Manufacturers’ association chief to speak in Normal

Posted on December 8, 2016
(Courtesy Illinois Manufacturers' Association)
(Courtesy Illinois Manufacturers’ Association)

By Greg Halbleib

NORMAL – The condition of manufacturing in Illinois will be the focus of an upcoming Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council event.

Illinois Manufacturers’ Association President/CEO Greg Baise is the scheduled keynote speaker at next week’s quarterly BN by the Numbers. EDC CEO Kyle Ham said Illinois has lost thousands of manufacturing jobs while much of the rest of the Midwest has added positions.

“The rest of the country is thriving from a manufacturing standpoint,” Ham said. “There is a resurgence in manufacturing but Illinois continues to bleed those jobs. All you have to do is look at Springfield and say, here’s what’s going on and here’s the problem.”

Ham said while taxes are a factor, the biggest issue facing the state is uncertainty.

“The taxes are an issue, but it’s not like we’re completely uncompetitive,” Ham said. “The problem is if you’re a business trying to plan out 15, 20, 30 years, you don’t even know what Illinois is going to do next week.”

The BN by the Numbers event is next Thursday from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Prairie Room of the Bone Student Center at Illinois State University. The public is welcome. Cost of the event is $25 and includes lunch. Registration is online at BNBiz.org or by calling 309-452-8437.

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