ManufacturingArchive for the ‘’ Category

Employer Training Investment Program (ETIP)

The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) recently announced receipt of an Employer Training Investment Program grant (ETIP) for fiscal year 2018 through the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The grant term will be July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018. All training that occurs during this time period may qualify for reimbursement based on eligibility requirements.

Participating companies must have a physical location in the state of Illinois and agree to train only their full-time Illinois based employees. Each participating company must complete a company profile identifying the company location from which their employees will be participating and schedules detailing all training each company has completed. The schedules must include number of participants, dates of training, and cost of training. These reports for the first two quarters (July 1 to December 31, 2017) must be forwarded by email only to Janie Stanley, Revenue & Grant Administrator at jstanley@ima-net.org, no later than Monday, February 19, 2018.

Grant funds may be used to cover no more than 50% of actual approved expenses related to the training for a company’s full-time employees. Participating companies are required to fund a match amount of the remaining 50 percent. Eligible expenditures must fall within the following budget categories:

  • Internal (employee) trainer costs (wages)
  • External vendor/trainer or tuition expense (copies of paid invoices must also be submitted)

A few important notes:

  • The IMA will work with companies to collect and submit the proper forms. DCEO has the sole discretion in determining the final approved funding level for ETIP grants.
  • New for this grant, leadership training is included as an eligible expenditure.

For more information, visit: http://ima-net.org/ima-member-benefit-programs/.

Grand Opening: Clarkson Soy Products

On Monday, October 23rd, we celebrated the grand opening of Clarkson Soy Products, located at 101 Mercury Drive in Champaign.

Located at Titan Warehouse, this new 30,000 SF facility is the first of its kind in North America. The company processes, distributes, and exports high-quality Certified Organic and non-GMO lecithins for the food, personal care, nutritional, supplement, pet care, animal nutrition, and industrial markets.

Tours of the facility were provided. View event photos here.
 
Want to learn more about Soy Lecithin and why it is used in products? View this article. 
 
The City of Champaign, Champaign County Economic Development Corporation, and Coldwell Banker Commercial Devonshire Realty assisted Clarkson Soy, LLC in finding a suitable site. Clarkson Soy Products, LLC worked with The Atkins Group and other contractors to complete the project. The February 2017 project announcement can be viewed here. 
 
About Clarkson Soy Products:
 
Clarkson Soy Products, LLC was founded in 2002, offering the world’s first certified organic soy lecithin. It used an entirely natural process without any synthetic solvents, offering commercial quantities with excellent quality.
 
During their first 10 years, they focused on growth in the certified organic food ingredient market. In their second decade of business, they continue to expand their ability to meet the needs of our customers by offering a growing list of lecithin products that meet their requirements for quality and food safety. Clarkson Soy Products, LLC is a subsidiary of Clarkson Grain Company, Inc., an employee-owned company. Learn more at http://clarksonsoy.com/.

Highgate Opens Office in Downtown Champaign

Highgate, a company that exists to deliver innovative solutions to complex challenges, has leased 1,500 sf on the 3rd floor of 41 East University Avenue in Champaign. Very much interested in joining other technology companies in the downtown area such as Volition and Veriflow, Highgate will employ about eight team members in their new space.

About the Company: As the world continues to shift and change, developing solutions that support sustainable growth is the keystone of their business. This aspirational focus is embodied by an unwavering commitment to professionalism, honesty, and innovation that is embraced daily with a can-do attitude and responsibility that permeates the culture of each Highgate company and brand. Highgate companies and brands are well equipped to meet the diverse challenges presented by the complex global marketplace as they consistently deliver innovative solutions that sustain growth and propel success. Their companies include The Parari Group, LLC, International Replica Arms Company – IRAC, and Threat Tec, among others. To learn more about Highgate companies and brands, visit http://www.highgateco.com/.

Guth & Associates assisted in securing the space.

2017 Innovation Celebration Winners Announced

CHAMPAIGN, IL, March 6, 2017 – Over 350 people gathered at Parkland College for the 12th Annual Innovation Celebration on the evening of Friday, March 3rd to recognize those individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions, taken risks, and provided leadership to ensure the continuing economic success of Champaign County, the ongoing success of the University’s economic development mission, and the growth of entrepreneurial talent and energy in our community.

Innovation Celebration is not merely an award for accomplishment, but a benchmark of success for those outstanding individuals, organizations and corporations who are nominated and selected to receive this prestigious award.

Innovation Celebration is hosted by the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation in partnership with the University of Illinois, Parkland College, and community sponsors. For more information, visit www.innovationcelebration.com.

Award Winners

Innovation Transfer Award—University of Illinois
Recognizes an individual or group from the University of Illinois whose research has resulted in either a discovery or a work with the potential for significant societal impact.

 Dr. Frederic Kolb

Alexis Wernsing Innovation Award—University of Illinois
Recognizes an individual or team from the University of Illinois that has channeled their experience living with a disability into positive change through the creation of new products, environments, or protocols that enhance quality of life.

Arielle Rausin

Innovation in Engagement Award—Parkland College
Recognizes an individual or group at Parkland College who has shown support of the college’s community engagement mission.

Jenni Fridgen

Entrepreneurial Excellence: Social Venture Award
Serve as change agents by creating and implementing sustainable solutions to reshape society, benefit humanity, and address social concerns.

 Young Entrepreneurship Program (YEP) – Champaign Unit 4 Schools

Entrepreneurial Excellence: Student Startup Award
Formed by students in the last three years and demonstrates a commitment to continuing success through entrepreneurial talent, creativity and energy.

 Cast21

Entrepreneurial Excellence: New Venture Award
Formed in the last three years, and demonstrates a commitment to continuing success through entrepreneurial talent, creativity and energy.

PhotoniCare, Inc.

Entrepreneurial Excellence: Paul Magelli Advocacy Award
Actively engage, encourage, coach and mentor entrepreneurs in the community, and provide extensive support to help them achieve success.

 Jed Taylor

Innovation: Economic Development Impact Award
Has successfully commercialized innovations while demonstrating a commitment to positive, local, economic impact.

 II-VI EpiWorks

Entrepreneurial Excellence: Management Award
Demonstrates expertise in assembling resources, creating an organization, and working to build and implement effective action plans.

 Laura Bleill – chambanamoms.com & University of Illinois Research Park

Innovation: Longevity Award
Recognizes those enterprises whose sustained success is the direct result of continued innovation over many years.

Litania Sports Group

The EDC was pleased to work with the following sponsors of Innovation Celebration 2017: the University of Illinois’ Technology Entrepreneur Center, Research Park, Office of Corporate Relations, and Office of Technology Management, along with Parkland College, Singleton Law Firm, Serra Ventures, City of Champaign, Village of Rantoul, Bridge – Champaign County’s Virtual Incubator, Martin Hood Friese & Associates, Fox Development Corporation, Ramshaw Real Estate, Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC, Hanson Financial, AARP, Surface 51, Guth & Associates, Pixo, Carle, IllinoisVENTURES, Huawei, II-VI EpiWorks, Adjacency, and Frasca International, Inc.

A special thanks to Five Foot Productions for producing the videos.

 

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Event recap video, created by ADJACENCY.

Click here to view event photos, courtesy of Darrell Hoemann.

Download the event program here.

View opening & closing remarks from the event. Award acceptance speeches can be viewed at the links below.

– Dr. Frederic Kolb
– Arielle Rausin
– Jenni Fridgen
– Young Entrepreneurship Program (YEP)
– Cast21
– PhotoniCare, Inc. 
– Jed Taylor
– II-VI EpiWorks
– Laura Bleill
– Litania Sports Group

Press:

Entrepreneurs recognized at Innovation Celebration, The News-Gazette

New Videos Highlight ECCA Program at Parkland College

CHAMPAIGN, IL, February 13, 2017 – Together with the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce, we are pleased to release three new videos highlighting the Early College and Career Academy (ECCA) at Parkland College.

ECCA is a joint effort of Education for Employment System #330 (a K-12 Career and Technical Education cooperative) and Parkland College. Through the program, area high school juniors and seniors earn credits that count toward a high school diploma and college, all while gaining skills in six different Parkland College degree programs: Manufacturing, Automotive Technology, Computer Networking, Certified Nursing Assistant, Emergency Medical Services, and Criminal Justice.

The first video provides an overview of the program from Nick Elder, Director of ECCA & EFE #330, and Parkland instructors Billy Wirth and J.R. Schultz.

The second video features five students currently enrolled in the Manufacturing program of ECCA, representing Paxton-Buckley-Loda CUSD #10, Rantoul Township High School #193, and Villa Grove CUSD #302.

The third video features HL Precision Manufacturing, Inc., Frasca International, Inc., and Litania Sports Group – all companies who have partnered with ECCA to not only sponsor students in the manufacturing program, but offer positions for students through internships and part-time work. The video also highlights Ben Perkinson, a Champaign Unit 4 grad who successfully completed the ECCA program with support from HL Precision Manufacturing, Inc., and now works for their company.

The idea for these videos – created by Five Foot Productions – was a direct result of feedback from a round table co-hosted by the Champaign County EDC and Champaign County Chamber of Commerce on National Manufacturing Day in 2016.

To learn more about ECCA, visit their website at http://www.parkland.edu/ecca.

 

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