How to improve Rockford? Ask Rochelle. They don’t talk and talk, they get ‘r done.

May 30th, 2008 at 09:24am Chuck Sweeny

Rockford needs good jobs to turn its economy around. But economic development leaders and local politicians continue to “think small.” Meanwhile, Rochelle leads the way in innovation, resulting in an ever-expanding array of prestigious firms locating in that city.

Key to success there is the excellent infrastructure of two, Interstate highways and two transcontinental railroads. Rochelle also provides municipally-owned electric service and wired itself for fibre optics.

(A crane transfers a trailer from a carriage to a rail car at the Union Pacific intermodal hub in Rochelle. Photo by Eddy Montville | Rockford Register Star)

However, until the visionary Ken Wise became economic czar in the 1980s, the natural advantages were unexploited. Ken decided it would be a great idea to build a city-owned railroad connecting what now are the BNSF and UP mainlines. That way, companies locating on the 2 mile line could bargain between the two railroads for lower freight rates. Now, the industrial park bustles with activity and the city actually makes money from their railroad.

Rochelle has many lessons to teach. Rockfordians, though, are a hard lot to teach.

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