NewsClick here to check out Midwest High Speed Rail Association's video.
PowerPoint Presentations Now Available Online from Tri-State Alliance Summit;
Topics Cover $60 Million Amtrak Project and Others to Drive Economic Development and Infrastructure
NEWS RELEASE
June 22, 2010, ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS— The PowerPoint presentations of speakers from the third annual summit of the May 14 Tri-State Alliance are now available online at www.tristatealliance.com.
Nearly 150 area leaders attended the summit at The Eclipse Center to celebrate the $60 million Amtrak passenger rail project and move forward together on other efforts to strengthen economic development and infrastructure for northern Illinois, northeastern Iowa and southwestern Wisconsin.
The following presentations are available:
- Tri-State Summit Year in Review, Summit Agenda, Sponsors and More
- Illinois' High-Speed / Intercity Passenger Rail and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act by George Weber, Keynote Speaker, Illinois Department of Transportation, Bureau Chief of Railroads, Division for Public and Intermodal Transportation
- High-Speed Rail for the Midwest by Richard Harnish, Panel Moderator, Midwest High Speed Rail Association
- Remarks by George Ryan, Illinois Department of Transportation
- Remarks by Paul Kovacs, Illinois Tollway
- Southwest Wisconsin Transportation by Linda Richardson, Wisconsin Department of Transportation
The mission of the Tri-State Alliance is to convene the region's leaders to address issues that affect commerce so that the quality of life is improved for the region of Northern Illinois, Northeastern Iowa and Southwestern Wisconsin.
The region includes three major cities as anchors: Dubuque, Iowa; Janesville, Wisconsin and Rockford, Illinois. All the border counties, cities and villages between these three states are part of the planning area. As Janesville and Rockford welcome the western edge of Chicago development, the time has come to work with the communities to the north, south and west to plan for further growth. As agriculture and alternative energy distribution become central to a prosperous region, the leaders of the region understand how their futures are intertwined. Advocacy for transportation planning is key to a region's ability to participate in the ever-growing global supply chain for goods and services.
Members and sponsors of the Tri-State Alliance include: Belvidere Area Chamber of Commerce, Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce, East Central Intergovernmental Association, Forward Janesville, Freeport Chamber of Commerce, Galena Area Chamber of Commerce, Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce, Greater Beloit Economic Development Corporation, Greater Dubuque Development Corporation, Greater Rochelle Economic Development Council, Green County Development Corporation, Growth Dimensions - Belvidere/Boone County, Jo Davies County Economic Development, Northwest Illinois Development Alliance, Platteville Chamber of Commerce, Rockford Area Economic Development Council, Rockford Chamber of Commerce, Rockford Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Southwest Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, State Line Area Transportation Study.
# # #
For More Information
Janyce Fadden, President
Rockford Area Economic Development Council
Tri-State Alliance Steering Committee
815.987.8118
jfadden@rockfordil.com
www.tristatealliance.com
‘Keep Moving Forward’
By Hillary Gavan
hgavan@beloitdailynews.com
Published: Thursday, May 13, 2010 11:58 AM CDT
Beloit to host Tri-State Alliance summit Friday
Beloit has the honor of hosting the Tri-State Alliance’s Keep Moving Forward Summit from 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. Friday at the Eclipse Center. The event includes a reception set for 6 - 7:30 p.m. today at Vision Beloit. Those interested should contact the Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce for registration information at 608-365-8835, or
register online at www.greaterbeloitchamber.com.
The Tri-State Alliance is a collaboration of Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin chambers of commerce and economic development organizations. It includes cities from Dubuque to Janesville to Belvidere, Rockford, Freeport, Beloit and surrounding communities.
The Alliance is holding its third summit, and chose Beloit as host. Those at the chamber are expecting 150 people from the three states, and representation from Forward Janesville, the Rockford Chamber of Commerce and the Rockford Economic Development Council.
“Regionalization is really the future for economic development and prosperity,” said Randall Upton, president of the Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce.
The third annual summit will feature a private sector panel, representatives from various transportation agencies, elected officials, and opportunities to network with peers from the Tri-State area. The event will feature a series of presentations on transportation.
The keynote speaker will be George Weber, Bureau Chief of Railroads for the Division for Public and Intermodal Transportation at the Illinois Department of Transportation. The Tri-State Alliance summit is the region’s only three-state organization focusing on discussing the region’s priorities for transportation infrastructure.
Upton said organizations from the three states need to work together to develop priorities. One of the topics of discussion will be the widening of Interstate-90 from the state line to Madison.
Upton said the following people have been working hard as members of the Steering Committee: Janyce Fadden of the Rockford Area Economic Development Council, John Chadwick of WREX in Rockford, Dan Cunningham of Forward Janesville, Steve Ernst of the Rockford Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Einar Forsman of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce, Andrew Janke of the Greater Beloit Economic Development Corporation, Bob Soltau of the State Transportation Study, and Aimee Thurner and Amy Loudenbeck on behalf of the Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce.
At the event on Friday, Upton said he will be touting the history of the Eclipse Center, the former Beloit Mall. He said the redeveloped structure is testament to the vision of the late Ken Hendricks, the dedication of persons in Beloit who do not give up in the face of adversity, and the commitment of a community to develop a sustainable high quality of life.
The Eclipse Center is now home to three educational centers, the Beloit Public Library, two public health clinics, Rock County offices including the Public Health Department, a 65,000-square-foot department store and a center court. Approximately two-thirds of the former space is now filled, and 270 people are employed in the complex. Upton added that The Hendricks Group will soon begin a $3 million facade renovation program that will carry on the Eclipse Center redevelopment.
Regional priorities on table
About 150 leaders from northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin and eastern Iowa are expected at the annual Tri-State Alliance summit Friday in Beloit.
The meeting is to talk about regional priorities for transportation and infrastructure projects.
Leaders to discuss next steps in region’s development
By Thomas V. Bona
ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
Regional cooperation has helped get Amtrak back on track in Rockford, pushed a U.S. 20 widening project along and given momentum to an Interstate 90 project.
Now leaders are looking at what’s next.
The Tri-State Alliance, a group of leaders from northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin and eastern Iowa, meets Friday for its annual summit in Beloit, Wis.
This year’s meeting includes talks by public and private officials on the importance of infrastructure improvements to speed economic development.
George Weber, chief of the Illinois Department of Transportation’s bureau of railroads, will talk about how freight rail can be a key for the regional economy. Representatives of Alliant Energy, Frito-Lay, Van Galder Bus Co. and Hendricks Development Group will speak in a panel discussion.
“It’s important for elected officials and transportation officials to hear from industry and understand how what they’re supporting helps or hinders future development,” said Janyce Fadden, president of the Rockford Area Economic Development Council. “The main purpose of those roads isn’t to get people to leave our state. It’s to help people invest in our state, create jobs in our state.”
Contact staff writer Thomas V. Bona at 815-987-1343 or tbona@ rrstar.com.
The Tri-State Alliance is a collaboration of Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin chambers of commerce and economic development organizations. It includes cities from Dubuque to Janesville to Belvidere, Rockford, Freeport, Beloit and surrounding communities.
The Alliance is holding its third summit, and chose Beloit as host. Those at the chamber are expecting 150 people from the three states, and representation from Forward Janesville, the Rockford Chamber of Commerce and the Rockford Economic Development Council.
“Regionalization is really the future for economic development and prosperity,” said Randall Upton, president of the Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce.
The third annual summit will feature a private sector panel, representatives from various transportation agencies, elected officials, and opportunities to network with peers from the Tri-State area. The event will feature a series of presentations on transportation.
The keynote speaker will be George Weber, Bureau Chief of Railroads for the Division for Public and Intermodal Transportation at the Illinois Department of Transportation. The Tri-State Alliance summit is the region’s only three-state organization focusing on discussing the region’s priorities for transportation infrastructure.
Upton said organizations from the three states need to work together to develop priorities. One of the topics of discussion will be the widening of Interstate-90 from the state line to Madison.
Upton said the following people have been working hard as members of the Steering Committee: Janyce Fadden of the Rockford Area Economic Development Council, John Chadwick of WREX in Rockford, Dan Cunningham of Forward Janesville, Steve Ernst of the Rockford Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Einar Forsman of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce, Andrew Janke of the Greater Beloit Economic Development Corporation, Bob Soltau of the State Transportation Study, and Aimee Thurner and Amy Loudenbeck on behalf of the Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce.
At the event on Friday, Upton said he will be touting the history of the Eclipse Center, the former Beloit Mall. He said the redeveloped structure is testament to the vision of the late Ken Hendricks, the dedication of persons in Beloit who do not give up in the face of adversity, and the commitment of a community to develop a sustainable high quality of life.
The Eclipse Center is now home to three educational centers, the Beloit Public Library, two public health clinics, Rock County offices including the Public Health Department, a 65,000-square-foot department store and a center court. Approximately two-thirds of the former space is now filled, and 270 people are employed in the complex. Upton added that The Hendricks Group will soon begin a $3 million facade renovation program that will carry on the Eclipse Center redevelopment.
Regional priorities on table
About 150 leaders from northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin and eastern Iowa are expected at the annual Tri-State Alliance summit Friday in Beloit.
The meeting is to talk about regional priorities for transportation and infrastructure projects.
Leaders to discuss next steps in region’s development
By Thomas V. Bona
ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
Regional cooperation has helped get Amtrak back on track in Rockford, pushed a U.S. 20 widening project along and given momentum to an Interstate 90 project.
Now leaders are looking at what’s next.
The Tri-State Alliance, a group of leaders from northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin and eastern Iowa, meets Friday for its annual summit in Beloit, Wis.
This year’s meeting includes talks by public and private officials on the importance of infrastructure improvements to speed economic development.
George Weber, chief of the Illinois Department of Transportation’s bureau of railroads, will talk about how freight rail can be a key for the regional economy. Representatives of Alliant Energy, Frito-Lay, Van Galder Bus Co. and Hendricks Development Group will speak in a panel discussion.
“It’s important for elected officials and transportation officials to hear from industry and understand how what they’re supporting helps or hinders future development,” said Janyce Fadden, president of the Rockford Area Economic Development Council. “The main purpose of those roads isn’t to get people to leave our state. It’s to help people invest in our state, create jobs in our state.”
Contact staff writer Thomas V. Bona at 815-987-1343 or tbona@ rrstar.com.
Members and sponsors of the Tri-State Alliance include: Belvidere Area Chamber of Commerce, Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce, East Central Intergovernmental Association, Forward Janesville, Freeport Chamber of Commerce, Galena Area Chamber of Commerce, Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce, Greater Beloit Economic Development Corporation, Greater Dubuque Development Corporation, Greater Rochelle Economic Development Council, Green County Development Corporation, Growth Dimensions - Belvidere/Boone County, Jo Davies County Economic Development, Northwest Illinois Development Alliance, Platteville Chamber of Commerce, Rockford Area Economic Development Council, Rockford Chamber of Commerce, Rockford Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Southwest Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, State Line Area Transportation Study
100 Park Ave., Ste. 100 | Rockford, IL 61101 | (815) 987-8118
