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Aerospace Production


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Aerospace Manufacturing in the Rockford Region (3:08)




Jeff Kaney, Chairman of the Rockford Area Aerospace Network and CEO of Kaney Group, presents Ed Bolen, President of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), a Rockford Area Aerospace Network lapel pin at the 2010 NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention in Atlanta Georgia, October 18 – 21st.

For a summary of this cluster in our region, click here.

The Rockford market will support additional aerospace companies, and has an excellent presence of major tier-one suppliers and highly skilled manufacturing capabilities. The Rockford region’s sustained population growth, the proximity to colleges/universities, and industry training programs ensures a robust supply of labor to support this growing industry. 

  • Rockford is home to five major tier one aerospace supply companies, a strong cluster of supply chain partners consisting of approximately 90 second and third tier suppliers in the immediate market and about 50 more including Boeing’s international headquarters in the greater Northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin area.
  • The presence of airport sites and existing buildings for manufacturing, R&D, testing and prototyping translate into quick, low cost start-up.
  • The Rockford area population is over 800,000 people and is the fastest growing MSA in the state of Illinois.
  • The civilian labor force is approximately 434,800 people, with approximately 65,500 people
    who are underemployed and approximately 42,600 people who commute out of the region.
  • There is 7.2 times the US average in transportation manufacturing, technical & engineering talent in the Rockford region. Local companies employ over 4,000 engineers, 50% more than the Illinois average and 30% more than the US average.
  • There are over 36,000 engineers currently employed in the 12 counties of the Northern Illinois Area.
  • Rockford has a highly dedicated workforce with Midwestern values and a strong work ethic. Value Added per worker, is ranked higher than the US average, with good access to highly-skilled mechanics and engineers.
  • Rockford is more culturally diverse than 96% of other Illinois communities.
  • There are also abundant opportunities for manufacturing, training, academic and research and development (R&D) collaboration.
  • Over 75 colleges and technical schools are located within 90 miles of Rockford; which includes Embry Riddle Aeronautical University - Rockford, this ensures access to professional training for engineering, machining, masters and doctoral programs, and other manufacturing careers.
  • Rockford’s central location and unparalleled access to global infrastructure ensures lower multi-modal shipping costs; our proximity to major interstates, rail, air and telecommunications is rated very good by the area employers
  • Rockford’s close proximity to Chicago, Milwaukee and Madison enhance our residents’ quality of life. Furthering this point, our greater purchasing power for your employees due to the ratio of salary to housing costs when compared to other regions translates in to a higher standard of living.


The Rockford area has twice the US average of manufacturing employment in multiple clusters of advanced manufacturing capabilities. The region is also emerging as a center of excellence in micro-machining and composites. The Rockford area has enormous operating, living costs and community attribute advantages as compared to other Midwest aerospace regions, with a good, growing quality workforce for the aerospace industry.

The region's two major aerospace first tier supply chair partners generated 34.2% or 91 of the 266 patents issued in Winnebago County from 1999-2003, indicating a high level of innovation. Winnebago County's unique strength in the aerospace industry is the long term presence of major first tier suppliers and historical presence of high-skilled machining capabilities.

THE ROCKFORD AREA AEROSPACE NETWORK

RAAN (Rockford Area Aerospace Network) is the Rockford region’s Aerospace Industry Cluster Development Strategy.  RAAN is a committee of the Rockford Area Economic Development Council (RAEDC) and offers a platform for collaboration among local aerospace companies.

All companies located in the Rockford area that supply products or services to aerospace companies are inherently part of our regional aerospace cluster.  Companies in a cluster may be competitors yet are interdependent because of common needs, services or supplies; bonded by the regions position of dominance in the industry.  In addition, a cluster includes educational institutions, nonprofits, professional businesses and governments that directly support the cluster.

Operating within an industry cluster can increase innovation, efficiency, productivity and competitiveness by providing access to a larger pool of:  suppliers; business development opportunities; skilled workers; networking opportunities; shared information on common issues; and specialized support services, such as: workforce recruitment, support infrastructure, and research and training programs.

Driven by private industry, RAAN meets regularly to discuss collaboration opportunities related to business climate, innovation & technology, and workforce development.  Additionally, the committee participates as a group, sharing costs, at trade shows & conferences, internationally and domestically, to promote their companies, the local supply chain and the Rockford Area. RAAN has jointly hosted supplier fairs with Congressman Manzullo, bringing international OEMs to meet our regional supply chain. Sharing best practices and working as a team to further our local aerospace cluster has provided great value to members of RAAN. The first step of becoming a member of RAAN is to meet with Mary Cacioppi, Director of Investor Relations of the RAEDC to discuss membership in the RAEDC.


AEROSPACE STRENGTHS

  • Good access to aerospace engineering and other technical talent
  • Presence of other aerospace R&D operations in the region
  • Training and higher education access
  • High quality of life and culture
  • Access to an airport sites/buildings for testing and prototyping
  • Available commercial air service (O'Hare International Airport, Chicago)


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