WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderMayor Morrissey returns from trip to Italy with hope for jobs

Mayor Morrissey returns from trip to Italy with hope for jobs

By Samantha Ptashkin

ROCKFORD (WREX)- Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey returns home from a trip to Italy with a valuable souvenir for the city and its unemployed, hope for jobs.

Last week the mayor joined several other Illinois leaders on a trip to Milan. While there, they met with delegates from 15 regions across the globe and explored Rockford's economic opportunities.

The leaders spent days looking at how different regions can become bigger players in the global economy. "If we're going to get out of some of the challenges we have today and have sustainable growth and sustainable manageable growth, then regions are going to have to play a significant part," Morrissey said.

To put that plan in action Morrissey focused on economic expansion. He made a short trip to the town of Ferentino, which is one of Rockford's sister cities, and said Rockford's strong Italian ties make business opportunities here appealing. "They rather do business with someone who might be a little more of a costly player, who they think will have a more sustainable long term benefit to their company, than someone who might be a lower cost, but who they don't have that comfort level with," Morrissey said.

The mayor talked to three Italian companies about expansion efforts. He wouldn't share any names, but said two of them are already doing business in Rockford. He hopes for more. "We would be foolish not to be selling our opportunities to provide low cost quality work for companies around the world."

Morrissey said the 15 regional leaders hope to meet again face to face in the next couple of years. Until then they will create a virtual network by communicating as much as possible online.