On May 28, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker announced the first 12 communities that will be designated Manufacturing Communities as part of the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) initiative. The Chicago and Milwaukee metropolitan areas were both included in the list of initial IMCP communities, based on the strength of the economic development plans, potential community impacts, and public- and private-sector partnerships highlighted in the winning proposals.
Led by the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will, as well as the cities of Chicago and Joliet, the Chicago Metro Metal Consortium Manufacturing Community consortium aims to build on the region’s metal base—including 3,700 metals industry firms generating more than $30 billion in annual revenues, transportation network, and workforce development partnerships to create a virtuous cycle of development in the region.
In Wisconsin, the Milwaukee 7 Manufacturing Community consortium will focus on strengthening the region’s human capital, cultivating research and innovation, accelerating exports, and enhancing supplier networks.
The U.S. Commerce Department-led program is designed to accelerate the resurgence of manufacturing in communities nationwide by supporting the development of long-term economic development strategies that help communities attract and expand private investment in the manufacturing sector and increase international trade and exports.
The 12 designated Manufacturing Communities will receive coordinated support for their strategies from eleven federal agencies with $1.3 billion available in federal economic development assistance, and be recognized on a government website accessible to prospective private foreign and domestic investors looking for information on communities’ competitive attributes.
The Alliance congratulates the Illinois counties and cities and Milwaukee 7 for their wonderful achievement, and looks forward to continuing to work together to move the needle forward on improving the competitiveness of the Tri-State Region.