There’s never going to be a golden ticket that gives every Kane County worker access to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory or a Harry Potter wand that will make unemployment disappear, but there are sparklers — real-life, job-training initiatives that are working right here in Kane County and making a difference in people’s lives.

One example is Kane County’s relatively new Accelerated Training for Illinois Manufacturing program. The ATIM acronym might sound like a mouthful of government-speak, but there is evidence that it’s doing what other jobs programs haven’t alwaysdone in the past — help local workers gain specific skills that meet local employers’ needs.

“This training is huge,” County Board Jobs Committee Co-Chair Theresa Barreiro said last week meeting. “It’s a win-win for the job seekers out there and for employers having trouble finding the right employee.”

It’s hard to argue with the results of the past six months.

Kane County Office of Community Reinvestment Director Scott Berger listed these highlights:
* 48 participants enrolled — which exceeds the established performance goal at 102 percent
* 41 have enrolled into a manufacturing occupational training program
* 26 of these trainees have successfully completed their classroom instruction — 63 percent
* 23 graduates have gained employment, with 20 securing employment in manufacturing
* 12 participants are currently attending classroom instruction, with five having gained employment

ATIM rapidly prepares participants for high-demand jobs in manufacturing: computer numerical control operators, welders, robotics and industrial machinery mechanics. Funding was designed to support 47 participants through accelerated classroom instruction leading to an industry recognized credential in safety, metalworking or welding.

It’s probably worth underlining that the stats provided above are as of Feb. 5, so the program has met its target already and still has more than six months to go.

The ATIM program is complemented by an On-the-Job Training program that has placed 16 people in full-time jobs with an average wage of $13.64. Eleven local employers have accessed $134,017 in compensation to provide training, and four employers are actively participating in candidate recruitment.

The $134,000 might sound like a lot of money for training, but the incentive is significant to prospective employers, said Workforce Services Coordinator Mary Yapejian.

“They’ll come to us, and we’ll work on connecting these candidates to companies,” she said.
To learn more, contact Yapejian at 630-966-1435, Ext. 40086.

–Suburban Chronicle news sources