Construction on McHenry County College’s Foria Advanced Technology and Innovation Center is scheduled to be completed before the fall semester, and class registration is underway.
An open house was held Wednesday where students and the public could see the programs and career opportunities the center offers, and hard hat tours showcased the progress of the building, which is expected to be completed in late August or early September, said Christina Hagerty, MCC’s vice president of marketing, communications and development.
Programs available at Foglia CATI include architecture and engineering design technology, automation, robotics, mechatronics, construction management, engineering technology, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, industrial maintenance, industrial management and technology, precision machining, welding and manufacturing, and more.
“Many people are interested in vocational training, and MCC is proud to offer these training programs in a location close to home and at an affordable cost,” Amy Calzoli, MCC’s vice president of enrollment services, said in a news release. “If you love problem-solving and manual work but aren’t sure how that translates into a career, this is the perfect event. It’s also perfect for those looking to add another skill set or get promoted in their current job.”
The program offers a certificate students can earn that can be stacked onto their associate degree, and MCC precision machining instructor Tom Pflueger said the college aims to introduce a variety of industries to students who want to work with their hands but aren’t sure what to do specifically.
“A lot of people don’t realize how big this industry is,” he says. “There’s so much that’s possible in this field, it’s so exciting.”
The open house featured advanced technologies in geothermal systems, robotics and welding, and included a demonstration of a robotic arm programmed to pick up and drop items on an assembly line — a device that MCC manufacturing instructor Jason Boling said costs about $30,000.
“We’re trying to make this a grassroots program and we’re doing everything we can in-house,” he said. “Our students were able to build their own robotic arms for $1,500.”
The state-of-the-art building, scheduled to break ground in 2022, will feature 45,000 square feet of classroom and lab space, a community maker space and a small business incubator.
The school expects to enroll more than 400 students across all programs and graduate 70 students each year, according to a previous MCC news release. Some classes are already at capacity, and Pfluger said he expects the programs to continue to grow.
The project’s total funding of $22 million will be provided primarily by the state, with the state of Illinois contributing $15.8 million from Rebuild Illinois capital planning funds. Approximately $2.2 million will come from the Foglia Family Foundation, and the remainder will come from McHenry County College.
“The building itself is equipped with the latest technology and equipment, and the courses are taught by experienced industry professionals,” Carzoli said in the release. “Our curriculum has also been developed with input from local employers, meaning our students will graduate with skills needed by our local community.”
Vince Folia, former chairman and CEO of Sage Products and vice chairman of the Folia Family Foundation, moved his business to McHenry County in 1980 and said he initially came for the “strong workforce.”
“This tech center is something we’ve needed for a long time,” Forgia said at the groundbreaking ceremony in 2022. “We’ve always had a hard time finding people who can fix things. … To me, it’s a profession.”
Representatives from local companies, including Stryker and General Kinematics, which merged with Sage in 2016, attended the open house to show people what a career in the field is like. Plueger said the program is an “employer-driven curriculum” that provides hands-on experience.
Having a formal education in manufacturing and technology will give the students a significant edge over their peers, said Angel Berumen, manufacturing associate supervisor at Stryker, who said he looks forward to filling the gaps in finding talent for the wide range of jobs Stryker offers.
“Manufacturing is the bedrock of our economy,” Berumen said.
For more information, visit mchenry.edu/cati.
