Strategies for Attracting and Retaining Talented Employees: 
Harper College Apprenticeships 

CMMC works to build the manufacturing workforce pipeline in the Chicago region and believes apprenticeships are an overlooked resource.  Apprenticeships provide a direct pathway to existing, in-demand, skilled jobs that employers seek and give students a unique opportunity to complete their education with real skills, no debt, and established career pathways.  Attend Harper College's "Strategies for Attracting and Retaining Talented Employees" to learn more!
Apprentice Andrew Splett of Wheeling takes an electronics course as part of his industrial maintenance mechanic apprenticeship at Harper College. Courtesy of Harper College
  
Thursday, May 25, 2017
8:00 - 9:30 A.M.

Harper College 
Building W, Wojcik Conference Center
1200 W Algonquin Rd.
Palatine, IL 60067

   Explore Your Export Potential      
   

With support from JPMorgan Chase and in partnership with CMMC, Metro Chicago Exports helps small businesses expand to new markets and find new customers by awarding grants up to $5,000 to help offset costs for airfare, trade shows, marketing campaigns and materials, website optimization and translation. The 2017 grant program is now accepting application until May 26 on their revamped website: www.MetroChicagoExports.com
Join U.S. Delegation to Trentino, Italy 

The Italian Trade Agency (ITA) and ItaIy's Trentino Sviluppo is inviting CMMC and Illinois companies to join a U.S. delegation to Trentino, Italy on June 18-21, 2017. This is a unique opportunity for U.S. manufacturers to gain firsthand contacts with potential Italian suppliers and forge new partnerships.  Roundtrip airfare, hotel, and ground transportation is included. 
 
Click here to complete the participation form.  The deadline to apply is May 15, 2017. For questions, contact ITA at (312) 670-4360 or [email protected].
Industrial Design Fuels Growth of Manufacturing Sector
 
Participants share ideas at DesignHouse's Women in Metals Design Jam
Design matters. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) concludes in its recent publication,  Industrial Design: A Competitive Edge for U.S. Manufacturing Success in the Global Economy , that industrial design is an underutilized catalyst for growth in the U.S. small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) and a key ingredient in the future success of these firms. 

N EA highlights CMMC partner DesignHouse's  unique Design Jams , where participants "ideate" products that could be produced on manufacturers existing machinery, inspiring local manufacturing innovation and new product development. 
Your Voice Matters. Put Your Ideas On the Table.

On the Table participants. Courtesy of On the Table
The Chicago Community Trust leads an annual forum on May 16 called On the Table, designed to discuss challenges and opportunities, spark new ideas, foster relationships, and inspire collaborative action. CMMC is hosting an On the Table event with CHICAT to discuss how we can better promote careers in manufacturing to young people.  Please contact Vanessa Uribe if you are a manufacturer and interested in attending. Or even better, host your own conversation! 

For more information about On the Table , visit www.onthetable.com.  
Connect with the Illinois Science and Technology Institute

Did you know the Illinois Science & Technology Institute (ISTI), a STEM-focused non-profit, provides programs and partnerships that connect companies with classrooms? ISTI created and runs the Mentor Matching Engine for schools and companies who want to impact the next generation of innovators.  It bridges the classroom and real world to facilitate collaboration between students and industry mentors, providing authentic challenge topics and mentoring to prepare students for future STEM careers. Contact ISTI to learn more.   
The  Chicago Metro Metal Consortium (CMMC)  works to strengthen the region's 4000 metal and machinery manufacturing firms . CMMC  offers manufacturers the tools, services and resources to improve and grow their businesses through collaboration and networking, market intelligence, and promotion of the region as the nation's leading center for manufacturing. 
  
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