McHenry County College will receive nearly $600,000 over three years from a U.S. Labor Department grant to expand its manufacturing and robotics training programs. According to the McHenry County Labor Report of 2011, manufacturing is the largest employment sector of industry in McHenry County. MCC's grant award is part of $12.9 million in funding awarded to 21 Illinois community colleges by the U.S. Department of Labor through the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Community College and Career Training program.
This represents 13 percent of the workforce working directly in manufacturing and up to 15.75 percent working in manufacturing and related jobs such as transportation and warehousing.
MCC currently offers robotic classes using desktop-sized robots, and by next spring, the College will purchase larger equipment and offer classes during the day by expanding at the Woodstock Center. The College currently rents the Center for welding classes and will be able to offer daytime classes in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) and robotics by expanding equipment into that location.