Program Details

The challenges of workforce development on the Chicago South Side and in the southern suburbs are well-documented. Employers face shortages of skilled labor while individuals in the region, often from disadvantaged backgrounds, struggle to access career pathways into manufacturing. Bridging that gap is the mission of the Calumet Area Industrial Commission (CAIC), which has administered programs such as the Job Training & Economic Development (JTED) and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Career Pathways initiative to prepare job seekers for in-demand roles while supporting the needs of local manufacturers.
The JTED program, administered with support from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), was designed to foster local economic development by linking the needs of disadvantaged or low-wage workers with workforce demands in industry. Participants receive hands-on training, job readiness preparation, and career exposure in fields such as machining and welding, which are sectors that continue to face critical skills shortages. CAIC partnered with Prairie State College and Governors State University (GSU) to provide the customized bridge program and occupational skills training for this program. CAIC also leverages federal programs under WIOA Career Pathways, with funding from the U.S. Department of Labor. These resources help support career pathways for vulnerable populations while strengthening the local industry.
One of those success stories is Apollo Jones, Jr., a Chicago native who, through CAIC’s training programs, transitioned from a recent college graduate seeking opportunity to become a Manufacturing Engineering Technician at IMI Bimba Manufacturing in University Park, Illinois. Apollo grew up on Chicago’s South Side and studied mechanical engineering with a concentration in manufacturing at Alabama A&M University. Returning home after graduation, he was having difficulties obtaining employment when he discovered CAIC’s program through his grandmother, who had read about it in the newspaper. “I was looking for jobs in manufacturing, and this program gave me both career readiness and exposure to areas like machining that built on what I learned at the university,” said Jones. Apollo refreshed his skills in blueprint reading, trades math fundamentals, and chose the machining track to gain practical experience.
Beyond technical training, CAIC removed barriers that often derail participants’ progress. They provided weekly transportation assistance, work boots, uniforms, and even a laptop upon graduation, ensuring a smooth transition into the workforce. 
Apollo’s dedication quickly paid off. Shortly after completing the program, he was hired by IMI Bimba Manufacturing, a leader in pneumatic, hydraulic, and electric motion solutions, as an assembler. Within his first month, he advanced to a new position after demonstrating initiative and sharing his background in manufacturing engineering. 
At Bimba, Apollo helped boost departmental efficiency by resolving a machine backlog that had stretched for more than eight months. The turnaround was completed in just 60 days, earning him recognition and opening new career doors. Today, he serves as a Manufacturing Engineering Technician, working in quality to analyze failed products, identify root causes, and implement solutions. “Being an engineer is very hands-on,” Apollo said. “You need to know the ins and outs of different disciplines. My focus now is to be well-rounded.” His current projects involve working with pneumatic actuators used in applications ranging from coin machines to car washes, underscoring how manufacturing innovation is embedded in everyday life.
For CAIC, Apollo’s story exemplifies the impact of targeted workforce programs in building careers, supporting employers, and enhancing communities. By addressing both technical training and personal support, the JTED program and related WIOA initiatives provide a model for how workforce development can meet the dual needs of workers and manufacturers in the Southland. Reflecting on his experience, Apollo credits CAIC with helping him refocus and move forward. “I just want to thank the people at CAIC for being there for people like me, who may not have completely figured out life or who need a second chance. This program helped me get back on track. Now I have a full-time job and a future in manufacturing.”