Mark Podemski from the Rockford Area Economic Development Council says Rockford's economy has been like a rollar coaster over the past three years. If that's the case then a new work conract from the Washington state based KIC Group should help to push us back up the hill. "I think it also begins to show some of the trends that are taking place in industrial marketplace. Certainly a lot of jobs have gone to Asia over the past 20 years and now business is coming back potentially." says Podemski. John Schneider, Vice President of Sales for KIC Group says there are several things happening in today's economy that are making the US more attractive for business than China. An increase in oil costs are making long ocean voyages less desirable, and a growing domestic economy in China is increasing the value of their currency while the American dollar falls. "We just saw an opportunity to manufacture in the US and the reason we're looking at Rockford is that FAC is there with some experience and has the machines." says Schneider. The contract between FAC Consolidated Industires and the KIC Group calls for the manufacturing of brake drum castings, something that Rockford metalworkers have years of experinece with due to the old Cherry Valley Tools. KIC says as the market changes even more jobs may be needed here in the stateline. Sorry China. Rockford Automated Machining will officially announce these new jobs at a press conference on August 26th. The contract will require around 10 to 15 jobs immediately and could require and additional 30 more in the near future.