Manufacturing & Trades Day

Each year, NWILED, in partnership with Jo Daviess Carroll Career Technical Education Academy (CTEA), hosts a manufacturing day educational career event. It is an occasion during which manufacturers, trades, and logistics companies open their doors to showcase the potential of modern manufacturing and to foster interest in related careers. All high schools in Carroll and Jo Daviess Counties are invited to participate along with Lena-Winslow High.

Since the program began in 2022 an estimated 1,500 students have benefited from the experience, and annually, about 300 students attend this event and are exposed to a varied group of industries ranging from traditional manufacturing to transportation, healthcare, and energy.


Manufacturing & Trades Day 2026 is a true regional event, and we are thrilled to say overall we have 40 businesses and organizations involved this year – a record! I Our mission is for Manufacturing & Trades Day is to showcase career opportunities available for future professionals in our community (students) through student-friendly interactive learning.

This day-long event is scheduled for Thursday, October 8th. Part of a student's day is at a Site Visit. Zurn Elkay Water Solutions, Metform, PSC Group, Adkins Energy, Signcraft Screenprint, Riverport Railroad, Twin Images, and Neumiller Farms are opening their doors to offer the schools tours of their production areas and operations. And we have corresponding Pop Ups happening with JCE Coop, Jo Daviess County Highway Dept., ITC Midwest, Village of Hanover, and Nicor Gas where field crews show off their rigs and talk about being a field worker or linemen for 15 minutes in the plant parking lot.

The second part of a student's day is spent at the CTEA where 30 interactive stations are planned. Trade focused businesses are there along with workforce development and education groups, specifically Stateline Solar, Business Employment Skills Team, Galena Mill and Steel, Adkins Energy, JCE Coop, Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa, United States Penitentiary – Thomson, River Cities Heating, AC, Reirrigation, DC Rise Real Estate and A&D Rise Getaways, Highland Community College, Nicor Gas, Elizabeth Garage, Forster Products, Hudson's Tack & More, 4-C: Community Coordinated Child Care, Guy's Truck and Tractor Service, Angelic Paws Dog Training, Veterinary Associates, Molitor Plumbing, Midwest Medical Center, and Conlon Construction.

And we have Citizens State Bank and the Galena Area Chamber of Commerce assisting with student lunch to the 285 students we are expecting.