SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) proudly partnered with members of the General Assembly to form a new bipartisan and bicameral Illinois Manufacturing Caucus, which will highlight the critical role manufacturing plays in the state’s economy and advance issues important to the industry, ranging from education and workforce development to energy and tax policies.
Manufacturing is a key pillar of the state’s economy and represents the largest contributor of any industry to the state’s Gross Domestic Product. Manufacturers directly provide 650,000 jobs across Illinois, with every 10 manufacturing jobs supporting an additional 17 jobs in other industries. This multiplier effect is significantly higher than other industries in Illinois, meaning manufacturing expansion has the potential to generate higher secondary employment impact when compared to other sectors.
“To help grow our economy and attract new companies to Illinois, it’s important we create opportunities for lawmakers to take a deep dive into the many issues impacting our industry every day,” said Mark Denzler, President & CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. “Manufacturers across Illinois are making amazing and innovative products that are changing the world and transforming our communities, and we thank the founding caucus members for recognizing the importance and great promise of our industry. By working together, we can build a diverse and dynamic manufacturing sector for generations to come.”
The Illinois Manufacturing Caucus will be Co-Chaired by Rep. Amy Elik, R-Alton, Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago, Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, and Sen. Patrick Joyce, D-Essex.
“I’m proud to have partnered with the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association on legislation to keep manufacturers in Illinois and remove barriers to those seeking to enter the manufacturing workforce,” said Elik. “I look forward to building on these efforts in collaboration with my colleagues as part of the new Illinois Manufacturing Caucus.”
“Manufacturing isn’t just critical to our state’s economy, but the economic well-being of families and communities across Illinois,” said Slaughter. “By focusing on ways to increase investment in Illinois, we can create opportunities for financial security and prosperity for all.”
“Our state has a robust history of manufacturing and to build on our successes we must ensure our policies allow for businesses to flourish here,” said Rezin. “This caucus will help shine a light on how we can better support manufacturers in Illinois, including ensuring access to affordable and reliable energy.”
“I’ve long supported training programs to connect people with jobs in the manufacturing industry, and I’m excited about this caucus helping to strengthen our efforts across the state to build a workforce of the future,” said Joyce. “This is a great opportunity to continue our recent momentum in manufacturing growth.”
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. For more information, please visit http://ima-net.org/.