2020

RockfordIL.com

Rockford, IL MSA

Quick Reference Guide

CONTENTS

10 Years of Investment .....................................................................................02Major Employers ................................................................................................03Logistics ..............................................................................................................05

Air Service ......................................................................................................05Transit Time by Truck .....................................................................................06Rail & Truck Transite Time Comparison .......................................................06Motor Freight Carriers ...................................................................................06Rail Service .....................................................................................................06

Workforce...........................................................................................................07Manufacturing Employment Rates .............................................................07Educational Attainment ..............................................................................07Wider Population Levels ...............................................................................07Income ...........................................................................................................07

Education ...........................................................................................................08Institutions of Higher Learning ......................................................................087:2:1 Sustainable Workforce Development ...............................................08

Incentives & Tax Credits ...................................................................................09Utilities & Services ..............................................................................................10

Electric ............................................................................................................10Natural Gas ....................................................................................................10Water & Sewer ...............................................................................................10

Fiber Optic .........................................................................................................10Industrial Services ..............................................................................................10Landfills ...............................................................................................................10Our Community .................................................................................................11

Events & Entertainment ................................................................................11Spectator Sports ............................................................................................11

Quality of Place .................................................................................................12Culture & Arts .................................................................................................12Healthcare .....................................................................................................12Cost of Living Comparison ...........................................................................12Retail Sales Tax ..............................................................................................12Retail Trade ....................................................................................................12

Active Lives ........................................................................................................13Sports & Recreation ......................................................................................13Other Resources ............................................................................................13

Demographics ...................................................................................................14

10 YEARS OF INVESTMENTS MADE IN THE

WINNEBAGO COUNTY

ROCKFORD REGION

Source: Bureau of Labor and Statistics May 2018 & December 2019; RAEDC Project Database

Regional

Capital investment

new & Retained Jobs

new & Renovated spaCe

$2,183,762,748

13,025,251 sq.ft.

18,199

advanced ManufactuRing

HealtHcaRe logistics education

Capital investment

employmentConCentRation

This includes but is not limited to

aerospace, additive,

and medical manfacturing.

This combinesdata from

our region’s four health systems,

VA services, and other medical

establishments.

This includes warehousing

and distribution.

This includes universities, private

schools, RPS 205, HSD 122, and

HCSD 206.

Capital investment

employmentConCentRation

Capital investment

employmentConCentRation

Capital investment

employmentConCentRation

$210,600,000$860,619,037 $1,069,434,000 $319,100,000

22% 5.6% 7.2% 4.5%

02

MAJOR EMPLOYERS

Collins Aerospace2,200

Woodward, Inc. 1,900

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

3,749

Magna816

Mondelez International850

General Mills675

Rockford Public Schools

4,890

Harlem Consolidated Schools

1,210

Syncreon600

Taylor Company*671

* Manufactures food production equipment

Belvidere Community Unit Schools

997

Aerospace

Automotive

Food Processing

Education

03

IN OUR REGION

Mercyhealth4,520

Swedish American Health System

3,375

UPS2,203

Wal-Mart Stores1,470

Winnebago County1,228

City of Rockford1,277

PCI Pharma Services1,800

OSF Healthcare2,200

Lowe’s 1,110

Healthcare

Logistics & Retail

Government

Packaging

Source: Employer-provided data through websites, media reports, public reports, or direct contact

04

Air ServiceSource: Airports Council International; Airport Authority Websites

Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) • 2018’s Fastest growing cargo airport in the

world• Top 20 air cargo airport in the Nation• Amazon’s Ecommerce freight hub• UPS’s second-largest North American air hub• Driving distance from I-39/90 Interchange: 11

miles• AAR maintenance, repair, and overhaul

facility• 10,000 and 8,200 feet of hard surface runway • Can land any aircraft operating today• Category III instrument landing system• Centerline and touchdown zone lighting• Foreign Trade Zone benefits (FTZ #176)• 24/7 customs, federal inspections• CES (Centralized Examination Station)• Multiple FBOs - full spectrum of aviation

services• 3,000+ acres of airport land for development• 200+ airside acres• 2,000+ acres for industrial, commercial projects• Home to Global Trade Park, shovel ready sites

Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)• Driving distance from I-39/90 interchange: 61

miles• 3rd busiest passenger airport & top 20 in cargo

in the world (2018)• 49 passenger, 30 cargo airlines• Nonstop service to 49 international

destinations

Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)• Driving distance from I-39/90 interchange: 86

miles• Nonstop service to 73 cities• 26th busiest passenger airport in U.S. (2018)

LOGISTICS

#1Airports Council

InternationalFastest Growing

Cargo Airport in the World

05

Rail & Truck Transit Times Comparison

City Highway

MilesDays by

RailDays by

TruckHours by

TruckChicago 90 1 <1/2 1.5

Cleveland 422 4 1 6.5Kansas City 412 2 <1 7Milwaukee 90 1 <1/2 1.5New York 889 5 3 13.5St. Louis 297 2 <1 4.5

Rockford MSA

Atlanta2 Days

New Orleans3 Days

Dallas3 Days

New York

3 DaysDenver3 Days

Los Angeles4 Days

Kansas City2 Days

Minneapolis<1 Day

Detroit< 1 DayChicago

<1/2 Day

St. Louis<1 Day

Transit Time by Truck

Rail Service Rail carriers serving area:

BNSF, CN, CP Shortline rail serving area:

Illinois RailwayServices Include:• Continuous switching service• Intermodal service available• Transload service available

Motor Freight CarriersLocal .................................................................... 50Long-Distance Truckload .................................33Long-Distance Less Than Truckload .............. 17Specialized ......................................................... 54

Air | Highway | Rail

06

WORKFORCE

Metro Area Attainment # %Persons 25 years and older .............194,834High school graduate/equivalence or higher ...87.4Bachelor’s degree or higher ................................22.4Graduate or Professional degree .........................8.3

Income Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2018 1-year estimates

Median Household Income ..................... $51,110Mean Household Income ......................... $67,175Per Capita Personal Income ..................... $28,250

Workforce Source: Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), 2019

Commutable Non-Farm WorkforceWithin Rockford MSA .............................. 153,30030 Minutes .................................................. 223,28545 Minutes .................................................. 486,768

Employed in ManufacturingSource: Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 2019

Rockford MSA ..............................................21.5%State of Illinois ................................................9.5%USA ..................................................................8.8%

Wider Population Source: Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), 2019

Rockford MSA ...........................................337,658Within 25 miles ..........................................512,456Within 50 miles .......................................2,679,835Within 100 miles ...................................13,523,168

#9SmartAsset

Best Places to Work in Manufacturing in

the Nation

Our region has established nimble, industry specific, and customized education-to-workforce pipelines ensuring the region has the skilled workforce essential for fulfilling the requirements of jobs that are good today, tomorrow, and in the future.

7:2:1

#6Forbes

Easiest Places to Make Your Mark

Learn more about skilled trade, technical, and vocational training opportunities at• RockValleyCollege.edu• ProjectFirstRate.com• RockfordCareerCollege.edu

07

EDUCATION

EducationSource: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2018 1-year estimates, Illinois Board of Higher Education,v School Reports, Niche.com

Winnebago County features award winning schools. Rockford Public Schools District 205 (RPS205) has attained level 4/5 in the Ford Next Generation Model Community and two schools have been awarded Model Status from the National Career Academy Coalition.

Institutions of Higher Learning 4-year Undergraduate Programs EnrollmentNorthern Illinois University .............................13,457Uni. of Wisconsin ...............................................11,133 Beloit College ........................................................1,402Rockford University ............................................1,211Judson University ................................................1,230Northern Illinois University ...............................1,000St. Anthony College of Nursing ............................238Uni. of Illinois-College of Medicine .....................387Upper Iowa University ...........................................120

Institutions of Higher Learning Career, Technical, & Other EnrollmentRock Valley College ............................................... 7,740Kishwaukee College .............................................. 4,475Blackhawk Technical College .............................. 2,470Highland Community College ............................ 1,730Rasmussen College ................................................ 1,580 Rockford Career College ......................................245

08

INCENTIVES

Incentives & Tax Credits Source: Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Region 1 Planning Council

Communities within the Rockford MSA work enthusiastically with new and expanding companies to create a higher standard of living for the region’s residents.

Incentives are an investment in the future economic well-being of a company and, as such, a return on investment of jobs, tax revenue, community cooperation, and capital investment is expected.

The Rockford Region offers an array of incentive programs for new and expanding businesses as well as entrepreneurs. These programs are designed to assist a wide selection of qualifying companies in various stages of their economic growth.

For additional information visit RockfordIL.com/incentive.

Local Incentives• TIF District (Tax

Increment Financing)• Rockford• Cherry Valley • Loves Park• Machesney Park• Rockton• South Beloit

• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds

• Host Fee Loan Program

Federal Incentives• New Markets Tax

Credits• State of Illinois

New Markets Tax Credits

• Opportunity Zones• Foreign Trade Zone –

FTZ #176• Employment Based

Visa Programs• HUB Zone

State Incentives• EDGE Tax Credit• Advantage Illinois• High Impact Business Program• Apprenticeship Education Expense

Tax Credit• Data Center Investment Tax

Exemptions/Credits• Enterprise Zones

• Belvidere/Boone County• Loves Park• Machesney Park• Rockford I-90• Rockford EZ-1

• River Edge Redevelopment Zones• Property Assessed Clean Energy

(PACE)

09

UTILITIES & SERVICES

Industrial ServicesSource: U.S. Census Bureau MSA Business Patterns (2016)

The Rockford MSA has robust industrial and advanced manufacturing supply chains and is a top logistics distribution center.

Machine Shops.................................................154Tool and Die Shops .......................................... 25

Utilities Source: Region 1 Planning Council

The Rockford MSA has competitive utility costs and a modern infrastructure, offering a lower cost of doing business with high-quality resources.

Illinois is ranked 3rd in the country for grid modernization, 10 spots ahead of our closest Midwest neighbor.

Landfills Source: U.S. Census Bureau MSA Business Patterns (2016)

Winnebago Reclamation Services, Veolia ES Orchard Hills Landfill, Rochelle Sanitary Landfill, or Area Disposal Service Inc.Waste Management/ Remediation Services .......................................21

Fiber Optic Source: Region 1 Planning Council, Industry Reports

Business and residential customers within the Rockford MSA have access to robust fiber optic and broadband services.

Dark fiber exists throughout the region, particularly along interstates 90 and 39.

A redundant fiber loop connects the Rockford MSA to Chicago and other networks.

Comcast Business: More than 250 miles of fiber optics in the area, delivering Internet speeds up to 10 Gbps with options for even greater speeds.

iFiber: Provides up to 1 Gbps network transport services for the public and private sector on a 900-mile fiber network across nine Northern Illinois counties.

ElectricComEd (Investor-owned): Serves most of the MSA. Top 10% in reliability nationally. Business incentives are available.

Rock Energy (Co-Op): Serves a small northern portion of the MSA. It is a non-profit serving 27,000 customers in two states.

Natural GasNicor Gas (Investor-owned): Serves most of the MSA. It is the largest natural gas distributor in Northern Illinois. Energy rebates are available.

Rock Energy (Co-Op): Serves small northern portion of MSA. It is a non-profit serving 27,000 customers in two states.

Water & SewerThe region is considered attractive for its water capacity, quality, and service.

10

The Rockford MSA is comprised of communities focused on exceptional quality of life for its residents and its companies. Striving to be a Top 25 community, where our people are engaged, inspired, and are leading successful and fulfilling lives.

The region is home to both large and small communities providing a wide array of lifestyle options from downtown lofts to quiet tree-lined historic neighborhoods. Live downtown, near a river, or in a rural home with plenty of space around you.

In the Rockford MSA, life is affordable and convenient, Our low cost of living makes creating a life here the easy choice.

Reclaim your day by trading windshield time for activities with friends and family.

Events & EntertainmentThere’s always something fun to do all season long in our region like discovering handmade artisan creations, learning about the Sock Monkey, or simply strolling our beautiful conservatory and gardens, visit downtown and sample the delicious food, or check out our unique storefronts for a bit of shopping.

Our spectacular events attract people from near and far.

For a more complete list of activities visit: GoRockford.com.• 815 Day• Farmers & Craft Markets• Friday Night Flix• Heritage Days• Hometown Christmas• Rock River Anything That Floats Race• Rockford ProAm• Screw City Beer Festival• Stroll on State• Tough Mudder• WWII Days

OUR COMMUNITY

Top 15Reader’s Digest

Best Places to Move to in the

Nation

HealthcareSource: Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board, Online Sources, Area Health Resources Files

Rockford MSA residents enjoy the highest-quality and accessibility in medical care from four health systems.

Hospital Number of BedsMercyhealth ........................................................ 294 SwedishAmerican Hospital .............................. 359SwedishAmerican Medical Center Belvidere .. 30 OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center ................ 254

Number of Physicians (M.D.) ........................... 801Number of Dentists (D.D.S.) ............................. 189 #4

SmartAssetHealthcare

access & home affordability

(3rd straight year)

Retail TradeSource: 2012 & 2017 U.S. Census Bureau

Number of Retail Establishments ...............1,024Total Retail Sales ............................$4,147,506,000

11

The positive business climate throughout our region is matched by a great quality of life! We have world-class attractions and activities throughout the year; which are within close proximity to major metropolitan areas. The advantages include big-city lifestyle but with a small-town feel.

15 Museums

14 Public Libraries

12 Art Galleries

07 Theaters

01 Symphony Orchestra

Culture and Arts

QUALITY OF PLACE

Retail Sales Tax

State ..................................................................6.25%County ...............................................................1.0%Municipal* .............................................. 0.0 to 2.0%*Special business districts in certain communities have higher rates.

Cost of Living Index Source: C2ER (2019 Annual Average). Costs include housing, food, utilities, transportation, miscellaneous goods, and health care.

New York (Manhattan), NY .........................237.4San Diego, CA ................................................141.3Chicago, IL .....................................................120.0Denver, CO .....................................................110.8Madison, WI ...................................................106.6Minneapolis, MN ..........................................106.2Allentown, PA ................................................104.0 Joliet-Will County, IL ....................................100.6Detroit, MI ........................................................99.5Austin, TX ........................................................99.3Phoenix, AZ......................................................98.9Cleveland, OH .................................................96.6Cedar Rapids, IA .............................................95.8Chattanooga, TN .............................................94.7Mobile, AL ........................................................94.3Surprise, AZ .....................................................93.6Peoria, IL ...........................................................92.6Columbus, OH .................................................92.2Indianapolis, IN ...............................................92.1Quad Cities, IL - IA .........................................91.7Wichita, KS .......................................................90.8Des Moines, IA.................................................89.6Rockford, IL ..............................................88.9Champaign-Urbana, IL...................................87.7St. Louis, MO ...................................................87.6

Spectator SportsWhile spectator sports usually means watching, in our area that translates to being fully involved cheering for your favorite teams and players and having the chance to say you saw them play before they became famous. • Rockford IceHogs, AHL hockey team

(affiliates of the Chicago Blackhawks)• Rockford Rivets, collegiate baseball• Rockford Speedway, the highest ranked

quarter mile oval short track raceway tabbed as “Mid-America’s Finest Racetrack”

12

ACTIVE LIVES

Sport & RecreationThe Rockford region has been a pioneering sports town since the mid-1980s. The UW Health Sports Factory downtown is designed for championship caliber basketball, volleyball and much more with its 105,000 square feet of competition space.

Across town, Mercyhealth Sportscore Two has turf and natural grass fields and the mega indoor sports complex is designed for everything from softball and soccer to ultimate frisbee and adaptive sports.

Our fields and facilities, along with public parks, forest preserves, golf courses and outdoor recreation spaces bring millions of adventure seekers to our region each year.

Public Parks ........................................................... 185Parkland Acres ............................................... >10,070Forest Preserve/Conservation Acres........... >18,100Public Swimming Pools .......................................... 6Fitness & Recreational Sports Facilities .............. 28Public Golf Courses ............................................... 14Country Clubs .......................................................... 4Indoor Ice Arenas ..................................................... 3Indoor Sports Centers .............................................. 2Outdoor Sports Centers .......................................... 2Water Parks ............................................................... 1

Other Resources30 Hotels

308Restaurants

10,000Seats

101 Financial Institutions

47 fmRadio Stations

9 TV Stations

2DailyNewspapers

8Campgrounds

1Civic Center

5Weekly Newspapers

11 amRadio Stations

13

DEMOGRAPHICS

PopulationSource: U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program

Population Trends 2018 2010 2000Rockford MSA ...........337,685......349,224 ........321,042City of Rockford ........146,526......152,938 ........151,826Winnebago County ...248,081......295,101 ........278,989Boone County ..............53,577........54,123 ..........42,053

AgeSource: U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program

# %0 - 5 ..........................................10,871................7.35 - 9 ..........................................10,478................7.010 - 14 ......................................10,165................6.815 - 19 ........................................9,887................6.720 - 24 ........................................9,899................6.725 - 29 ......................................10,435...................730 - 34 ......................................10,005................6.735 - 39 ........................................8,412................5.740 - 44 ........................................8,832................5.945 - 49 ........................................8,692................5.850 - 54 ........................................9,318................6.355 - 59 ........................................9,283................6.260 - 64 ........................................9,020................6.165 - 69 ........................................6,947................4.780+..............................................7,473...................5

GenderSource: U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program

# %Male ...............................138,632 ...............................48.8Female ...........................145,449 ...............................51.2

14

RockfordIL.com

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100 Park Ave, Suite 100, Rockford, Illinois 61101T: 815.987-8118

Information@RockfordIL.comwww.RockfordIL.com

#6USA Today

Fastest Growing Housing Market

#6Forbes

Easiest Places to Make Your Mark

#4IndustryWeek

Best Places to Work in

Manufacturing in the Nation

#4SmartAssetHealthcare

access & home affordability

(3rd straight year)

Top 15Reader’s Digest

Best Places to Move to in the

Nation

Your Award Winning Opportunity Region

#5Milken InstituteBest-Performing

Cities for Job Growth

#9SmartAsset

Best Places to Work In

Manufacturing