Midwest Trailer Manufacturer
As noted in the Unified State Plan, LWIA 13 continues to build on the lessons learned from the Innovation Project for Returning Citizens (IPRC). LWIA 13 Title I and the Illinois Department of Corrections are strengthening our collaborative effort to meet the local area needs of both the labor market and returning citizens. In Henry County sits a family-owned community employer who is actively committed to hiring returning citizens. It is our pleasure to nominate Midwest Trailer Manufacturer (MTM) for the 2022 Innovative Solutions Award.
Midwest Trailer Manufacturer (MTM), located in Kewanee, IL, opened its doors in January 2016. Shortly after opening, MTM’s partnership with American Job Center began. Our work together began with an On-The-Job training provided to a local dislocated worker. By 2018, MTM began working with Kewanee Life Skills and American Job Center partners to execute the Innovation Project for Returning Citizens (IPRC). This collaboration continued until the onset of the COVID-19 National Emergency, when any further expansion was delayed.
Recently, efforts to align training with business and industry needs has become restored. In previous years, MTM has streamlined fulltime employment to individuals post discharge. Today, collaborative efforts between IDOC, MTM and Title I have resulted in On-the-Job Training program implementation for currently incarcerated individuals. MTM’s core values revolve around being a family-owned company that treats customers and employees with respect. MTM CEO, Ben Endress, understands the importance of social and community connection for returning citizens and provides a community of employees that have embraced this commitment to their new co-workers.
MTM continues to improve service delivery to the justice involved population due to core values that go beyond an employers responsibility. MTM staff have successfully implemented four On-the-Job training contracts, which took extensive collaboration with Illinois Department of Corrections, Kewanee Life Skills and American Job Center. MTM’s commitment and drive to Re-Entry is commendable.