City of Rockford Planning & Development Committee met March 9.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
I. CALL TO ORDER
Alderman Rose call the meeting to order at 5:40 pm
A. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
The invocation was led by Alderman Beach and a Girl Scout Troop led the Pledge of Allegiance.
B. Proclamation
Mayor McNamara presented a Proclamation proclaiming the week of March 8, 2020 through March 20, 2020 to be "GIRL SCOUT WEEK" in Rockford Illinois.
C. Other Announcements
1. Mayor McNamara introduced Aryan Arora, who is a Rockford Public School student, a member of the Rockford Public Schools Superintendent's Student Advisory Council, a member of the Auburn Debate team, and the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois Youth Council. Mayor McNamara also listed Mr. Arora’s other accomplishments. Mayor McNamara then presented Mr. Arora with a challenge coin for his recent success at State for impromptu speaking.
Mr. Arora thanked his coaches and his parents for all the support and direction they have given him.
2. Mayor McNamara updated the community about the 2020 Census. The U.S. Census Bureau will be mailing out the post cards to complete the census the week of March 12, 2020 through March 20, 2020.
3. Mayor McNamara gave an update regarding the COVID-19. He stated if you are sick, please stay home and directed individuals to call your doctor's office before just arriving there.
D. Public Participation
1. Prophet Yusef quoted scripture and spoke about why children cannot read. He stated that they are not being taught correctly. He shared his solution to this issue.
2. John Tac Brantley quoted scripture and spoke of a road rage incident. He also spoke about the Martin Luther King, Jr. march.
3. John Lawrence spoke about the weather alert radios that allow citizens to learn about the weather alerts in your home. He reminded anyone who already has a radio to change the batteries. He also donated a weather alert radio to the City of Rockford.
II. ROLL CALL
| Attendee Name | Organization | Title | Status | Arrived |
| Tim Durkee | City of Rockford | Alderman | Present | |
| Linda McNeely | City of Rockford | Alderman | Present | |
| Chad Tuneberg | City of Rockford | Alderman | Present | |
| Natavias Ervins | City of Rockford | Alderman | Absent | |
| Bill Rose | City of Rockford | Alderman | Present |
A. 2019 Year-end Report by the Rockford Area Economic Development Council (RAEDC)
Nathan Bryant, Executive Director of the Rockford Area Economic Development Council (RAEDC) introduced the 2019 Summary. RAEDC spends a lot of time working to increase jobs, square footage and investment and he explained what it takes to achieve this.
Goal #1 was to complete 80 CORE conversations and they actually completed 81 and with 45 conversations within Rockford.
Goal #2 - Marketing & Sales touchpoints, which are high-level conversations that they break down into two categories.
Level 1 Contact - "Primary job creators" create the jobs and Level 2 Contacts - "Gamekeepers" which are contractors, brokers and developers. He stated that the goal was to have 1,100 conversations and they actually had 1,216. This total may not include all conversations that took place.
Mr. Bryant reviewed the goals and accomplishments of new and retained jobs, renovated space and capital investment.
RAEDC is part of the Illinois Defense Network and it was announced that they will be hosting the Midwest Aerospace Conference in Rockford at Embassy Suites on May 7, 2020. He reported the other conference and trade shows that they attended.
RAEDC in conjunction with Region 1 Planning Council commissioned a report entitled Northern Illinois Coordinated Workforce Report to identify the middle skills that are missing in our market.
Some of the key findings:
The capabilities in highest demand by local businesses are the associated degree, or certification level skills, referred to as Middle Skills".
55% of all jobs & 32% of manufacturing job openings require middle skills.
The middle skills needed for each manufacturing sector vary. There is not a standard manufacturing skill set.
Middle skills (such as home economics, shop class) are no longer being taught in area K-12 curriculums.
Report
Creation of a Manufacturing Workforce Strategy Team to serve as a steering and evaluation body for the middle skills related programs. Mr. Bryant explained that we have a team that has been put into place.
Creation of Critical Core Manufacturing Skills (CCMS) that is a specific
curriculum to help fill the gap in the market place, provide the pre-
requisite hard and soft skills needed by employers.
Development of an Advanced Training Center (ATC) facility dedicated to
advance technology training for developing talent. (In progress).
Critical Core Manufacturing Skills - RAEDC partnered with Bergstrom and Rock Valley College. RAEDC is connecting businesses with the program, which allows the businesses to utilize the core pieces of this curriculum inside of their businesses.
Mr. Bryant reported that there are a few newer concepts that they are using which are the Quick Response Manufacture Strategy and Attraction Strategy.
Quick Response Manufacturing Strategy - creation of a new strategy that:
Helps implement Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM) into small and medium sized manufacturer throughout the region;
Cuts lead times in all phases of manufacturing and office operations
Introduces QRM companies via "strategy sessions"; and
Creation of a "fund" to help small companies implement QRM.
Attraction Strategy - Mr. Bryant stated that we are working on an attraction strategy. It is a Data Center & high power users.
Re-use of existing industrial buildings to convert to data centers;
Considering consultants to help position our assets;
Many data centers want smaller and discreet space;
Working with intersect Illinois & DCEO to make sure our region is included in the State of Illinois overall strategy; and
Coordinating with the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Bryant reported details of this strategy and stated that there are a number of companies that also have medical manufacturing facilities. He discussed RAEDC's outward-bound marketing campaign and how it works. We will need to be ready to target our future diverse population. Mr. Bryant mentioned two companies that they are working with that are based in Mumbai, India.
Mr. Bryant stated the Rockford Region can deliver solutions and products faster than Chicago area businesses.
Alderman McNeely asked about renovated spaces in the southwest side of Rockford.
Alderman Hervey asked if there is one individual that represents a specific area of the city or does RAEDC handle it as a group. She was specifically asking about old rustbelt brownfield areas of the city that are distressed that do not have economic development and desperately need it. Mr. Bryant responded that they handle these matters as a team.
Mr. Bryant stated that RAEDC authored a report at the end of 2018 and/or beginning of 2019 to the City of Rockford staff that included specific development strategies in all areas of the city. He believes that when a building begins to store stuff in it, the building is at the end of its useful life. At some point, if the City wants to reseed these neighborhoods, the City needs to look for opportunities inside those areas where we can promote the idea in which new construction can occur. He believes that we need to work on building use conversion.
Alderman McNeely asked that RAEDC begin to put a plan in place to utilize these buildings and come back next year with information. Group discussed various aspects at length.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Alderman Tuneberg made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Durkee. Meeting adjourned at 6:55 pm.
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