As the Rockford Region is quickly becoming a major player in the national aerospace industry, great educational opportunities abound in Rockford for the aviation and aerospace specialist through the collaborative efforts of Rock Valley College, Northern Illinois University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide.

Rockford, a world leader in the production of machine tools and auto parts, is increasingly recognized as a center of excellence for aerospace components manufacturing.

Aerospace Component Manufacturing is a current cluster that exists in this region. Aerospace operations making siting decisions could easily compliment this regional cluster by addressing existing employers’ value chain needs. The Rockford MSA has a long history of Aerospace manufacturing, and Rock Valley College provides world class aviation maintenance training.

Regional Targeted Industry Analysis

Regional Targeted Industry Executive Summary

The Rockford MSA currently benefits from the existence of an emerging cluster of customer service centers. Operations in this region provides the quantity and quality of workers needed for operations, and our Central Time Zone location provides us with a comparative advantage over eastern and western regions.

Transaction Services Operations are inbound and outbound call-center activities which include technical support call centers, back office support centers, financial call centers, etc. The Rockford MSA currently benefits from the existence of an emerging cluster of transaction services providers. Transaction services operations benefit from locating in this region; operating within a second-tier city provides the quantity of workers needed for operations, and our Central Time Zone location provides us with a comparative advantage over eastern and western regions.

Power Point Presentation summarizing Rockford Area advantages for the customer service industry.

Home to over 30 food processing companies employing over 2,500 people, the Rockford MSA has significantly higher productivity in both sugar and confectionary products and animal food manufacturing than in both Illinois and the U.S.

Food processing is an existing cluster in the Rockford Area. Food processors can directly and indirectly reap the benefits of our rich Midwestern farmlands. The abundance of water and power makes food processing easy and affordable, and our central location allows for easy distribution of product from coast to coast.

The Rockford Region is gaining force as a logistics destination, with 650 logistics establishments that include 119 trucking companies, 28 trucking support operations, and 5 warehouses that employ over 8,500 employees!

Warehouse/Distribution Operations require the ability to move goods and freight from a central location to other markets and are typically sited within proximity to large markets. Given the Rockford MSA’s central location and large population, our region is well positioned to leverage activity in this important industry sector. The Rockford MSA offers a multi-modal transportation system with easy access to major interstates and highways, rail service, and cargo-air service at the Chicago/Rockford International Airport, home to the largest regional UPS air hub in the nation.

Summary of the On and Off Road Vehicle Industry Cluster in Region

Summary of the existing, emerging, and evolving industry clusters in Boone and Winnebago Counties.