Great River FAME

Great River FAME

Welcome to the First Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) Chapter in Illinois!

Great River FAME was created in January 2024 and made possible by these visionary and innovative partners:

DOT foods logo
Gardner Denver logo
General Mills logo
Knapheide logo
Titan logo
Great River Economic Development Foundation logo

What does FAME look like for the Great River Region?

The first cohort of students will be able to apply this spring and summer for the Fall 2024 cohort.  Students will attend class at the John Wood Community College Workforce Development Center two days a week to learn advanced manufacturing skills, and apply them at one of our manufacturing partners the other three days a week – all while getting paid and attending tuition free!

What is FAME about on the national level?

The Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education provides global-best workforce development through strong technical training, integration of manufacturing core competencies, intensive professional practices and intentional hands-on experience to build the future of the modern manufacturing industry.

FAME was created by Toyota and moved to the Manufacturing Institute for national scaling in 2019. Today, the Manufacturing Institute, as the workforce development and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers, is proud to manage FAME USA as it continues to grow across the country with the support of more than 400 manufacturers.

I want to learn more about Great River FAME

Instructor Dave Hetzler lectures at the Workforce Development Center
Students learning using truck driver simulation
Outside of JWCC's Workforce Development Center expansion
Welding students pose for a smile
Students learning about HVAC equipment