Heartland Community College on Wednesday signed up 26 new apprentices to learn and train with businesses in the region -- while getting paid.
It's National Apprenticeship Week and HCC took the opportunity to spotlight its more than 60 active apprenticeships to boost the regional workforce.
Jake Banks went through the tool and die apprentice program at Heartland and Rivian.
Banks told the new apprentices during the signing ceremony it was the start of an adventure that built the foundation of his career, though tool and die apprenticeships are "not a walk in the park," he said.
"It's hot. It's dirty. You're working. You're sweating. It sucks. Not 'gonna lie to you. But through perseverance, determination, and dedication to the craft, the rewards are endless," said Banks.
Banks said every vehicle that drives down the road, no matter the make and model, has a toolmaker's input, adding that craftspeople have a responsibility to teach.
"Right now, we stand at the precipice of a skilled workforce shortage the likes of which has not been seen before. With a workforce nearing retirement, the time is now to take advantage of the wealth of knowledge the past generations of trades people have gained," said Banks.
"We need to pass it along to the new generation to ensure the people of the trades will continue to be the pinnacle of the American workforce."
He said if he could get through math at Heartland, the new apprentices will be fine.
"The skills you obtain can never be taken away from you. Jobs may come and jobs may go, but these things you will take with you always," said Banks.
Business partners with Heartland's workforce training efforts said the college in Normal can do things they can't do in house. The more than two dozen new Heartland apprentices have signed up with six different businesses.
Chris Hardy manages the maintenance program at the Bridgestone America tire plant in Normal. He said the reason Bridgestone hasn't started its own apprentice training program is that Heartland leverages technology and education resources better.
"Bridgestone America is transitioning its maintenance workforce from a single craftsman to a multi craft [worker] to optimize resources while advancing its workforce to compete with internal and external plants for market share," said Hardy.
The return on investment for Bridgestone is "solid," he said. Pairing senior industrial maintenance apprentices with junior apprentices as they answer trouble calls through all production areas allows better knowledge sharing and has helped Bridgestone and Heartland reduce the time needed to complete the program from six years to three.
Heartland Industrial Technology faculty member Mike Deavers said the pace of technological change makes Heartland a good partner for workforce training.
"For those apprentices out there using the Amatrol Interactive online learning environment, when I was in school, our version of interactive was being able to press the pause button on the VCR," said Deavers. "Imagine now we've got that VCR connected to a big screen TV, a whopping 26 inches, compared to the 26 feet that we have today."
Heartland's apprentice programs serve businesses ranging from electric vehicle maker Rivian and heavy equipment maker Caterpillar to freeze-dried snack maker Watershed Foods in Gridley, nurse training programs with OSF Healthcare and the Westminster Village retirement community.