Governor JB Pritzker Awards $125 Million to Build Advanced Manufacturing and Aviation Training Hubs

ROCKFORD, Ill. — Governor JB Pritzker announced on Monday the distribution of $125 million in state capital grants from the Rebuild Illinois plan to construct three advanced aviation maintenance and precision manufacturing training academies in Rockford, Peoria, and East St. Louis.

The facilities, developed in partnership with Rock Valley College, Illinois Central College, and Southwestern Illinois College, will provide certified technical education for over 3,500 students annually in airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanics, avionics integration, precision robotic welding, and semiconductor equipment maintenance.

Addressing the National Aerospace and Defense Workforce Shortage Rockford International Airport serves as the second-largest FedEx air cargo hub in the United States and a major commercial aircraft maintenance center, yet regional aerospace employers have faced severe shortages of FAA-licensed mechanics.

"Illinois has always been the industrial heart of America, and we are making the targeted investments to ensure our workforce leads the next century of aerospace and advanced manufacturing," Governor Pritzker said at the Chicago Rockford International Airport. "These state-of-the-art training academies will give downstate students direct access to high-paying, in-demand technical careers with starting salaries above $75,000, while ensuring our aerospace logistics hubs continue to expand."

Academy Locations and Technical Capacities The $125 million capital allocation funds:

• Rockford Aviation Maintenance Center of Excellence: $55 million for an 80,000-square-foot widebody aircraft maintenance hangar and composites repair lab.
• Peoria Precision Tooling & Robotics Institute: $40 million for heavy industrial equipment testing bays and advanced CNC machining centers.
• Metro East Aviation & Logistics Academy (East St. Louis): $30 million for turbine powerplant repair simulators and unmanned aerial system (UAS) maintenance bays.

Major aerospace corporations including Collins Aerospace, AAR Corp, and Boeing have committed to providing student tuition sponsorships, paid apprenticeships, and guaranteed employment interviews for all certified academy graduates.