Food & Beverage Apprenticeship Grant

Food & Beverage Apprenticeship Grant is sponsored by Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) (funded by DCEO). This grant helps Illinois food and beverage manufacturers build a stronger workforce through registered apprenticeship programs. It offsets training costs while developing skilled employees for critical production, maintenance, and quality roles.

Programs to Help Your Business Flourish Food & Beverage Apprenticeship Grant Build a stronger workforce with a registered apprenticeship program designed for Illinois food and beverage manufacturers. Through DCEO funding, eligible companies can offset training costs while developing skilled employees for critical production, maintenance, and quality roles.

IMEC manages program design, registration, compliance, and reporting—making it easy to implement a customized apprenticeship program with less administrative burden. Funding is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Forging Growth Applications Now Open The Cook County Forging Growth program is now accepting applications through July 17, 2026.

This specialized six-month cohort supports eligible foundries and forging and stamping manufacturers with peer learning, expert-led workshops, customized business roadmaps, and reimbursement of up to 50% of eligible roadmap and project costs. Manufacturers with facilities located in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, or Will County may be eligible.

Made in Illinois Grant Program *2025 Application Window Has Closed* Providing matching funds to help small and mid-sized manufacturers invest in innovation and technological advancements, Made in Illinois is a joint initiative of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and IMEC, combining state support with industry expertise.

This partnership is dedicated to empowering Illinois manufacturers with the resources and guidance needed to drive growth, innovation, and long-term success—one business at a time. Extended Kane County Manufacturing Grant Program This program helps local manufacturers drive continuous improvement and strengthen long-term competitiveness through four key initiatives.

By participating in one or more of these opportunities, manufacturers will access expert-led support in strategic visioning, coaching, project implementation, training, and peer learning to help their organization overcome hurdles and strengthen long-term competitiveness.

Cook County Manufacturing Reinvented *Application Window Has Closed* After listening to over 1000 Cook County Manufacturers, we have identified their top priorities and developed a grant program tailored for your needs. Manufacturing Reinvented reimburses manufacturers for the implementation of projects designed to improve productivity, develop future leaders, train your workforce, and grow your business.

Advance McHenry County Manufacturing Grants *Application Window Has Closed* In response to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, IMEC offers fully funded projects to small and mid-sized McHenry County manufacturers. These grants aim to: Rebound and Reinvent : Assist businesses in recovering from the pandemic and adapting to new market conditions.

Enhance Global Competitiveness : Implement strategies to improve efficiency and product quality. Build Resilience : Prepare companies to withstand future economic and societal challenges. The program offers support in areas such as operations improvement, leadership development, business growth, and workforce enhancement.

Discover Opportunities and Chart Your Path Every engagement begins with a partnership. IMEC takes the time to understand your business inside and out, working as an extension of your team to uncover challenges, identify opportunities, and prioritize goals. Together, we craft a roadmap that reflects your unique vision and sets a solid foundation for success Conduct in-depth evaluations to assess your business’s current state.

Facilitate collaborative discussions to align on strategic priorities. Design a tailored plan that guides both immediate actions and long-term growth. “Planning with IMEC means gaining not just a consultant, but a dedicated strategic partner to help you navigate the path to progress.

” Transform Strategies into Action With a clear roadmap in place, IMEC collaborates closely with your team to execute the tailored strategies. Leveraging industry best practices and innovative solutions, we ensure that each initiative is effectively integrated into your operations, driving tangible improvements and fostering a culture of continuous enhancement.

Apply targeted interventions that address your specific operational challenges. Work alongside your team to facilitate seamless implementation and knowledge transfer. Establish key performance indicators to track the effectiveness of implemented strategies.

“Implementing with IMEC means transforming strategy into action with a hands-on partner dedicated to driving measurable results and sustainable change. ” Achieve Sustained Excellence and Growth The journey doesn’t end with implementation. IMEC remains a committed partner, helping you to refine processes, adapt to changing market dynamics, and pursue ongoing improvements.

Our focus is on empowering your organization to not only meet but exceed its goals, ensuring long-term success and competitiveness. Identify and act upon opportunities for further enhancement. Support your organization in responding effectively to industry changes and emerging challenges.

Implement systems and practices that maintain and build upon achieved improvements. “Excelling with IMEC means achieving lasting growth through continuous improvement, adaptability, and a commitment to operational excellence. ” SUCCESS STORIES See How We’ve Helped Other Manufacturers Succeed “The process of connecting with IMEC to coordinating with our new client was seamless.

Networking opportunities are what drive business growth, and IMEC provides a robust platform for businesses to connect. I enthusiastically recommend the Supply Chain Matchmaking service! ” Lucy Minturn Founder & CEO - FosterWorks LLC Learn More View All Success Stories “IMEC’s knowledgeable and useful assistance was instrumental in Area Diesel Service’s ISO 9001:2015 certification registration.

” Linda Leefers Quality Systems Manager - Area Diesel Services, Inc. Learn More View All Success Stories “ By understanding where some of the concerns are regarding employee engagement, we can really target how we improve and where we focus. This is extremely helpful.

” Brian Wort President/Owner - Velocity Metalworks Learn More View All Success Stories “Right from the start, I could feel the genuine passion from both organizations to equip my company with all the necessary knowledge and expertise to thrive in the abrasive industry. I had a clear vision for K & K's website and the story I wanted to communicate through it.

With the help of IMEC and MFG Empire, my vision was transformed into a wonderful masterpiece that will surely give K & K the much needed updated look." Joseph Gura Director of Sales and Operations - K & K Abrasives Learn More View All Success Stories “I really cannot say enough about working with IMEC.

To have a resource on-call with expertise that relates directly to our business and who is truly invested in our success has been a fantastic thing. ” Nolan Hannan General Manager - Armoloy of Illinois Learn More View All Success Stories “It was a pleasure collaborating with IMEC on our project. The expertise and support from the IMEC team truly accelerated our efforts.

” Diana DeLucio Marketing Coordinator - Advantage Components Inc. Learn More View All Success Stories “I always feel like the IMEC team is in an office right down the hall. They take the time to learn our company so they can truly provide the best support. They not only activate immediately when I reach out with a need, they also proactively think of us when new grants and trainings present themselves.

So much of what I have accomplished at Howe is due to the resources and support of IMEC! ” Tammy Phillips President and CEO – Howe Corporation Learn More View All Success Stories “We are very impressed with the results of this project and the positive impact it has had on our company. We are appreciative to IMEC for helping to make this implementation easy so we can continue to focus on manufacturing castings.

” Desiree Einsweiler Learn More View All Success Stories