Illinois Manufacturing: Driving Economic Growth

Posted by Amy Fitzgerald on Jul 13, 2011 10:50:20 AM

Illinois’ manufacturers are leading the recovery by becoming more innovative, investing in new technologies and business practices, and increasing the productivity of their workers.  The result: more high-wage manufacturing jobs are being created and retained and economies in local communities are being stabilized. As state and federal elected officials consider ways to spur economic growth, leaders from companies like Ridley Feed Ingredients in Mendota want to ensure that legislators are aware of how they are tapping into IMEC's resources to meet today's challenges.

Ridley leaders recently hosted a briefing and plant tour for Congressman Adam Kinzinger, a Republican serving the 11th District in Illinois.  Mr. Kinzinger heard about how IMEC is helping Ridley to contain operating costs and improve profit margins by implementing lean manufacturing practices.  He heard about how Ridley is investing in its facilities, and creating new product lines.  After the Tour, Congressman Kinzinger shared his insights on the company, the state of manufacturing in the U.S., and the importance of the sector to drive U.S. competitiveness.

Video Transcription:

Congressman Kinzinger: First off, Mendota is a real good "salt of the earth" town. To me it really defines what the Midwest is. Folks that believe in their country, and want to do their job, they work hard, and they're good family people. Ridley here is a great example of something you don't necessarily think about in Mendota, and you don't think about all the products that can be made here, and can be made in other areas, and what they do to develop the country that we have today. For me I love coming and seeing areas and companies that produce things in my district. It's great seeing what Ridley does, and frankly I hope they have, and I expect they'll have a really great and prosperous future, and get even bigger.

IMEC: Why do you think manufacturing is important to the U.S.A.?

Congressman Kinzinger: Look, can we talk about a disappearing middle class, which i think is a real symptom. It happens because manufacturing is disappearing. Manufacturing is really the definition of creation, we create wealth, its not necessarily just wealth transfer. It's coming in with an idea, putting it together, and selling a product. So, manufacturing to America is really the backbone of what has made us great. And I think as we look forward to the future, and wanting to be a strong nation, and continue to maintain our superpower role in the world, having strong manufacturing is going to be very essential to that.

IMEC: What do you want your colleagues to know about your visit to Ridley Feed Ingredients?

Congressman Kinzinger: I say there's hope, you know. Look America is still one of the greatest countries for manufacturing but we've seen a decline in that. Look, there may be both sides of the aisle that disagree about how to get there, but we all agree that manufacturing has to rejuvenate again, and has to be a backbone to the American economy. When I see places like this it restores hope that American manufacturing will continue to be strong, but will get even stronger into the future. So It really  inspires me to find ways to make doing business for manufacturers like Ridley and others, to allow them to do business in a better way, and  a more prosperous way, and to be more successful. Find out areas frankly where government creates barriers for job creation and lift those.

Amy Fitzgerald

Written by Amy Fitzgerald

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