At a Chicago press conference held on September 14th, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn announced the IMA Education Foundation had been awarded a $430,000 implementation grant and named lead entity for the state’s Manufacturing STEM Learning Exchange. The award, with matching funds in process of being raised, will allow the Exchange to implement a pathway of study designed to create a pipeline of workers with the skills needed in today’s advanced manufacturing environment.

The Manufacturing STEM Learning Exchange, one of five STEM Exchanges receiving grants funded through the Race to the Top, is part of a new and innovative State of Illinois-led STEM education initiative designed to support college and career readiness for all students. Supported also by a partnership between the state’s education and economic development agencies, Illinois Pathways supports local programs that empower students to explore their academic and career interests while also supporting new statewide, public-private partnerships known as Learning Exchanges that better coordinate investments, resources and planning for those programs. For more information, visit www.ima-net.org.