Rural Workforce Development NFP

07/22/2026

Interactive Mechanical Room:
"Hands On Skilled Trade Experience"

Teaching a skilled trade task in under half a day, helping individuals determine which skilled trade fits their personality. Narrowing down how dirty is too dirty can only be experienced not through virtual or classroom settings.

Construction: Studded Walls 101 / Installing Door & Window

Electrical : Pulling wire from Breaker Box to Outlet/Swtich/Light

Plumbing: Installing a vanity / Water Lines / Drain / Vent

Masonary: Intallying Tile & Brick

HVAC : Installing duct work / thermostat / airhandler

Modular Design with the ability to pop up a Skilled Trade Camp anywhere and everywhere. Each wall is a separates into 4 foot sections, creating ease for assembly & easily rebuilt after campers drill holes.

We are looking for employers that would like to host a camp in their trade!

06/26/2026

Day 4: Tire Bead Blaster

We are launching Glow Golf Balls until all the Tee Times are filled for our Glow Golf Fundraising Event. In 3 Days we have filled half the openings!

If you are looking for a date night or an unique evening opportunity then mark your calendars for July 18th at Moweaqua Golf Course. We will have 3 golf holes set up for closest to the pin, a vintage wooden driver for longest glow golf drivers, and a putting competition. If swinging sticks are your thing, we will have music and adult beverages readily available.

Our Interactive Mechanical Room (IMR) will be on display. The IMR provides structured hands on trade experiences for non-college bound students such as: Installing a Door/Window, Pulling wire from a break box to switch/light, Plumbing a Vanity with a P-Trap, Installing duct work and thermostat to an air-handler, and general construction.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044AA9A72EA0FEC43-63917153-glow #/

06/25/2026

Day 3 : Teeing Up the 48" Pipe Wrench

If you have a student that is non-college bound or know someone that is 16-26 years old that wants to work with their hands, BUT doesn't know where to start, then RWD has them covered.

In 2025 we hosted multiple skilled trade camps providing hands on experience spinning wrenches, operating heavy equipment, and are currently building a Mobile Mechanical Room that can be used to learn task in Plumbing, HVAC, Carpentry, Electrical, and Masonry.

To fund all this fun we are hosting a Glow Golf event on July 18th at Moweaqua Golf Course from 8:30-10:30. Come on out and take a couple swings and learn how your $100 can fund the next generation of Skilled Traders.

More Info & Sign-Up:
https://ruralwd.com/glow-golf

06/24/2026

Day 2: Sledge Hammer off the Tee, Weak Result..

We are Hosting a Glow Golf Event on July 18th at Moweaqua Golf Course.

All funds go towards Skilled Trade Camps for individuals ages 16-26 interested in getting into a skilled trade career.

If you are looking for a date night or an opportunity to hit some glow balls on a summer evening then sign up:

https://ruralwd.com/glow-golf

We will be hitting Glow balls with Skilled Trade Tools till all the slots are filled.

Sledge Hammer Distance was weak, Current winner is the Spade.

06/23/2026

The labor shortage won't fix itself. But a little Glow Golf might help.

We are hosting a Closest to the Pin - Glow Golf Event
July 18th - 8:30 PM - Moweaqua Golf Course

We will be hitting Glow Golf Balls with Skilled Trade Tools til all the Tee Times are Booked.

Tonight : the Spade Shovel - Most used in the rough to dig you out of tight lights through narrow shots of opportunity.

Sign Up to Play: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044AA9A72EA0FEC43-63917153-glow #/

05/04/2026

Glow Golf Event!!

Top Golf Inspired Fundraiser with Limited Tee Times Available!

For More Information & Sign Up to Play Click Here:
https://ruralwd.com/glow-golf

3-4 Holes - Closest to the Pin
Vintage Wooden Driver LED Longest Drive Competition
50/50 Raffle Entry via LED Putting Contest

DJ dropping Beats while you are Drop'n Darts in the Dark

03/16/2026

5 Paid Skilled Trade Summer Internships!

We are working on the logistics behind a 30 or 60 day paid Skilled Trade internship for 17 & 18 year/olds in Macon County, IL this summer.

To provide real world on the job experiences for High School Juniors and Seniors we need to Solve 4 Challenges:

1. Insuring a 17 year old on a skilled trade jobsite = SOLVED ✅

- Our not for profit will handle the workman comp, and general liability that comes with slowing down your production to give an aspiring mechanically inclined indivudal a chance to see what its like to work in your industry.

2. Finding 5 Motivated & Disciplined, 17-18 year/old interested in trying 2 different 30 day skilled trade internships in the summer of 2026.

- If you are interested in a 30 day summer internship, apply online: www.ruralwd.com

3. Pairing with 20 different Skilled Trade companies that would be willing to slow down their production to provide a real world look at your career opportunities.

- We will partner with you to design out how to best structure the 30 day experience, so its not all broom handles holding. We run the payroll and cover the work comp/general liability. You pay the hourly wage

4. Buying down the cost of the work comp. College students have access to scholarships to help buy down their tuition, books, and board. We are looking for individuals, businesses, foundations, and nonprofits that would like to provide that same benefit to non-college bound students. Adopt an aspiring skilled tradesmen and sponsor their summer internship through lower the cost of entry to a hands on education.

- It costs an owner/operator or mom & pop nearly $0.70 per every dollar they pay a student that is 17-18 years/old to work on a skilled trade job site.

- That means an $18/hr helper learning on the job for 30 days, costs the mom & pop $30/hr.

Instead of donating your money to a scholarship for students studying for an undetermined college major. Partner with a 501c3, Rural Workforce Development, a donation helps by down the cost of a hands on education.

We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

02/24/2026

Which Document is more important:
High School Diploma or a Well Written Resume?

I would argue that a Resume trumps a Diploma 9 out of 10 times, however we prioritize all the extras that surround a diploma as if they lead to a fruitful life or an immediate step on a career path to success.

The final year of high school, a senior will be guided through how to get you graduation cap and gown, a senior photo for a year book, homecomings, proms, and countless experiences that are only a footnote to what they truly need after they turn 18 find a purposeful life.

Why doesn’t drivers ed require a student to create the basic resume that is stored with all the documents that no one ever asked for unless you are a college admissions counselor?

No one expects a student to have life figured out or a straight and narrow career path ready to explore post high school. However the lack of any documentation of skills in a resume format that can be provided to a potential employer is a failure in our educational system.

For those who disagree and claim the Diploma is vital to even apply to jobs, then you’ve never watched a kid check the box on an application stating they have a GED or Diploma and watched the application successfully make it through to a hiring manager. Few jobs that non college bound students apply for verify a high school transcript, even fewer jobs care about a high school transcript if you have been out of high school for 5+ years. We are not condoning lying on an application, but does an employer care more about if can you show up on time, work safely and with determination or if you completed your GED or High School Diploma.

This leads me to question, Legally, what career certifications require a GED or High School Diploma?
o Drivers License = NO
o Commercial driver’s License = NO
o Welding Certificate = NO
o CNA certification (nursing) = NO
o Real Estate Professional = NO
o US Congressmen/House of Rep = NO
o VP or President of USA = NO
§ Fun Fact :Last President without a degree was Harry S Truman

How are we preparing the next generation to succeed?