U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and Congresswoman Cheri Bustos were in Peoria Wednesday, touting local benefits for a Chicago-area manufacturing center.
The Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute recently broke ground north of Chicago. It’s the first of its kind to integrate traditional hands-on skills with advanced technology and robotics. The lab is also to include regional hubs throughout the state.
Durbin says a collaboration with universities and community colleges will get the work force ready for the new face of American manufacturing.
“If we want people to be engaged in the next level, the next generation of manufacturing, it’s going to call for skills in areas of math, science, and computers for people to get good paying jobs.”
Durbin says Peoria is one of the prime locations for a manufacturing hub. The whole idea of the Digital manufacturing Center is to match the skilled workforce with the jobs of today and tomorrow that will support continued economic growth.