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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RECOGNITION OF OCTOBER 2025 AS MANUFACTURING APPRECIATION
MONTH IN COOK COUNTY ILLINOIS
WHEREAS, Cook County utilizes a sector driven economic development strategy and prioritizes and invests in sectors like manufacturing that offer relatively low barriers to entry and good jobs with strong career pathways; and
WHEREAS, Cook County proudly recognizes that Chicagoland has the second largest manufacturing sector in the nation and has been recognized for its strength in metals fabrication, machinery and equipment manufacturing, casting and forging along with food processing, plastics and chemicals manufacturing; and
WHEREAS, In 2022, the Department of Defense recognized northeastern Illinois as the nation’s leader in the production of forged and stamped parts with the greatest business density and largest forging and stamping workforce of any US metro area in the nation; and
WHEREAS, Cook County participates in The Illinois Defense Manufacturing Consortium (ILDMC) which brings together stakeholders from industry, community, government, and academia to strengthen the casting and forging sectors in northeastern Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Cook County has prioritized promoting and supporting the manufacturing sector, working to expand the support, resources, and benefits these businesses receive from the county through M3 Chicago, which advances equitable and sustainable development by helping manufacturers expand, collaborate, network, innovate and hire; and
WHEREAS, Cook County recognizes that manufacturing provides quality jobs and positive economic impact and has committed nearly $7 million in ARPA funding to help manufacturers thrive, expand, innovate as well as access and develop needed talent; and
WHEREAS, some of Cook County’s manufacturing programs include Manufacturing Reinvented that reimbursed manufacturers countywide up to $25,000 in eligible expenses toward the implementation of projects designed to improve productivity, develop future leaders, provide workforce training, and support business growth; and
WHEREAS, additionally, the Metals Hub is a Cook County collaborative created in partnership with the Southland Development Authority to help the metals, machinery, and equipment (MM&E) industry diversify, grow and innovate; and
WHEREAS, Cook County’s Elk Grove Village is home to the largest industrial park in the United States with over 62,000,000 square feet of inventory, 5,600+ businesses, 22 data centers, and over 400 manufacturers who specialize in plastic, metal, food, tech, and more; and
WHEREAS, the National Association of Manufacturers has designated October 3, 2025, as National Manufacturing Day and October as Manufacturing Awareness and Appreciation month; and
WHEREAS, as manufacturers seek to fill 4 million high-skill, high-tech and high-paying jobs over the next decade, MFG Month empowers manufacturers to come together to address their collective challenges and build excitement about manufacturing careers so they can help their communities and future generations thrive; and
WHEREAS, Cook County’s manufacturers, educational institutions, training providers and organizations furthering manufacturing research and innovation in Cook County will host events throughout the month of October to showcase the skilled and well-paying jobs afforded by a career in manufacturing, to ensure the continued growth of the manufacturing industry; and to celebrate our regional strength, our collaboration and partnerships benefiting this critical sector.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby declare October 2025 Manufacturing Month in recognition of all the major contributions manufactures give to our communities every day.
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