Caterpillar has pledged to spend $100 million over five years to help prepare workers for modern manufacturing and industry technician jobs.
The latest installment in the company’s Building the Future Workforce Initiative will allocate up to $10 million in Illinois, where Caterpillar employs 17,000 people.
Illinois joins Texas and Indiana, both of which were allotted up to $5 million, for the initiative.
The company has also allocated $25 million to launch a global innovation prize. The contest will present up to five $1 million awards next year “for bold ideas that help workers with the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly digital and autonomous environment.” Caterpillar will announce the finalists in early 2027.
The Building the Future Workforce Initiative launched in April 2025 as part of Caterpillar’s 100th anniversary. The initiative is a first for the company, which it says “reflects our dedication to people and strengthening communities.”
Caterpillar says the recently announced $10 million pledge for Illinois sets out the following goals:
- Strengthen collaboration between Illinois training institutions and employers so individuals receive more accessible, affordable and relevant training that leads to career advancement;
- Implement outreach and engagement programs to build understanding of modern manufacturing among Illinois students, parents and educators;
- Explore innovative training and financing models so workers can access cutting-edge, community-tailored programs;
- Share successful innovation models and best practices with the wider industry.
Collaborators on the Illinois initiative include the Greater Peoria Leadership Council, the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur & Macon County, the Livingston Area Career Center and Heartland Community College.
