Northern Stateline Region

Regional Hubs

Counties

Key Industries

Major Employers and Headquarters

Large Employers:

Corporate HQ:

Higher Education

Unique Facts

Population 436,000; Workforce 228,600
Rockford MSA 4,000+ engineers (30% more than the national average), and more than 56,000 engineers located within 90 miles
Rockford has 6th largest concentration of aerospace employment in the nation; 250+ aerospace companies located within 90-mile radius of Rockford (GE Aviation, Woodward, Collins Aerospace Systems)
In 2019, RFD was named the Fastest-Growing Cargo Airport in the world by Airports Council International
Northern Stateline Region is known as “The Screw Capital of the World" due its specialization in manufacturing fasteners and has attracted a diverse range of advanced manufacturers in sectors including aerospace and automotive
Chicagoland Skydiving Center located at Rochelle Municipal airport in Rochelle voted best place to skydive in the Midwest
Freeport is known for hosting the second Lincoln-Douglas debate of 1858, and as "Pretzel City, USA", due to a popular local German bakery known for its pretzels in the 1850s
Belvidere, the “City of Murals,” began with ten murals created in downtown Belvidere in June of 1997 during a “Wall Dog” festival initiated by the Belvidere Chamber of Commerce
Great transportation methods:

5 different international airports
7 Class-I railroads
Connected to four interstates; second-largest UPS air cargo hub in the USA at Chicago Rockford International Airport

Region Specific Assistance

Tiana McCall, MBA
Northern Stateline Region Manager
312-533-6970
tiana.mccall@illinois.gov

The Illinois Department of Commerce is Your One-Stop Resource

Illinois Northern Stateline Region