By Marissa Alter
ROCKFORD (WREX) - The Rockford area will have a presence at one of the biggest gatherings in the aerospace industry. A group heads to the Paris Air Show next month.
This effort was organized by the Rockford Area Economic Development Council and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Reps from those groups will be joined in Paris by a Greater Rockford Airport Authority administrator as well as 4 local companies.
Clinkenbeard Products made appearances at past Paris air shows, but this time will be different. They're part of a regional delegation. Three other aerospace companies will also make the trip: Leading Edge Hydraulics, Hamilton Sundstrand, and Woodward. Clinkenbeard Program Manager Ron Gustafson says, "There will be a number of companies we'd like to connect with. RAEDC has set up meetings with a number of new companies we don't usually do business with so it's an excellent opportunity for us, as well as the region."
The goal of the effort is two-fold: create export opportunities for local manufacturers and bring foreign direct investment here. RAEDC's sent out introduction letters to more than 60 companies in hopes of working out sit-downs. The DCEO will set up face to face meetings. RAEDC Vice President Eric Voyles says, "As much as Rockford is a center of excellence for aerospace manufacturing, it's relatively unknown because of being a smaller community and being overshadowed by Chicago."
The state will pay for Rockford's booth at the show and passes into it, while RAEDC will cover the cost to get to Paris and stay there. The thinking is, it's worth it. Chris Sala with the DCEO says, "I think this is one portion of what you do to be a player in the Internet market, the global marketplace. It's being at these shows, meeting people face to face and developing the relationships that go beyond a voicemail or an e-mail."
The Paris Air Show will likely have more than 150,000 visitors and 2,000 exhibitors from all over the world. It runs from June 15th to the 21st.
