An International Exchange, and Friendship, Continues between Chicago and Australia

Above, Peter Botsman (right) looks on as Chaseley Walker, high school student from Australia (2nd from right) listens to two Austin Polytech students (first two from the left) share their experience in Mr. McIlrath’s math class (2011). Manufacturing Renaissance programs serve youth and young adults in underserved Chicago communities, but the reach and relevance of […]

Spotlight on Economic Democracy as a Strategy for Inclusive Development

Since the early 1980s, Manufacturing Renaissance has been inspired by and a student of worker ownership models, recognizing their potential for expanding wealth creation opportunities for communities that have traditionally been excluded from business ownership and wealth creation, especially in the manufacturing sector. Over the years MR has provided leadership in efforts to raise awareness […]

Looking Forward: Latest Ministers for Manufacturing Meeting Update

The faith community in the region continues to support manufacturing as a tool for social inclusion and sustainable community development through the Ministers for Manufacturing committee of the Chicagoland Manufacturing Renaissance Council (CMRC). On June 21, the committee and stakeholders met at the state-of-the-art Manufacturing Technology & Engineering Center (MTEC) at Daley College. The meeting […]

Resolution Introduced in Chicago’s City Council to Endorse the Manufacturing Reinvestment Corporation Act

On March 23, 2022, Alderman Michael Rodriguez, Ward 22 representing Little Village, North Lawndale and surrounding communities,  submitted a resolution to endorse the Manufacturing Corporation Reinvestment Act (HR5124).  In short, this resolution acknowledges: The importance of the intersection between manufacturing and education and career and technical education in the City of Chicago towards building a […]

Supply Chain and Policy: Past, Present and Future

Panelists in the event, clockwise from bottom right: Dan Swinney, Founder of Manufacturing Renaissance; Harry Haney, a supply chain and operations expert; Haven Allen, CEO and Co-Founder, mHUB, an independent hard tech and manufacturing innovation center; David Boulay, President of IMEC (the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center).  Top right, moderator, Jeff Korzenik, Chief Investment Strategist, Fifth […]

Ministers for Manufacturing Stepping Into Leadership for Inclusive Manufacturing Development

On December 14, the Chicagoland Manufacturing Renaissance Council (CMRC), program operated by Manufacturing Renaissance (MR), held its first in-person Ministers for Manufacturing (M4M) committee meeting since before the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting was hosted at Matot, Inc., manufacturing company in Bellwood, IL in the western suburbs of Chicago. Jim Piper, President of Matot and CeCe […]

Perspective: ShoreBank co-founder calls expansion of manufacturing sector a “once in a lifetime opportunity”

This year, Manufacturing Renaissance has played a leading role in a national coalition that is advancing an agenda to transform the manufacturing sector in this country. Earlier this fall, the coalition’s efforts reached the national stage when Cong. Jan Schakowsky introduced the Manufacturing Reinvestment Corporation Act in Congress. Ron Grzywinski has a distinctive perspective on […]

New Bill Proposes Major Reinvestment in Manufacturing Communities

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chair of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, introduced the Manufacturing Reinvestment Corporation Act. The legislation will ensure that a revitalized manufacturing sector can create the products, processes, and transition opportunities that are necessary to […]