MOUNT VERNON, Ill. (WSIL) -- A new manufacturing academy is now officially open in Mt. Vernon.
Rend Lake College celebrated the opening of the new Southern Illinois Manufacturing Academy recently with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
The new academy is multi-million dollar facility at the RLC MarketPlace in Mt. Vernon.
Two years ago, the academy was able to secure $5 million in federal funding which helped with construction on the facility.
"We formed partnerships along the way," Rend Lake College President Terry Wilkerson said. "Rend Lake College extended our hand to work with Kaskaskia College and with Southeastern, and they decided to partner up. We had the confidence to work together and move our region forward."
On hand at the press conference, RLC Executive Vice President Lori Ragland talked about layout of the facility and how this manufacturing academy brings more educational and economic value to the southern Illinois area.
“The new facility will play a crucial role in filling the skills gap and preparing workers for well-paying, in-demand jobs,� Ragland said. “It will serve new and incumbent workers through hands-on application to validate learned skills and will include a working manufacturing environment where participants will demonstrate competencies based on industry criteria.�
Rend Lake College says the Southern Illinois Manufacturing Academy is a state-of-the-art academy which covers nearly 22,000 square feet and includes advanced training for electronics, robotics, programmable logic controllers, pneumatics, machining, welding, wiring, power & controls, MSSC certifications, SACA certifications, forklift operator certification, production skills, OSHA, employability skills and more.
