Greater Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry

The Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) is excited to announce their new partnership with the Greater Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry! This collaboration is designed to help provide Wheeling manufacturers with the resources and tools to go above and beyond their goals, including events, grants, and personalized training.

The Cook County Manufacturing Reinvented Grant is designed to help take cost concerns out of growth and improvement projects. Surveying over 1,000 Cook County manufacturers, this grant program is based on the reported wants and needs of those organizations. Project areas for the grant include:

• Improving your Operations (Operational Improvements)
• Leading your Company (Leadership & Strategy)
• Growing your Business (Sales & Marketing)
• Focusing on People (Workforce Training and Development)

This grant is specifically designed for small to mid-sized manufacturers (less than 500 employees), and companies can apply for this fully funded grant and learn more information at www.ccmfg.org.

Outside of the grant, IMEC and the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry are hosting events on key industry topics, including a workforce luncheon that was held in February. These events are designed to provide area manufacturers with an opportunity to gain insights from industry experts and network with fellow manufacturers. For more information on upcoming events, visit the IMEC events page at www.imec.org/events.

About IMEC

IMEC is a team of improvement specialists who are dedicated to creating a positive impact on Illinois’ manufacturing workforce and economy. In 2023, they assisted over 2,500 companies and helped create or retain over 5,200 jobs, resulting in over $650M aggregate impact to the Illinois economy.  IMEC has seven offices statewide and 48 full-time industry improvement specialists.

For more information, visit www.imec.org.