Kane County, IL — November 3, 2025 — The Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC), in partnership with the Kane County Economic Development Corporation (KCEDC), today announced the Extended Kane County Manufacturing Grant Program, designed to help local manufacturers improve operations, develop their workforce, and enhance long-term competitiveness.
Through this initiative, manufacturers can participate in expert-led projects, access tailored guidance, and collaborate with peers to strengthen their operations. The program includes opportunities for new Lighthouse projects, continued support for previous Lighthouse participants, and countywide peer roundtable discussions.
“Every manufacturer is feeling the strain of workforce challenges, from finding skilled talent to preparing the next generation of leaders,” said David Boulay, IMEC President. “This grant extension gives Kane County manufacturers additional resources and expert support they need to take action, strengthen their teams, and ensure long-term success.”
Ten manufacturers will be selected as Lighthouse participants, receiving up to $30,000 in funded support to implement projects in operations, workforce development, productivity, lean practices, safety, quality, and supply chain improvements. Applications for new Lighthouse projects are open November 3 – December 12, 2025. Previous Lighthouse participants can access additional support to sustain and expand improvements.
“This partnership with IMEC expands opportunities for manufacturers to innovate, grow, and compete in a changing economy,” said Austin Dempsey, Chairman of KCEDC. “Every improvement made within a local manufacturer supports families, communities, and the long-term economic vitality of Kane County.”
All Kane County manufacturers are also invited to participate in a countywide survey to share workforce and operational priorities and engage in peer roundtable discussions to exchange insights and best practices.
For more information, to participate in the survey, or to apply for Lighthouse support, visit https://www.imec.org/extended-kane-county-manufacturing-grant-program.
About IMEC
The Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) serves as the state’s U.S. Department of Commerce NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership center. IMEC is a team of industry improvement specialists dedicated to providing Illinois Manufacturers with the solutions, tools, and resources to create sustainable, competitive futures. IMEC drives growth through enterprise excellence, helping organizations become more effective and efficient through tailored solutions and support. In 2024, they assisted over 3,000 companies and helped create or retain over 7,700 jobs, resulting in over $870M aggregate impact to the Illinois economy. IMEC has seven offices statewide and 55 full-time industry improvement specialists. For more information, visit www.imec.org.
About KCEDC
The Kane County Economic Development Corporation (KCEDC) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit development corporation. The KCEDC promotes economic development by providing business assistance and services to attract, retain and expand businesses in Kane County. The primary outcomes of this are the retention and creation of high-quality jobs, new investments in Kane County communities and diversification of the tax base.
