By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The three-county region that includes Rockford has earned a new federal designation that local officials and congressional representatives say will prove critical in the fight to attract new companies and development here.
The designation could aid in the region’s plight for passenger rail service, and it could help attract multinational corporations here to create new jobs in green technology, logistics and aerospace industries.
“We have seen corporate wealth leave our region over the last three decades,” said Michael Dunn Jr., executive director of the Region 1 Planning Council, an agency that works to foster collaboration among local governments here. “We’re trying to be very competitive to bring that corporate wealth back, to bring that private investment back to create jobs, new kinds of jobs.
“We have to somewhat get disattached from the very proud legacy we all share in yesterday’s jobs. What are the jobs of tomorrow?”
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Dozens of local, state and federal dignitaries — ranging from local mayors and county board chairman to state and congressional representatives and senators — gathered at Collins Aerospace on Friday to celebrate the R1 Planning Council earning the designation as an economic development district from the Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce. It is one of 13 such districts in Illinois.
The designation is the culmination of a dozen years of work to advance the goals of Boone, Winnebago and McHenry counties. As an economic development district, R1 will focus on obtaining federal infrastructure dollars and spurring job creation in three key sectors for the region — aerospace, automotive production and food processing — while also working to grow the emerging logistics and distribution industry cluster.
“It takes large public and private investments across multiple cities to get the attention of and attract new industry to our region,” Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara said. “When our economic development strategies are aligned, every single person in our region wins. That means we get more investment, we have more job opportunities for our cities and their families.”
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U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat representing Illinois, led a congressional delegation to South Korea and Taiwan last year to help strengthen economic ties between the countries. She said South Korea has committed to spending $38 billion in manufacturing in the United States. This new designation, she said, can help provide incentive for some of that money to be spent here.
“We really are, here, a hub of agriculture, manufacturing, technology and innovation in Illinois, on a global stage,” Duckworth said.
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LG Chem, which is Korea’s largest chemical company, and ADM, an American multinational food-processing business, announced a joint venture in August to build new production facilities for plant-based goods in Decatur. That’s an example of the type of growth this region can attract with the new designation, Duckworth said.
“We can do that here, too,” she said. “We know that this region is ideal for investment and expansion. There are ample opportunities to expand to new green technologies in aerospace and automotive, and we are well situated for expanding the logistical corridor out from Chicago.”
Duckworth said the passage of the bipartisan Chips and Science Act in August has already encouraged multinational corporations to look at making microchips in the U.S.
“They look at where they can go for net carbon-neutral energy. They look at where they can go where there’s an aviation hub like Rockford airport, where they can go where there are five major Class 1 railroads going through in the near vicinity,” she said. “It’s all here.”
She said the designation also provides the region better leverage for winning infrastructure grants and can help it with its longstanding effort for cargo and passenger rail service.
“The maximum number of train cars that can be on the tracks at any time are currently on the tracks in Chicago right now. There’s no way for them to expand,” Duckworth said. “This is why this region is really important. We can be that other corridor that also moves the goods to market.”
Now, R1 and its partners will continue their work to showcase why this region is attractive for new investment.
“The story we need to tell is what are our competitive advantages,” Dunn said, “and how are we strong working between Rochelle and McHenry, Belvidere and the city of Rockford and Winnebago County, and Freeport and Stephenson County.”
Fast facts| economic development districts
What is an economic development district?
A multi-jurisdictional entity designed to lead a regional economic development planning process that creates a blueprint for collaboration on regional development projects.
Where is the R1 economic development district?
It encompasses Boone, Winnebago and McHenry counties.
How many are there?
There are 13 EDDs in Illinois, including the Region 1 Planning Council, and more than 380 across the country.
What federal funding has the R1 planning council previously obtained?
R1 has brought millions of dollars in federal funds to northern Illinois during the last decade for projects ranging from road improvements in and around the Chicago Rockford International Airport and a revolving loan fund to help small businesses in Winnebago, Boone and McHenry counties.
What does R1 do as an economic development district?
- Help coordinate and implement economic development activity within the region.
- Conduct economic development research, planning, implementation and advisory functions.
- Develop and implement the economic development strategy with local, state and federal partners and private and nonprofit organizations.
Source: R1 Planning Council, r1planning.org
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas