Southwestern Illinois College Manufacturing Training Academy

Farnsworth Group was an integral part of the project team at Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) that was awarded a $7.5M State of Illinois DCEO Grant for a new regional manufacturing training academy. This innovative educational hub expands upon the College's successful ensemble of manufacturing training programs and facilities. The first phase of the SWIC Advanced Manufacturing Center created a new precision machining pathway. With over 30,000 SF of space, the facility includes:

• Several computer laboratories and general classrooms.
• A high-bay shop.
• A large equipment room.
• A full complement of support spaces.

This new training academy and its programs help address equity gaps in the region, with SWIC creating a new diverse recruitment program to ensure more minority and women students can participate in the jobs of the future. The SWIC Advanced Manufacturing Center broke ground in 2021 and welcomed students for the fall 2022 semester. The project's second phase, which is currently in preliminary planning, aims to expand career training for roles in industrial electricity and welding manufacturing.