BELVIDERE (WIFR) -- Today we talked to professors, politicians, business owners, and people on the street to see what they thought about the Belvidere Plant jobs announcement. This is what we found out:

The Economic Picture

For a long time the Rockford area has carried the heavy burden of being known as “Illinois’s unemployment leader.” However, that will change in a big way according to former NIU Economics Professor John Lewis and Workspace President Lorayne Logan.

Lewis says if that every thousand new jobs at the plant translates into 1,800 other new jobs for Winnebago and Boone Counties. That includes suppliers, wholesale trade, and the service industry. Lewis also said that every thousand jobs at Chrysler means that about 20 million dollars in added employee income will be injected into the area.

Lewis said, "The unemployment rate would go from say 12 down to say 8 maybe, just because of this one impact. Out of the manufacturing communities in Illinois, We'd be one of the lowest if this came about."

He also said, “A lot of it will be used to be able to continue their home mortgages to be able to get back on track with buying clothing, replacing old cars, continue their expenditure patterns that existed prior to the recession and given the fact that our economy is about 50 percent consumer expenditure driven, that could go a long way to recovery."

Lewis says that today's news alone could result in a drop of the unemployment rate of at least four percentage points, which would drop Rockford from the highest to one of the lowest jobless rates of any Illinois manufacturing city.

We asked Workspace President LoRayne Logan if there are enough skilled workers out there to meet the enormous hiring needs.

Logan said, "There’s going to still be some good people, qualified people, ready to go people who are going to be able to apply for these positions. And those positions require the ability to be attentive, work quickly learn quickly. They don't require some of the skill that say CNC manufacturing or that sort of thing requires. But I believe there are people who could qualify for this work."

She also said, "If nothing else it creates a lot of hope and optimism. Something that has been missing and I think it's going to perhaps reinvigorate some people who've felt hopeless, people who thought perhaps they would never get off unemployment. So I think it's great."

Politicians React

Current 16th District Congressman Don Manzullo broke from Republican ranks to vote for what many called a bailout.

We asked Manzullo's primary opponent and current 11th District Congressman Adam Kinzinger if he would've voted for the bailout if he was in congress then.

Kinzinger said, “I would not have voted for it in congress. Look, I think that's great news. It's huge for Boone County obviously and it's something that we obviously like to see. That doesn't necessarily mean that a wholesale bailout is the right way to go. What you see is that the free market works and when the free market is allowed to be competitive it's successful.”

Manzullo Staffer Rich Carter said, “What he voted for was absolutely not a bailout it was a restructuring of an existing loan program for the auto-manufacturers to be able to re-tool to allow us to use bridge loans to allow us to get through these difficult times and then to repay our bills and that's exactly what they did.”

More than one thousand workers are expected to come from Winnebago County lawmakers say the extra employment is a major boost for the area.

67th District Rep. Chuck Jefferson said, "Jobs don't have to be in our backyard for us to access them. If they are down the street and they are down I-90 and we can get there to become employed, that's what it's all about."

68TH DISTRICT Rep. Dave Winters said, "The idea of going to a third shift and not the third that we all think of but four 10-hour days to keep the plant operating more hours and allowing time for maintenance is a very intelligent manufacturing answer to the limited time in any one plant."

The Union Reaction

Most Chrysler workers are excited about the new shift and new hires.

Hundreds of United Auto Workers members gathered for the big event today.

Many say the general attitude is completely different from a few years ago when the plant was in danger of closing.

Chrysler employee James Corne said, "We got the support of the country coming in and we're making American made product."

UAW Local 1268 President George Welitschinsky said, "They come in and they work hard, 10, 12 hours a day, including 7 days a week taking time away from their family so there's a huge commitment and that right there makes me very proud to be a local president and represent workers with that attitude."

The UAW is still negotiating a new contract--their last one expired back in September.

Stateline Leaders React

Of course Belvidere won't be the only Stateline community to reap the benefits... we caught up with several Rockford leaders who say the employment addition will accelerate the workforce here in Rockford.

7th ward Ald. Ann Thompson-Kelly said, "It's going to take a lot of family members who have lost jobs and gotten laid off and it's going to be a boost for this economy."

10th ward Ald. Frank Beach said, "It has to make a difference because we have so many people leaving Rockford going to places outside of this city if they can seek employment it's going to be a plus for us."

Janyce Fadden from the Rockford Area Economic Development Council said, "Chrysler's impact is really big for us because throughout the whole region the employment will be impacted, the company it's self will be in boon county but about two-thirds of the workers come from Winnebago county so we are tied together with this manufacturer."

Belvidere Reacts

The new jobs mean more business for Belvidere and the Stateline.

Earlier today we stopped by some other businesses including Grandma's Restaurant. There were a few customers there, but restaurant owners tell me they've been slower than usual and they think adding 1,800 new jobs to the Chrysler Plant is the key to getting more customers in their doors for breakfast lunch and dinner.

Some patrons say finding a job is difficult, but others say they're glad Chrysler has turned around and that some people are getting jobs.

Subway Owner Brenda Underwood said, "I'm going to be opened up more hours. We're going to be adding six to seven more staff members out here to handle the lunches, the breaks, and the suppers. It's exciting for this area; everyone should be excited about it!"

Kraig Bryan from Doc's Upholstery said, "I've been in business for over 40 years in the town of Belvidere, and we've always patronized the Chrysler workers. They work very well, they spend their money locally, and I see it will happen again. It will help the restaurants, it will help the sales, and it will help the reality, which both Winnebago and Boone County do need!"

Belvidere resident Linda Kenkel said, "The bailout thing was really scary and I felt bad for the people who have worked there for years and had their pension and retirement and were worrying about that so when the bailout came it was nice it was job security."

Genoa resident Shelley Andersen said, "A lot of no openings and a lot of things are done on the internet so you don't have that face to face contact."

Belvidere Mayor Fred Brereton said, "When you add 1800 jobs and individuals that may be coming from outside the region they're going to get jobs and that's going to help the income."

Sue Appleby from the Boone Co. Chamber of Commerce said, "What Chrysler brings to our community is a variety of people who buy services and products from the local area. So it helps all businesses, everyone's very excited about it because it should bring more revenue in sales tax as well as other products and services that people will be buying."