Small Business Optimism Below Average but SteadyNFIB’s April Small Business Economic Trends report saw small business optimism stabilize with a 0.1-point increase to the Optimism Index. The Index remains below the 52-year average for the second consecutive month. NFIB’s new Employment Index declined from 101.6 to 100.4, still above the historical average. The above average reading aligns with sentiments from small business owners who selected labor quality as their single most important problem in April. More HERE. |
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U.S. Manufacturing Hits 4-Year HighU.S. manufacturing activity reached a four-year high in May as manufacturers increased inventories to mitigate potential disruptions from the US-Iran conflict. More HERE.. |
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Foreign Influence in the Campaign against American AIBPI report documents three vectors of foreign influence — CCP state media, the Singham network and foreign-billionaire dark money — behind the anti-AI campaign. More HERE.Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt was booed during a University of Arizona commencement speech after comparing AI to past technological revolutions, triggering pushback from graduates worried about jobs and social disruption. More HERE. |
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Rivian to Host Second Taxpayer-Funded Training Academy in IllinoisThe Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has announced plans for a manufacturing training academy at Rivian’s Normal, IL campus. The academy will complement Heartland Community College’s Advanced Manufacturing Center, which opened two years ago, to support the electric vehicle industry and develop a skilled workforce. More HERE. |
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Trump Admin Rolls out Pell Grants to Fast-Track Workers Into High-Demand JobsLast week the Trump administration unveiled the nation’s first Workforce Pell Grant program, a federal student aid initiative designed to move Americans more quickly into high-demand jobs through short-term training and certification programs. More HERE. To find out more, contract us at education@tmaillinois.org |
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Chicago Implements Changes to Fair Workweek Rules, Which Take Effect June 1The Chicago Office of Labor Standards (OLS) has adopted and published changes to the rules implementing the city’s Fair Workweek Ordinance. Final rules implementing this ordinance were originally issued in 2020. New rules were published May 15, 2026, however, and will take effect June 1, 2026. More HERE. |
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New Illinois Neonatal Intensive Care Leave Act Effective June 1, 2026The Illinois Neonatal Intensive Care Leave Act takes effect June 1, 2026. This new law requires companies with 16 or more employees to provide additional job-protected leave for parents with a newborn or newly adopted child in the neonatal intensive care unit. NOTE: NICLA has broad eligibility rules – broader than the federal FMLA, so do not use FMLA eligibility as the standard when a NICU situation arises. More HERE. |
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Senate Committee Passes Legislation to Save CTE Courses in Illinois High SchoolsThe Senate Education Committee voted unanimously last week to pass SB 3070, TMA’s legislation that would allow high school students to take Career & Technical Education (CTE) classes as an alternative to the 2-year foreign language mandate starting in 2028. TMA will continue to work through the end of the month in Springfield to get the bill across the legislative finish line so the Governor can sign it into law. More HERE. |
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TMA Members Deliver Huge Support for SB 3070TMA members once again stepped up when called to action last week and delivered 61 of the 98 total witness slips to let Senate Education Committee members know of their strong support for SB 3070. TMA was the dominant group weighing in on both the main bill and Amendment 1 amid a coalition of business and education organizations. THANK YOU! |
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Vice President JD Vance Speaks About ManufacturingThe Vice President of the United States spoke the Trump Administration’s accomplishments over the course of the last year, and its efforts in the American manufacturing sector. More HERE. |
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Bill Requiring Businesses to Pay Employees During Jury Duty Sent to Pritzker’s DeskSponsors said this is an attempt to address the financial disincentives that exist for potential jurors to serve. The National Federation of Independent Businesses opposes the bill, as small businesses believe employees should be paid by the government for jury duty. More HERE. |
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The Future of TMA Member TrainingTMA Member Training remains very much alive, actively evolving, and positioned for its next phase of growth and relevance within the industry. Far from fading, we’re expanding, modernizing, and working to build a stronger future for you and the industry. Read more from TMA President Patrick Osborne HERE. |
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Developing the Next Generation of Manufacturing TalentTMA’s Education Foundation is dedicated to improving the image of manufacturing and developing the next generation of industry professionals. Founded in 1987, the Foundation granted nearly $2M dollars to: ✓ Promote manufacturing education – elementary, high school, college.✓ Provide materials and expertise for manufacturing training programs.✓ Increase awareness of industry careers among young people.✓ Recruit and direct individuals into rewarding employment in manufacturing.See the latest Foundation Newsletter HERE. |
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| Integrated Marketing: Digital, Print & PR That Maximizes ResultsTime: 8:00am-10:00am | Location: Schaumburg, IL | Info & Registration: HERE |
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| FPE Tech Showcase 2026Time: 1:00pm-4:00pm | Location: Rosemont, IL | Info & Registration: HERE |
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| Lunch & Tour: C. H. Hanson CompanyTime: 11:30am-1:30pm | Location: Naperville, IL | Info & Registration: HERE |
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| Boomers Summer Bash 2026Time: 5:30pm-9:30pm | Location: Schaumburg, IL | Info & Registration: HERE |
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| TMA on Tap: BeloitTime: 4:30pm-6:00pm | Location: Beloit, WI | Info & Registration: HERE |
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| Operations Roundtable: SchaumburgTime: 11:30am-1:30pm | Location: TMA Schaumburg, IL | Info & Registration: HERE |
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| Roundtable: Strategic Human Capital ManagementTime: 8:00am-10:00am | Location: TMA Schaumburg, IL | Info & Registration: HERE |
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| SAVE THE DATE – Ravinia Green Golf Outing 2026Time: 9:30am-4:30pm | Location: Riverwoods, IL | Info & Registration: HERE |
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| SAVE THE DATE – WTMA Annual Luncheon 2026Time: 11:30am-1:30pm | Location: Wheeling, IL | Info & Registration: HERE |
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TMA Training: Built on Tradition. Driven by Innovation.Like any long-standing program or institution, training models must continually evolve to remain effective and relevant. Even successful programs can become outdated as technologies advance, workforce expectations shift, and industry needs change.As manufacturers know, periodic modernization is essential to sustaining growth and continuous improvement. By thoughtfully updating curriculum, instructional methods, and hands-on learning experiences to reflect modern manufacturing realities, TMA’s training programs continue to deliver lasting value to both students and employers.Under new, forward-thinking leadership, TMA Training has been refocused on immersive, hands-on training and practical skills development, balancing foundational classroom learning with applied experience to better prepare today’s workforce for industry demands.In short, this approach blends the old-school strengths of traditional training with a modern, innovation-driven model that prioritizes relevance, engagement, and real-world application.Unlike others, TMA’s training program is approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education as a Private Business and Vocational School and serves as an approved Related Technical Instruction (RTI) provider for U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship programs. Both our technical and non-technical programs are built in alignment with industry standards and designed in collaboration with subject matter experts to ensure practical, job-ready outcomes. |
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HEALTH INSURANCETMA Health Solutions is the leading insurance partner for small and midsize manufacturers. We assess, advise, and offer innovative, high-quality, and cost-effective health benefit plans and services. We take time to understand and assist your business so you can recruit and retain the best employees.For more information, click HERE |
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| RISK MANAGEMENTThe Daniel and Henry Co. is an insurance and risk management firm providing property and casualty insurance and consultation for small and midsize manufacturers. As TMA’s partner, D&H helps protect your business against the unexpected. If it makes an impact on your business, Daniel & Henry handles it.For more information, click HERE or HERE |
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SALES & MARKETINGTMA helps members attract customers through marketing, logo development, website design, social media, etc. TMA sources suppliers to find the right fit for all size manufacturers. To complement this program, we can also provide prospects for members through Hoovers/Dunn & Bradstreet.For more information, click HERE |
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| BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTTMA provides members access to the global prospecting database – Hoovers/Dunn & Bradstreet. TMA staff engage with members to help determine targeted industries based on their capabilities. We then search the database and provide the member a usable spreadsheet report with prospective targets.For more information, click HERE |
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RETIREMENT | 401KTMA offers members a professional, world-class 401K program that reduces costs and shifts admin and liability to a TMA 401K Board of Directors that acts as a Fiduciary Advisor managing member plan documents, service providers, and legal costs while offering investment funds not available to smaller plans.For more information, click HERE |
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| HUMAN RESOURCESTMA provides members free HR counsel with unlimited phone and email consultation via the TMA HR Hotline. Members also have access to the review and analysis of their personnel policies, work rules, and employee handbook by HR attorneys at a TMA-discounted price, as well as regular updates on important HR issues.For more information, click HERE |
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