Tri-State Alliance to Host Regional Infrastructure Summit
Summit to highlight regional transportation needs and priorities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 9, 2008
Rockford, IL - The Tri-State Alliance, a newly developed group dedicated to improving commerce in Northern Illinois, Northeastern Iowa, and Southern Wisconsin, will host a transportation summit on Monday, April 21 at the Masonic Temple in Freeport, Illinois.
The Tri-State Alliance includes economic development organizations from Beloit (WI), Belvidere (IL), Dubuque (IA), Freeport (IL), Galena (IL), Janesville (WI), Rochelle (IL) and Rockford (IL). Alliance Members believe that cities in the region must plan collaboratively for future growth and development and speak with one voice when advocating for the region’s transportation needs at the state and federal levels.
The Rockford Chamber of Commerce and the Rockford Area Economic Development Council will help launch the Tri-State Alliance during the April 21 summit. The event, which begins at 9 a.m., will focus on a number of important topics, including regional infrastructure needs, the 2010 federal transportation bill and rural economic development. Hundreds of government, community and business leaders from across the region are expected to attend. The keynote speaker will be Mark Drabenstott, the Director of the Center for Regional Competitiveness at the Rural Policy Research Institute.
The United States Senators from IL, IA and WI have been invited to attend, as have the US Representatives from the region and state-level transportation officials representing the three states.
Einar Forsman, president/CEO of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce said, “By joining forces with other like-minded communities, we hope to bring a regional focus to vital issues like transportation and economic development. If our region is to grow and prosper, we need to speak with one voice about what our priorities are. That’s what the Alliance effort is all about.”
“Building regional partnerships are important to growing each community’s wealth. It is exciting to see the Tri-State Alliance form and have our first event in time for our elected officials and government leaders to plan our needs in the 2010 transportation bill,” said Janyce Fadden, president of the Rockford Area Economic Development Council.
For more information on the Summit or to register, please visit www.tristatealliance.com.
Media Contact:
Einar Forsman, Rockford Chamber of Commerce president/CEO: 815.987.8100
Janyce Fadden, Rockford Area Economic Development Council president: 815.987.8118