Working It Out

When Gina De rosier- Cook talks about the Manufacturing and Technology Center (MTC), she doesn’t start with square footage or equipment. She starts with people.

“I wake up every day and get to make an impact in the community, and now I can make even more,” said De rosier- Cook, dean of workforce development at ECC. “I assist people who can’t afford their bills or are living in their cars. Now I can say, ‘Here’s a pathway,’ and by the end of your [program], you are self-sustaining.”

For De rosier- Cook, the MTC is more than a new facility — it’s direct access to opportunity, sustainable wages, and careers that enable individuals to thrive in their own neighborhoods. 

Manufacturing has long been part of the region’s economic backbone. It’s the number one industry in the region with over 37,500 jobs. Yet many students don’t realize the opportunities that exist just miles from home. 

“They can get a quality education at an affordable rate in their backyard,” De rosier- Cook said. 

Employment through Education

This proximity will also strengthen ECC’s growing apprenticeship and internship programs. Over the past several years, apprenticeships have increased by 200%, and internship participation has expanded dramatically through multiple workforce grants and partnerships.

ECC apprenticeships are customized business solutions that enable employers to tailor training to their specific needs. 

“Employers love the nimbleness,” De rosier- Cook said. “They’re reinforcing what’s happening in the classroom on their shop floors.”

For ECC apprenticeship partners like Haumiller Engineering, which designs and manufactures automated assembly and test equipment for products in the life science, personal care, and pharmaceutical industries, the value of this type of partnership is already clear.

“ECC has made it really easy for us to build an apprenticeship program,” said machining manager Ivan Colon. “We’re able to bring in students, train them, and give them a real career path — something they can build on whether they stay with us or not.”

The MTC’s physical presence matters, too.

“Just having the space to expand so programs aren’t limited — that’s huge,” Colon said. “And when people drive by and see that facility, it’s going to spark curiosity. The visibility alone is going to bring more people into manufacturing.”

Meeting Industry Demand

“It’s a challenging candidate market,” said Dave Butts, an HR recruiter at Haumiller Engineering. “We were going weeks and months without finding viable candidates. We had to rethink our approach and grow our own talent and build a pipeline.”

A wave of retirements, often referred to as the “silver tsunami,” combined with workforce disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, left local manufacturers with significant talent gaps.

The MTC will enable ECC to respond to those gaps at scale. Programs in advanced manufacturing, HVAC/green energy management, welding, and maintenance technology prepare students for higher-earning careers, with new offerings such as quality control and pipe welding expanding those opportunities. 

Many programs can be completed in 18 months or less and lead to annual earnings of $75,000 or more. Additionally, through apprenticeships, workforce grants, and funding through initiatives such as the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, many students receive financial support for tuition, tools, work boots, and books.

With the MTC’s innovative labs, modern equipment, and dedicated training spaces, ECC can enhance course offerings, serve more students, and introduce high schoolers to manufacturing sooner through apprenticeships. 

“Now we’re not just hiring, we’re developing our own pipeline,” Butts added. “That’s how we’re going to meet the need moving forward.”

Short-term Credentials, Long-Term Mobility

While the MTC will support degree pathways, it will also expand short-term credentials designed for immediate employment. ECC’s manufacturing pre-apprenticeship program, for example, can take someone from unemployed to credentialed and interviewing with employers in just seven days.

“Seven days to success,” De rosier- Cook said. “From no credentials to interviewing with companies that want to hire you.”

The new facility will remove one of the biggest barriers to initiatives and programs that help people improve their skills and quickly find employment: capacity constraints.

“Space is the most precious commodity,” she said. “When you remove that barrier, we’ll be able to do more work and help more people who are unemployed or underemployed.”

Students who begin with a short-term credential often return for additional certifications, associate degrees, or advanced training. ECC’s continuing education offerings, such as OSHA and safety training, help ensure that lifelong learning remains accessible and affordable.

“We want to be that reliable resource for people,” De rosier- Cook said. 

ECC’s Manufacturing and Technology Center is a commitment to opportunity, stability, and meaningful careers right here in the community.

SAVE THE DATE!

The MTC grand opening is Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 4 pm.

This article is part of ECC's Spring 2026 edition of Impact Magazine.

Impact Magazine is a bi-annual publication featuring news and information on alumni, student success stories, Elgin Community College Foundation updates, and articles about how ECC is making a difference in our communities.