ECC Receives $1 Million Gift from Gene Haas Foundation for Manufacturing and Technology Center

The Gene Haas Foundation has presented a $1 million gift to Elgin Community College (ECC) to support and enhance CNC programming and training at the college’s new Manufacturing and Technology Center (MTC).

In recognition of the foundation’s investment, ECC’s CNC Machining Lab has been named the Gene Haas CNC Machining Lab.

ECC recently celebrated the grand opening and ribbon-cutting of the 150,000-square-foot MTC on September 24. The new facility, which opened for classes in August, provides specialized training space for students preparing for careers in advanced manufacturing and related fields. The center includes dedicated laboratories and instructional spaces for CNC machining, industrial maintenance, welding, HVAC and energy, automation and robotics, and green energy.

The Gene Haas Foundation has supported manufacturing education since expanding its mission to focus on technical education and introducing young people to careers in industry. Through scholarships, robotics and racing competitions, teacher training, educator conferences, and support for manufacturing training facilities, the foundation has helped tens of thousands of students gain hands-on experience and pursue careers in manufacturing. 

The foundation’s investment will help ECC enhance and support CNC programming and training opportunities for students at the MTC. 

The Gene Haas Foundation shared the following statement about its partnership with ECC: 

“Elgin Community College has magnificently answered the call and stepped up to create a premier manufacturing training center addressing the needs of manufacturers and the future workforce for Northeastern Illinois and beyond. I am so impressed with the dedication and commitment of the Elgin management and staff in creating this world-class facility. We are so proud to partner on this project.” 

The MTC represents a major expansion of ECC’s capacity to prepare students for careers in manufacturing while supporting the workforce needs of employers throughout the region. The center was designed with input from industry partners and provides students with opportunities for hands-on learning in technologies used in today’s manufacturing workplaces.

“We are grateful to the Gene Haas Foundation for this extraordinary investment in our students and our region’s manufacturing workforce,” said ECC President Peggy Heinrich, EdD. “This partnership will help us continue to strengthen CNC programming and training at the MTC and prepare students for the opportunities available in today’s manufacturing industry.”

The Gene Haas CNC Machining Lab will serve students pursuing CNC and related manufacturing education at ECC as part of the college’s broader manufacturing and technology programs.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker recognized the significance of the new facility in a congratulatory video shared with ECC, highlighting the growing demand for career and technical education and the MTC’s role in preparing students for careers in advanced manufacturing and supporting the state’s workforce. 

For more information about ECC’s Manufacturing and Technology Center and manufacturing programs, visit elgin.edu/mtc.