This Month's Latest Tech News in Elgin, IL - Sunday August 31st 2025 Edition

Weekly commentary: A crossroads for Elgin - workforce tech meets national industrial shifts - Elgin Community College's steady mix of community support and career-focused programming is becoming a local answer to nationwide skills gaps: Impact Magazine highlights ECC's Seigle Scholar Program (a $500,000 gift) and the college's “Bright Futures” push, while the ECC Foundation's Donor Appreciation Breakfast showcased students whose stories map directly to employer needs; see the latest ECC features for background in the ECC Impact Magazine article ECC Impact Magazine coverage of ECC programs and the ECC Foundation Donor Appreciation Breakfast details ECC Foundation Donor Appreciation Breakfast event page.

Continuing Education offerings for Spring 2025 list manufacturing, coding, and technician pathways that pair well with short, practical AI upskilling - for example, Nucamp's 15-week AI Essentials for Work bootcamp teaches tool use, prompt-writing, and on-the-job AI applications (early-bird tuition $3,582) and is built for nontechnical learners; learn more or register for the AI Essentials for Work bootcamp at Nucamp's AI Essentials for Work registration page Nucamp AI Essentials for Work bootcamp registration.

The combination of philanthropy, targeted training, and accessible AI skills could tip Elgin from steady recovery to competitive labor-market advantage.

Bootcamp	Length	Early-bird Cost	Registration Link
AI Essentials for Work	15 Weeks	$3,582	Register for Nucamp AI Essentials for Work (15 weeks)
Cybersecurity Fundamentals	15 Weeks	$2,124	Register for Nucamp Cybersecurity Fundamentals (15 weeks)
Full Stack Web + Mobile	22 Weeks	$2,604	Register for Nucamp Full Stack Web + Mobile (22 weeks)

“Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” - Winston Churchill (quoted by ECC scholarship recipient Princess Sombi Lansana)

ModMed's donation of an ophthalmology “sandbox” EHR to Elgin Community College - part of a three-college gift that also includes College of DuPage and Triton College - brings specialty-focused, hands-on EHR training straight into local classrooms, equipping students with real-world skills in patient documentation, specialty workflows, and tech management that employers now expect; the initiative supports more than 50 students annually in Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) and Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) pathways, and Elgin's program (launched in 2022) serves up to 20 students per semester with the program's first graduating class already seeing two-thirds employed, a tangible payoff for workforce development in the region (full announcement via ModMed's press release and coverage from Becker's ASC Review).

For educators and employers in Elgin, having a sandbox EHR on campus removes a traditional barrier between classroom and clinic, sharpening resumes and shortening the path to hire-ready technicians.

College	Program Highlights	Students Supported
Elgin Community College	Ophthalmic Technician Program (began 2022); prepares students for COT exam	Up to 20/semester; first class with ~2/3 employed
College of DuPage	COA and COT programs; integrated ModMed EHR in clinicals	~15 in clinicals + 15 using ModMed
Triton College	2‑year Ophthalmic Technician Program; ModMed used every semester in labs	16 graduated in May; 18 enrolled for August

“ModMed has created a practical way for our students to access tools that weren't available to them before.” - Mitzi Thomas, COMT, Assistant Professor and Chair, College of DuPage (ModMed press release)

2) Hoffer Plastics Co-CEO Alex Hoffer: local leadership, manufacturing roots - Alex's path from a summer job cleaning air conditioners on the roof of Hoffer's South Elgin plant to co-CEO shows how local talent can grow into global stewardship: after returning in 2008 he moved through estimator, sales and packaging roles and in 2020 joined his sisters to form the “G3” co-CEO team that now blends sales, operations, finance and HR under family values of service and trust.

His NAM profile highlights a leadership style built on simple, repeatable practices - role success statements and monthly KPIs - that yield clarity and alignment, while company pieces note Hoffer's emphasis on long tenure, community ties (the Hoffer Foundation, est.

1966), and operational resilience: 350 employees, investments in automation (saving 55,000 labor hours) and a 99.45% on-time delivery record that keep local supply chains dependable.

Read more in NAM's Forge Your Path feature and the Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing cover story, or explore Hoffer's own account of legacy and innovation on their site.

Fact	Detail
Leadership	Co-CEOs Gretchen Hoffer Farb, Charlotte Hoffer Canning, Alex Hoffer (“G3”)
Founded	1953 (Bob & Helen Hoffer)
Employees	~350; strong long-tenure culture
Notable metrics	99.45% on-time delivery; automation saved ~55,000 hours

“The most important job of a leader is setting clear standards and aligning the team to those standards.” - Alex Hoffer (NAM Forge Your Path)

3) NAM / Manufacturing Leadership Council report: AI adoption and policy recommendations - Local manufacturers should treat the council's guidance as part of a wider signal: national analyses show AI is now a strategic priority that's reshaping capital, supply chains, and workforce planning.

Recent industry studies highlight that VC dollars earmarked for AI are a material slice of venture activity (AI‑focused VC funds accounted for roughly 31% of VC capital in H1 2025) and that deal value for AI targets jumped 127% year‑over‑year as buyers paid premiums for talent and tech; see the Ropes & Gray H1 2025 AI report - AI investment trends and analysis.

Private equity is leaning into AI infrastructure and data centers, while sector analyses warn manufacturers to plan for energy and compute needs even as AI could add trillions in value to manufacturing over the next decade - an industry framing captured in the AI adoption across industries analysis - infrastructure and industry implications.

For Elgin leaders the takeaway is practical: invest in “picks and shovels” (infrastructure, training, and pragmatic pilots), update procurement and energy plans, and push for clear policy that blends incentives with workforce reskilling so local firms can capture productivity gains without getting left behind.

Metric	Figure
VC capital to AI‑focused funds (H1 2025)	~31%
AI target deal value (YoY change, H1 2025)	+127%
U.S. share of AI deal value (H1 2025)	83%

“In some ways, it's like selling shovels to people looking for gold.” – Jon Mauck, DigitalBridge (Pitchbook, Jan 8, 2025)

4) Antora Energy's thermal battery plans to power U.S. manufacturing - Antora is building modular, factory‑made thermal batteries that soak up the cheapest hours of renewable electricity, store that energy as heat in solid carbon blocks, and discharge 24/7 heat and/or electricity at industrial scale; Fast Company highlighted the approach on its Most Innovative Companies list this year (Fast Company Most Innovative Companies feature on Antora Energy).

The company already runs a commercial demonstration near Fresno (launched in 2023) and opened a U.S. manufacturing line in San Jose to churn out 50,000‑sq‑ft factory modules designed to plug into existing plants (Antora Energy San Jose manufacturing facility details).

With ARPA‑E SCALEUP support to scale a combined heat‑and‑power product and thermophotovoltaic conversion, the tech aims to deliver high‑temperature, low‑cost heat (carbon blocks can withstand temperatures up to ~2400°C) that could slash emissions in steel, cement, and other heavy industries while stabilizing local grids and onshoring supply chains - concrete leverage for Elgin manufacturers seeking cheaper, cleaner, always‑on energy.

Fact	Detail
Manufacturing facility	San Jose factory (50,000 sq ft)
Commercial demo	Fresno demonstration site (launched 2023)
ARPA‑E SCALEUP award	$14.5 million to accelerate CHP product
Storage medium / temp	Solid carbon blocks; storage up to ~2400°C

“We're taking local energy from sources that are already near factories, at times when nobody else wants it and it would otherwise be wasted, and delivering it to American manufacturers.” - Justin Briggs, Antora COO (NAM)

5) ModMed's broader AI and product news - context for the local donation: ModMed's recent momentum makes its ophthalmology EHR sandbox donation feel strategic, not just charitable - the company was the highest‑ranking EHR in G2's 2025 Best Software Awards, a signal of strong user satisfaction and specialty focus (ModMed recognized in G2 2025 Best Software Awards), and it's rolling out AI features that tackle real clinic pain points, such as an AI‑powered Enhanced Faxing feature that extracts and routes information into EMA to cut tedious admin time (ModMed Enhanced Faxing AI announcement on Business Wire).

A patient survey ModMed published also shows practical caution: many patients back AI when it means more face time, underscoring why hands‑on EHR training for ophthalmic techs matters - clinics want tools that save time without sacrificing the clinician–patient moment.

Together, the awards, AI product launches, and provider footprint point to a company building tools and training pipelines that help Elgin classrooms turn students into practice‑ready hires.

Item	Detail
G2 recognition	Highest‑ranking EHR provider in G2's 2025 Best Software Awards
AI product	Enhanced Faxing for EMA® - AI extracts and routes faxed info into EHR
Patient sentiment	ModMed survey: majority support AI if it increases face time with clinicians
Provider reach	Trusted by over 40,000 providers (company figure)

“It is truly an honor to be recognized among the leading healthcare software products in G2's Best Software Awards.” - Dan Cane, co‑CEO and cofounder of ModMed

The U.S. Supreme Court's May 2025 decision to decline an appeal initially cleared a high‑profile path for the Resolution Copper project - a joint venture of Rio Tinto (55%) and BHP (45%) that could produce roughly 40 billion pounds of copper over 40 years and, at peak, meet about 25% of U.S. copper needs - a material boost for EVs, renewables, grid upgrades, and electronics supply chains; see the Supreme Court ruling on the Resolution Copper mine and the mine's technical Resolution Copper project overview and technical details for background.

That signal matters for tech and manufacturing planners who price in long lead times for critical metals, but the “cleared” path is anything but final: federal permitting, tribal consultation, and a temporary injunction from the 9th Circuit have since reintroduced legal uncertainty, underlining that domestic supply resilience hinges as much on courtrooms and consultations as it does on geology.

The stakes are vivid - opponents note the block‑cave footprint could leave a crater roughly 1,000 feet deep and two miles across - so Elgin manufacturers and procurement teams should treat Resolution as a potential supply‑chain game‑changer that still requires contingency planning, diversified sourcing, and investment in recycling and processing capacity at home.

Metric	Figure / Note
Estimated lifetime copper	~40 billion lbs over 40 years
U.S. share of demand	~25% of domestic copper needs (potential)
Ownership	Rio Tinto 55% / BHP 45%
Deposit depth	~5,000–7,000 ft below surface

“We are pleased that the Ninth Circuit's decision will stand… The Resolution Copper mine is vital to securing America's energy future, infrastructure needs, and national defense with a domestic supply of copper and other critical minerals.” - Vicky Peacey, General Manager, Resolution Copper

7) Federal push to accelerate nuclear licensing to meet data-center electricity demand - The May 23, 2025 executive actions direct a rapid overhaul of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to shave years off permitting timelines and prioritize advanced reactors that could serve power-hungry AI data centers; the White House order sets firm targets (including an 18‑month cap for new‑reactor licensing and a 12‑month cap for renewals) and asks agencies to scale U.S. nuclear capacity from roughly 100 GW today toward 400 GW by 2050, while DOE/DoD plans explicitly encourage reactor deployment and co‑location with AI facilities (including an ambitious milestone for a military‑site reactor by 2028) - all aimed at meeting estimates that data‑center electricity demand could jump by about 240 TWh (≈+130% vs.

2024). Local planners should watch licensing deadlines, grid interconnection queues, workforce needs, and supply‑chain financing: an 18‑month decision window could compress what used to be multi‑year regulatory drag into a year and a half, creating fast-moving siting and transmission choices for regions courting data‑center investment; see the White House NRC reform order and a detailed industry/legal roundup for context.

Item	Figure / Target
NRC licensing deadline (new reactors)	≤ 18 months (EO May 23, 2025)
Renewal decision target	≤ 12 months
U.S. nuclear capacity goal	~100 GW → 400 GW by 2050
Data‑center demand growth (IEA estimate cited)	~240 TWh increase (~+130% vs. 2024)
Near‑term DOE targets	5 GW uprates; 10 new large reactors under construction by 2030 (ambitious goal)

8) U.S. Court strikes down ‘reciprocal' IEEPA tariffs - trade uncertainty resurfaces - A federal appeals court this week dealt a major legal blow to the administration's wide‑ranging “reciprocal” tariffs, finding that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act didn't authorize blanket duties and setting a stay through October 14 while the government seeks Supreme Court review; read the on‑the‑ground implications in CNBC's coverage of what the court loss means and the legal detail in SCOTUSblog's explainer.

For Elgin manufacturers and tech firms the takeaway is practical: sourcing, pricing, and inventory plans remain under a cloud - tariff collections total in the hundreds of billions and small‑business plaintiffs warned household cost bumps of roughly $1,200–$2,800 - so procurement teams should avoid dramatic supplier shifts and instead run contingency scenarios, document likely refund paths, and lock short‑term supplier agreements where possible.

The ruling doesn't remove tariffs today but it reopens the possibility of large retroactive refunds and a fast‑moving legal calendar that could reshape inputs for electronics, copper, and other traded components that local firms depend on.

Item	Figure / Note
Court action	Federal Circuit ruled most IEEPA “reciprocal” tariffs illegal; stay until Oct 14
Baseline reciprocal rate	10% baseline on many imports (higher rates for some partners)
Tariff revenue	Hundreds of billions collected in 2025 (reporting cites ~$159B by July)
Household impact (plaintiff estimate)	~$1,200–$2,800 average tax increase per household in 2025

“Right now, we have not heard anything much or seen any changes.” - Paul Brashier, VP of Global Supply Chain, ITS Logistics (CNBC)

9) NAM Q2 2025 survey: manufacturers' optimism dips - local risks and policy fixes - The National Association of Manufacturers' Q2 2025 Manufacturers' Outlook Survey shows a sharp sentiment shift that matters for Elgin employers and procurement teams: optimism plunged to 55.4% (a nearly 15‑point fall from Q1 and the lowest since Q2 2020), while trade uncertainty topped worries at 77.0% and 89.0% of firms say recent tariffs increased their cost of doing business (an average hit of 7.7%).

Other red flags: raw‑material/input costs are expected to rise ~5.8% and 85.4% of respondents urged Congress to preserve pro‑growth tax policy to blunt uncertainty.

For local manufacturers that means retooling forecasts, locking short‑term supplier terms, and prioritizing scenario planning now - because sentiment swung that quickly once before, and a 7.7% hidden cost can turn a healthy margin into a scramble to adjust prices or delay hires.

Read the full NAM Q2 2025 outlook and MDM's report for context.

Metric	Q2 2025
Positive outlook (optimism)	55.4%
Trade uncertainty (top concern)	77.0%
Tariff‑related firms reporting higher costs	89.0% (avg +7.7%)
Expected input cost increase	+5.8%
Survey period / sample	May 8–27, ~299 respondents

“These numbers are yet another indicator that manufacturers need increased policy certainty.” - Jay Timmons, President and CEO, NAM (NAM Q2 2025 Manufacturers' Outlook Survey (full report))

10) Cold-case breakthrough using AI and DNA with an Elgin connection - A new National Institute of Justice‑funded project at UNT Health Fort Worth is building MOSAIC, an AI tool to standardize biological profiles (age, sex, ancestry, stature) from skeletal data, backed by a $2 million grant to speed identifications and shrink NamUs backlogs (UNT MOSAIC AI tool coverage - Dallas Morning News).

That standardized, machine‑learning approach arrives alongside a boom in forensic genetic genealogy and commercial forensic labs that pair advanced sequencing with AI workflows - firms like Othram have helped crack hundreds of cold cases by turning degraded DNA into actionable leads, a step change for families and investigators (Othram forensic genomics expansion and casework).

The result is practical: cases once stalled for decades (from newborns to long‑unsolved homicides) can be reopened and resolved, returning names to families; for Elgin, these tools mean local agencies and advocacy groups could see faster, more reliable identification options and clearer paths to closure.

Item	Detail
Project	MOSAIC (UNT Health Fort Worth)
Grant	$2 million (National Institute of Justice)
Goal	AI-driven standardization of biological profiles to aid identifications
Complementary tools	Forensic genetic genealogy + advanced sequencing (e.g., Othram)
Real-world impact	Hundreds of cold cases and unidentified remains resolved nationwide

“Our goal is to provide investigators with the most powerful tools to generate answers, no matter how old or complex the case or how degraded the DNA.” - Dr. David Mittelman, Othram CEO

Conclusion: What Elgin should watch - education, energy, and supply-chain readiness: Elgin's resilience will hinge on three linked bets - rapid, practical AI upskilling for the local workforce, ethically designed factory and quality systems that cut waste and keep safety first, and supply‑chain intelligence that turns disruption into predictability.

Prioritize short, job‑focused courses like Nucamp's AI Essentials for Work (Nucamp AI Essentials for Work - 15-week bootcamp (register)) so technicians and procurement teams can use AI tools and write effective prompts on day one; push manufacturers to adopt ethical AI practices shown to reduce defects (Siemens Gamesa reported a 25% defect drop using AI vision systems) as highlighted in IEN's coverage of ethical AI in manufacturing (IEN article: Ethical AI Is Transforming the Manufacturing Industry); and treat supply‑chain AI as infrastructure - the logistics AI market hit $20.8B in 2025 and government programs are already using AI to flag tens of thousands of risky suppliers, meaning predictive sourcing and digital twins aren't optional anymore (DocShipper: How AI Is Changing Logistics & Supply Chain in 2025).

The practical takeaway: align training, procurement policy, and pilot investments now so Elgin firms can turn AI from a theoretical advantage into lower costs, faster hires, and fewer surprises on the plant floor.

Watch	Concrete signal	Source
Education / Upskilling	Nucamp AI Essentials for Work - 15 weeks; early‑bird $3,582	Nucamp AI Essentials for Work - 15-week bootcamp (register)
Energy / Quality	AI vision systems can cut defects ~25% (Siemens Gamesa example)	IEN article: Ethical AI Is Transforming the Manufacturing Industry
Supply‑chain Readiness	AI in logistics market $20.8B (2025); government AI flags ~19,000 high‑risk vendors	DocShipper: How AI Is Changing Logistics & Supply Chain in 2025 / DLA: Utilization of Artificial Intelligence to Illuminate Supply Chain Risk

“Ethical AI will play a transformative role in manufacturing by addressing critical challenges while driving efficiency and accelerating innovation.” - Yvette Schmitter (IEN)