TMA Hosts Mayors for Manufacturing Summit

(Park Ridge)- The Technology & Manufacturing Association of Illinois yesterday hosted the first ever Mayors for Manufacturing Summit at the Diplomat West Banquet Hall in Elmhurst. More than 30 Mayors and/or Village Presidents along with several other local elected officials joined with more than 30 manufacturers at the official kick-off of the Mayors for Manufacturing coalition. The purpose of the coalition is to find ways for manufacturers and municipalities to work together to maintain and attract good paying jobs.

“One of the major challenges for communities is attracting and retaining the kind of businesses that provide steady property tax revenues, good-paying, stable jobs for residents, and are major contributors to the civic identity of a town,” stated TMA Chairman Zach Mottl.  “Today’s manufacturing companies help municipalities meet these challenges, enhancing the quality of life in the communities in which they are located,” he added.

After the opening session, devoted to discussing issues of importance to manufacturers and municipalities including, pension reform, workers compensation reform, property tax abatement legislation and ETIP training grants, several dignitaries addressed the group. They included Congressman Bill Foster and representatives from the offices of Senators Durbin and Kirk. Former Long Grove Mayor Maria Rodriguez, who is a candidate for Lieutenant Governor on the ticket with State Senator Bill Brady, provided the keynote address at dinner.

“I am pleased and humbled with the turnout from my fellow elected officials as well as the manufacturing community,” said Hanover Park Mayor Rod Craig (one of the leading forces behind the formation of the coalition). “We share so many issues that it just makes sense that we work together to better our communities and work to provide good jobs for our residents.”

About TMA: 8 small manufacturing companies who thought they could better themselves by associating with one another founded TMA in 1925. Through the years, members established programs and services that would help their businesses grow and prosper, train their employees, and provide medical and retirement benefits. As a result of these efforts, TMA has grown into a 1,000 member not-for-profit organization representing almost 30,000 employees of precision manufacturing and supplier companies throughout Illinois.