Governor J.B. Pritzker joined leadership from IATSE Local 2 and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity on Thursday to cut the ribbon on the union’s new training center, a facility designed to strengthen workforce development for Chicago’s stagehands and live event technicians.
Local 2 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States and Canada, or IATSE (IA), represents the stagehands, technicians, and theatrical craft professionals who serve Chicago’s entertainment industry. The new facility, supported by a 5 million dollar State of Illinois grant, marks a significant investment in the union’s ability to train and prepare the region’s behind-the-scenes workforce for a rapidly evolving production landscape.
“Illinois is a prime cultural hub and major tourist destination, thanks in no small part to our skilled entertainment workforce,” Governor Pritzker said at the event. “This new training center will further solidify that status while bringing quality jobs, opportunity, and investment to our communities.”
The Governor spoke alongside IATSE leaders, including International President Matthew D. Loeb and Local 2 Business Manager Craig Carlson, who emphasized the importance of ongoing training as production and live event technologies continue to advance.
Investing in a Skilled Production Workforce
The new training center will serve as a hands on hub for instruction in stage rigging, lighting, safety operations, and technical production, areas that fuel Chicago’s theater, concert, convention, broadcast, and filming sectors. IATSE leadership noted that the facility will help ensure workers stay current with industry standards while creating new pathways for Chicagoans entering the field.
President Loeb called training “central to safety at work” and credited the State of Illinois for recognizing the cultural and economic impact of the entertainment workforce. Local 2 Business Manager Craig Carlson added that the center reflects political leadership putting people first and demonstrates how unions and state partners can build strong career pipelines.
Tim Drea, President of the Illinois AFL CIO, said the investment will help train the next generation for “good, safe, union jobs in Illinois’ world class venues.” Legislators from the Northwest Side also highlighted the center’s local impact, including new vocational access points for Chicago residents.
A Growing Creative Economy
The ribbon cutting comes as Illinois continues to report strong outcomes from its entertainment sector investments. According to the state:
- Illinois’ film and TV incentive returns 6 dollars and 81 cents in economic activity for every 1 dollar spent.
- From fiscal year 2017 through fiscal year 2024, the program generated more than 4.5 billion dollars in statewide economic impact.
- In 2024 alone, productions reported 653 million dollars in expenditures and 351 million dollars in wages, representing approximately 18,200 job hires not including extras.
- Illinois remains the only state in the region without a cap on its film tax incentives, which remains a major differentiator as studios evaluate production hubs.
The new training center supports that momentum by ensuring a larger, highly trained, union strong workforce, one of Chicago’s most significant draws for film, television, and live event producers.
Looking Ahead
With the center now open, IATSE Local 2 is preparing to roll out expanded coursework and skills training for both new workers and existing members looking to upgrade qualifications. The union expects the facility to become a long term anchor for safety, technical mastery, and job access across Chicago’s entertainment industries.
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