and has a location in Phoenix, IL 
• Threaded Fasteners, Inc., which manufactures steel fasteners and recently acquired BBC Fasteners, of Alsip, IL. 

Cook County is proud to remain a prime location for manufacturers and those working in the manufacturing industry. 

According to the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center, Cook County is home to 80 percent of the total manufacturing output in the state of Illinois, and the sector employs over 192,000 people in Cook County alone. 

On October 24, 2024, the Cook County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution recognizing October 2024 as Manufacturing Appreciation Month in Cook County.  

In continuing to support workforce development, the County is grateful for its collaboration with the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, which operates the largest public workforce system in the City of Chicago and Cook County. 

In August 2022, The Partnership received an $18.5 million grant through the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Good Jobs Challenge. 

That funding helped establish Good Jobs Chicagoland, which builds talent pipelines and connects unemployed, or underemployed, residents to careers that pay family-wealth-building wages.  

In addition to manufacturing, the program also focuses on careers in health care; information technology; and transportation, distribution and logistics. 

Good Jobs Chicagoland is just one program that is part of M3 Chicago (Metro, Manufacturing, Momentum), a Cook County-led initiative that offers programs for manufacturers and people interested in pursuing a career in manufacturing. 

Manufacturers interested in participating in Good Jobs Chicagoland may visit goodjobschicagoland.com for more information. 

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