Manufacturing companies in Rock Island County have a 3.7 billion dollar impact on the local economy.
That's according to a new analysis by the Illinois Manufacturers Association. Officials from the group visited Moline Forge Wednesday as a part of its "Manufacturing Matters Illinois" tour.
Mark Denzler, the association's President and CEO, says the study shows how important manufacturing is in the state's economy.
"Illinois manufacturers paid more than 52 billion dollars in wages and benefits last year. These are good middle class jobs in our communities, and they allow a person to take a vacation, buy a car, send their child to college and live the American dream."
The analysis says Rock Island County has more than 13,000 manufacturing jobs, paying over 76,000 dollars per year on average. The industry is also responsible for 13 percent of the county's Gross Domestic Product.
Denzler is confident in the future of manufacturing in the Quad Cities.
"Illinois companies like Moline Forge represent the best of the best in American manufacturing. Western Illinois, where we are at today, is blessed with a good manufacturing base and great companies."
And thanks to those companies, Rock Island County has the 12th highest concentration of manufacturing employment in Illinois.