While the Presidential candidates are debating their plans for job creation, the City of Rochelle quietly implements its strategy that is resulting in the creation of hundreds of good paying jobs. The city leaders readily admit their success is the result of a team approach, good infrastructure and a spirit of cooperation.
Rochelle’s most recent groundbreaking was for an expansion of the city-owned railroad. The nearly $5 million project expands the city’s rail switching and railcar storage capacity, giving the ability to switch unit trains (100 railcars or more). The increased rail business will expand Rochelle’s rail switching revenue from $1.2 million today to $3 million in three to four years.
The first phase of the rail expansion will provide service to Rochelle’s newest industry, Coated Sand Solutions (CSS) which is under construction and is scheduled to begin operations in September. CSS is a resin coated sand supplier.
You may also recall the grand opening ceremony for Nippon Sharyo’s $50 million passenger rail car factory in Rochelle that created hundreds of jobs and further economic boon for the region. According to Jason Anderson, director for the Greater Rochelle Economic Development Corporation, business attraction starts with infrastructure and Rochelle is preparing to serve more businesses.
Observations and comments about state government by State Representative Robert W. Pritchard. District Office 815-748-3494 or E-Mail to bob@pritchardstaterep.com
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2 Comments
Yes, Edward, I really do think Rochelle would be creating more jobs even if the intermodal hub had been built in DeKalb. Jason Anderson credits economic development to infrastructure, and that is true, but it takes leadership to best use and create good infrastructure and Rochelle has for some time had better leadership than DeKalb.
Rochelle has at least one other big advantage. They don’t have to deal with the whims of a financial behemoth, NIU. If DeKalb city fathers and university officials can ever get on the same page, there is tremendous potential in DeKalb and the surrounding area. NIU could be a great advantage, but in the last decade or more has only been a stumbling block to growth. It will take much stronger leadership, and that includes compromise and realistic vision, two things lacking in much of DeKalb, and to some extent, DeKalb County these days.
Representative Bob Pritchard ends his column with “…Rochelle is preparing to serve more businesses”. Think about it. What has DeKalb done lately to serve more businesses? What sorts of businesses? Logistics Warehouses and Retail Shopping Malls? Rochelle is further preparing for manufacturing and other well paying industries. Sycamore also has attracted a number of manufacturers and high tech businesses. But DeKalb, what are they shooting for? Retail. Logistics. Healthcare. They need new leadership. And some cooperation from NIU.
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Rochelle is enjoying the stupidity of the NIMBY attitude taken by so many Dekalb residents. Do you really think they would be creating so many jobs if the rail hub had built in Dekalb instead of Rochelle? Our stupid loss is there gain.