BELLEVILLE, ILL — Belleville, Illinois On Thursday afternoon, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker visited the Southwestern Illinois College campus.

“I was here a day after getting elected the first time to begin the journey for improving the workforce development programs in the state of Illinois,” said JB Pritzker, (D) Illinois Governor.  “That was five years ago.  I came here to sign an executive order strengthening our workforce development industries, not just for SWIC but for the state of Illinois.”

Pritzker a day earlier heard on a microphone saying, “I’m not happy where we are” when talking about President Biden. But Thursday, sticking to the new structure opening for the fall semester of classes in August, a 20-million-dollar investment was made to create a center for those getting their associate degree at the Advanced Manufacturing Academy.

And a good-paying job.

“We have 22 HAS CDC machines here and 12 robots,” says Mark Bosworth, Dean of Technical Education SWIC.  “We have the old manual machines as well.  We really believe we have one of the most advanced manufacturing facilities in the country.”

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The SWIC Belleville campus was filled with excitement for this project.

“The quality of the people that you have to represent you locally or in state government really does matter,” said Pritzker.

Governor Pritzker gives credit to politicians and civic leaders who made the project a reality.

“We’re leading in making our workforce the ready, capable workforce that everyone wants,” said Pritzker.  “I hear it time and time again from the companies wanting to come to Illinois and asking us for their business.”

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