Joliet Junior College Gets $281K to Expand 3D Printing Training

Joliet Junior College just secured a $281,000 Advanced Manufacturing Grant from the Illinois Community College Board. The money goes directly to expanding the school's MakerLab and launching a new certification program in additive manufacturing.

That certification, backed by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, covers industrial 3D printing as it is actually used in healthcare, automotive, aerospace, and general manufacturing. Students will work with engineering-grade 3D printers, powder bed fusion systems, and desktop injection molding machines.

Dave Lantz, JJC's Center for Continuing Education director, says the investment addresses a real workforce gap. "Many organizations are surprised to learn how widely additive manufacturing is already being used, from dental labs and hospitals to manufacturers and automotive suppliers," said Debra Daun, MakerLab specialist.

The MakerLab has run community workshops, student camps, and hands-on programming for a decade. This grant scales that work into credentialed training that local employers can actually rely on.

For makers and educators watching the spread of 3D printing beyond hobbyist enclaves, JJC's move is a signal. Community colleges turning their maker spaces into certified advanced-manufacturing pipelines is one of the more practical ways the technology moves from niche to normal.