In an effort to increase job production and expansion in Illinois, Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill Tuesday which will add areas to the existing jurisdiction of the Quad Cities Regional Economic Development Authority.
Senate Bill 1755, sponsored by Sen. Mike Jacobs (D-Moline) in the Illinois Senate and Rep. Pat Verschoore (D-Milan) in the Illinois House, adds Jo Daviess, Carroll, Whiteside and Stephenson counties to the existing QCREDA area of Rock Island, Henry, Knox, and Mercer counties.
"This law will allow these additional counties to benefit from increasing the number of jobs through the work the Authority is currently doing in the region," said Sen. Jacobs.
The QCREDA has aided groups from the manufacturing industry to local community projects. Ice cream and frozen yogurt manufacturer Whitey's Ice Cream Mfg., Inc. received a $2 million bond from the QCREDA for the expansion of their ice cream manufacturing facility in Moline. The initiative also created an additional 40 jobs in the community.
Midwest food distributor Thoms Proestler, whose clients are located within a 200 mile radius of the Quad Cities, added 75 new jobs to their businesses after becoming involved with QCREDA.
The Quad Cities Regional Economic Development Authority also helped the Two Rivers YMCA in Rock Island County. The Authority's contributions featured $2.2 million for a capital development campaign and an additional $6 million in tax free bonds for renovations and construction of an addition. The project created an additional 103 jobs for the community.
Watts Trucking Company expanded their independent refuse hauler operation to a workforce of approximately 440 employees after QCREDA intervened. The QCREDA's $6,500,000 bond to expand Watts' solid waste disposal operations upgraded their existing facilities by adding new hauling equipment and related containers.
"These are just some examples of how the Quad Cities Regional Economic Development Authority has brought additional jobs and services to our community," said Sen. Jacobs in a press release over the new legislation. "The legislation will uphold that tradition to ensure we can continue to draw business and industry to the 36th legislative district.
