Board aims to change perception of suburban manufacturing

Although for many the economy remains in a slow recovery, the Workforce Board of Northern Cook County is trying to change perceptions about the state of manufacturing and the availability of jobs in the suburbs.

The board this week presented Wheeling officials with the results of a pilot program that offered manufacturing internships to high school graduates from the village, as well as from Des Plaines, Hoffman Estates, Elk Grove Village, Rolling Meadows. Schaumburg and Schiller Park.

The program was launched in the fall after national studies showed the manufacturing industry had open jobs but was struggling to find qualified employees to fill them, said project manager Rand Haas.

“We want this (program) to be a pipeline of qualified employees and change how manufacturing is perceived in our nation,” Haas said. “It’s no longer dark dirty and dangerous. You need to be smart, hardworking and a problem solver.”

Interns went through a boot camp, met with manufacturing employees in the community, participated in an eight-week internship and went to a job fair to experience the hiring process.

Haas called the program a success, noting that 11 of the 20 interns landed jobs, and six others showed interest in additional education and training for a career in manufacturing.

With several manufacturing companies based in Wheeling, Peter Vadopalas, the village’s economic development director, said one of his responsibilities has been to change the perception that there are no jobs.

Angiotech, a medical device manufacturer on Palatine Road, experienced 15 percent growth in business over the past two years, said Kimber Bellis, company’s director of human resources.

“We need more workers, and through this program we were fortunate to find our intern,” Bellis said.

After the success of the pilot Manufacturing Careers Internship Program, Haas said the workforce board is looking for it to expand.