When Elgin Community College breaks ground on an $80 million manufacturing and technology center in September, it will fill a void that was growing even before the pandemic, said David Sam, the school’s president.
Supply chains are so important to the economy that it’s not surprising to see “manufacturing coming back in a big way,” Sam said during a presentation to Elgin City Council last week.
“This isn’t going to go away,” he said. “What we’re doing now is positioning ourselves to serve the needs of this region for years to come. If we don’t respond, businesses in this region will move away.”
The proposed 150,000-square-foot center would be built on the northwest corner of Spartan Drive and McLean Boulevard. ECC purchased part of the site in 2020 for $937,500 and the remainder in December after purchasing adjacent land formerly occupied by D Hangout Bar & Grill for about $1.4 million.
About $55 million of the $80 million construction cost will come from general obligation bonds the school plans to sell, Sam said. The rest will come from reserve funds and state grants.
No property tax increase will be required, Sam said. If all goes according to plan, construction should be completed by August 2026.
Sam said the school has seen a significant increase in students interested in manufacturing job training and there is now a waiting list for classes.
Cathy Taylor, dean of sustainability, business and career technology, told the council that ECC needs to ensure it has enough space and equipment to keep its manufacturing program thriving and growing.
“We wanted to develop additional courses, we wanted to develop training,” Taylor said. “As a career technical education program, we have a responsibility to ensure that our programs are educating the students of today and the future, which means our programs must be relevant to industry needs.”
ECC’s career programs help fill the “gap in moderate-skill jobs,” she said.
“Essentially, you don’t necessarily need a four-year college degree to get these jobs, but you do need some education,” she said. “The days of graduating high school and going straight to work for a manufacturing company are over.”
Taylor said the new manufacturing technology center will help expand the university’s current programs and create new ones to serve more students. He also said it will help close the skills gap and spur economic growth throughout the region.
Mayor Dave Kaptein said this is an exciting project for the university and the city.
“I know it’s been a long time coming to acquire the land and develop the vision. This will really impact economic growth and bring business to Elgin,” he said.
The Captain thanked Sam, who is soon to retire after 17 years with ECC, and presented him with a key to the city.
“Your support for ECC has really meant a lot to us,” Sam said.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for the Courier-News.
