JJC MakerLab Receives $281,000 Grant to Expand, Launch Additive Manufacturing Training

Joliet Junior College (JJC) has received a $281,000 Advanced Manufacturing Grant through the Illinois Community College Board to expand its MakerLab and launch new training opportunities in additive manufacturing, a rapidly growing area of advanced manufacturing that uses industrial 3D-printing technologies.

The project will modernize and expand the College's MakerLab, add commercial-grade equipment and allow the College to offer the additive manufacturing technician certification recognized by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.

"Advanced manufacturing is transforming the way products are designed and made," said Dave Lantz, JJC center for continuing education director. "This investment strengthens JJC's ability to provide innovative training that meets workforce needs while creating new opportunities for students, employers and our community.

New equipment will include commercial additive manufacturing technologies, engineering-grade 3D printers capable of producing parts with advanced materials, powder bed fusion printing equipment and desktop injection molding systems.

As additive manufacturing continues to gain traction across industries ranging from healthcare and architecture to automotive and manufacturing, JJC's new program will help build a workforce prepared for future demand while increasing awareness of the technology's potential.

"Many organizations are surprised to learn how widely additive manufacturing is already being used, from dental labs and hospitals to manufacturers and automotive suppliers," said Debra Daun, MakerLab specialist. "This program will also help businesses discover where these technologies can create value while ensuring our workforce is prepared with the skills needed to support the next generation of manufacturing."

This new investment builds a decade of innovation at JJC's MakerLab, which has introduced thousands of students, educators and community members to emerging technologies through hands-on learning experiences, workshops, camps and community programming.

For more information about JJC's MakerLab and workforce development programs, visit jjc.edu.