October is Manufacturing Month, a chance to recognize the people whose hard work supports families throughout our district. Manufacturing has deep roots in Illinois, and I want to see the next generation have opportunities to build a good career here, too.
Supporting manufacturers is a priority for me in Springfield. I’m proud that my voting record earned scores among the highest in the Senate from both the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and the Technology and Manufacturing Association. To me, that commitment also means staying involved and hearing directly from the people running these businesses and the employees who *truly* make it happen!
I recently joined the IMA and fellow members of the Illinois Manufacturing Caucus for a visit to Azteca Foods to learn more about its operations. I appreciate opportunities like these to better understand what manufacturers need to succeed. They emphasized that Illinois’ spiking electricity prices are having a huge impact, and they are also dealing with transportation logistics issues. This is similar to what I’ve been hearing at manufacturing visits all across our region.
I also visited Bonnell Industries in Dixon to help celebrate the grand opening of their new production facility. It’s awesome to see family manufacturers expanding and adding more jobs! Growing our own local businesses may not be as dramatic in the news, but I’ve found it is just as important to communities as what big corporations are doing.
This month is a time to celebrate Illinois manufacturing, but my support continues throughout the year. I’ll keep working to help manufacturers grow and create more opportunities in our communities for jobs and economic opportunity.