MakerFest | Manchester Tank | Manufacturing Press Conference

Tour Celebrating Manufacturing Day

Adams County, IL – National Manufacturing Day is Friday, October 4, 2019. According to the National Association of Manufacturers and the Manufacturing Institute on www.MFGday.com, taken alone, manufacturing in the United States would be the ninth-largest economy in the world. Over the next decade, nearly 3.5 million manufacturing jobs will likely be needed, with 2 million expected to go unfilled due to the skills gap.

In Quincy & Adams County, we share a similar story of manufacturing growth and available opportunities. To bring awareness to our business needs, Great River Economic Development Foundation (GREDF) and its partners are celebrating Manufacturing Day, as well as the annual Tri-State MakerFest, with a press conference and facility tour on Friday, September 27 at 10 AMat Manchester Tank, 3400 Wismann Lane, Quincy, IL. All are welcome for the tour. However, reservations, closed toe shoes and pants are required to take the tour. You may RSVP to: joia@gredf.org| (217) 223-4313.

“MakerFest is a great way to celebrate our local manufacturing companies,” states Corrie Eifert, General Manger of Manchester Tank Quincy. “This is a great event to teach students and the public about what is being built in our community daily.” Eifert continues, “It’s a great opportunity to visit with our future leaders and help them understand the variety of career paths our industry has to offer them, right here in the Tri States.”

Marcel Wagner, GREDF President, will begin the press conference followed by Workforce Innovation Board (WIB) Director, Blanche Shoup. HOMEBANK President, Mark Hayes, will speak on the upcoming MakerFest, and Mayor Kyle Moore will present the Manufacturing Day Proclamation. The press conference will conclude with words from Manchester Tank Operations Manager, Keith Norris, and tours of the facility will be offered immediately following the press conference.

“Connecting our students with our local manufacturing, logistics and skilled trades organizations is an important goal for MakerFest,” states Angela Caldwell, Director of Workforce Development at GREDF. “So far, over 300 students from 9 area high schools will participate and get to know these local employers, with the public welcome at 1:30 PM.”

Space is available for businesses that want to participate in the Tri-State MakerFest. This year, MakerFest will celebrate manufacturing, logistics and skilled trades. MakerFest is Wednesday, October 2 from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PMin the Oakley Lindsay Center, 300 Civic Center Plaza. 9:00 AM is the Student Open House and 1:30 PM the event is open to the public. A S.T.E.A.M. Bridge Building Competition between four schools and six teams will also be held at 11:00 AM during the Student Open House.

Participating businesses and organizations include:

Archer Daniels Midland

Blessing Rieman College of Nursing

Craig Industries

Dot Foods, Inc.

GatesAir

Hollister-Whitney Elevator

HomeBank

Knapheide Manufacturing

Manchester Tank

Operating Engineers Local 965

Peoria Area Electrical JATC

Phibro Animal Health

Plumbers and Pipefitters/Local 25

Quincy Area Vocational & Technical Center

Quincy University

Sparks Maintenance

Titan International, Inc.

Workforce Innovation Board

MakerFest is presented by HOMEBANK, sponsored in part by Ameren, and in partnership with GREDF, John Wood Community College, Workforce Innovation Board of Western IL, and West Central Region Education for Employment System #240 / Quincy Area Vocational & Technical Center.

For more information, contact Joi Cuartero Austin at GREDF (217) 223-4313.

Great River Economic Development Foundation is a 501(c)6 not-for-profit organization with a mission to maintain and GROW the economic vitality of the Quincy and Adams County, IL region through the retention and expansion of existing businesses and the attraction of new businesses to our entire region.

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