The Chrysler-Fiat merger gets the green light. But Boone County leaders are still working to reduce their financial dependance on the Belvidere Chrysler plant.

Mark Williams, head of the Boone County economic development group Growth Dimensions, briefed the committee Tuesday night. He wants to break the traditional pattern that as goes Chrysler, so goes the local economy.

Williams says looking back, when Chrysler is booming and adding jobs, Boone has the highest job-growth rate in Illinois. But when the automaker hits hard times, the county hits the highest unemployment rate in the state.
Williams wants to break that cycle by diversifying the local economy. Those efforts have been underway for years but they become more urgent as the Belvidere plant sheds jobs.

Williams says our region is very good at power management and generation and we need to use that strength to grow into the green energy sector. He adds establishing a workforce retraining program is key to transition manufacturing workers to the next level.

"Workforce development is a big issue for us in the region and again companies will come to where the workers are and the skill-base is," says Williams. "We can't just say we want this company to locate here if we don't have a workforce that's skilled to work in that area."

Williams and other local financial experts are preparing to apply for an economic adjustment grant. That funds infrastructure improvements and workforce development training for areas that have been hit by economic hardships and can prove they have a plan to attract businesses and jobs.

Williams adds even operating at just one shift, the Belvidere Chrysler plant is a major contributor to wealth and jobs for the community. So although economic leaders are working to diversify, they want to do all they can to rally to keep the plant alive.