SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) will launch “Manufacturing Matters,” a statewide tour that will visit factories, educational institutions and economic development centers across Illinois to detail the results of a new economic impact study about the vital contributions the manufacturing industry provides to communities large and small.
The study found that the total impact of manufacturing on the Illinois economy is between $580 billion and $611 billion every year – the largest contribution of any industry to the state’s GDP. As part of the study, economists examined the manufacturing industry’s evolution in the face of rapid technological development.
Trends suggest a shift toward a higher-skilled workforce, underscoring the importance of working closely with institutions such as Richland Community College to provide specialized training.
The tour will begin today at 10 a.m. at the Scherer Industrial Technology Center at Richland Community College in Decatur.
Live coverage of the event will be provided by BlueRoomStream.com.
Additional tour stops are planned to take place in communities across Illinois in the coming weeks.
About the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA)
The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association is the only statewide association dedicated exclusively to advocating, promoting and strengthening the manufacturing sector in Illinois. The IMA is the oldest and largest state manufacturing trade association in the United States, representing nearly 4,000 companies and facilities.