Project Will Pave Way for NTN-Bower Corporation Expansion; Create 80 New Jobs

MACOMB, IL - April 6, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today announced a $1.4 million roadway improvement project along Bower Road in the city of Macomb. The project supports economic growth in West Central Illinois by paving the way for NTN-Bower Corporation to expand its Macomb facility, creating 80 new jobs over the next two years.

"Illinois has one of the best transportation networks in the country, and we are committed to strengthening our infrastructure," Governor Quinn said. "This project will help ensure the city of Macomb and the entire West Central Illinois region can continue to compete and attract investment."

"When I visited NTN-Bower a few months ago, I was impressed by its strong leadership and potential for growth. Strengthening the infrastructure around this growing company is the right thing to do. By upgrading the roads to manage the increased heavy truck traffic in the area, the state of Illinois and the federal government are helping to lay the groundwork for the company's expansion and the good paying jobs it will create," said U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL).

The roadway project includes widening and resurfacing an intersection of Bower Road and U.S. 136 (Jackson St.), adding signals, a south leg, and a turn lane for traffic on U.S. 136. Work also involves extending the right storage lane for southbound traffic on Bower Road and resurfacing a shoulder northward on Bower Road to support increased traffic brought on by NTN's expansion.

NTN, a manufacturer of tapered and cylindrical roller bearings, is investing $100 million to construct a new plant directly east of their existing operations at 711 North Bower Road in Macomb.  Additional production lines will also be purchased and installed in the new plant. The new plant will be approximately 200,000 square feet and will create 80 permanent, full-time jobs. Construction on the building is scheduled to begin in May 2012, with completion slated for April 2013. Roadway construction is expected to begin in mid-August 2012, weather permitting, and is scheduled to be complete by the end of November.

"I am pleased NTN-Bower's expansion will receive funding from the Community Development Assistance Program, the Truck Access Route Program, and the Economic Development Program.  This expansion will create jobs, which is my top priority," stated Sen. John Sullivan (D-Macomb).

Funding for the project is made possible through nearly $1.2 million in grant funds from the Illinois Department of Transportation's (IDOT) Economic Development Program and Truck Access Route Program. The city of Macomb also received a $231,000 grant through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity's (DCEO) Community Development Assistance Program.

"The city of Macomb is grateful for the funding assistance provided by the Illinois Departments of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Transportation for improvements to U.S. 136 and Bower Rd," said Macomb Mayor Michael Inman. "These improvements were important in securing the expansion of NTN-Bower's operations in Macomb. The funding will allow Macomb to meet the increased demand for traffic volume, brought about by NTN's expansion."

DCEO administers Illinois' CDAP program, which is known nationally as the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, and provides federal funding for a variety of community-based projects to communities with populations of 50,000 or less.

"This project demonstrates the power of federal, state, community and private partnerships," said Antonio R. Riley, HUD's Midwest Regional Administrator. "We are pleased to see CDBG funds being leveraged to create jobs and spur economic development in Illinois."

The purpose of IDOT's Economic Development Program (EDP) is to provide state assistance in improving highway access to new or expanding industrial distribution or tourism developments, and to create new employment opportunities. The department's Truck Access Route Program (TARP) is combined with funding for Economic Development Program projects and helps local governments upgrade roads to accommodate 80,000 pound truck loads.

For more information on why Illinois is the right place for any business, visit www.illinoisbiz.biz.

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack today issued the following statement in response to the Department of Labor's announcement that the unemployment rate dropped slightly to 8.2 percent in March and 120,000 jobs were added.

"Numbers do not mean anything to Iowans who are still out of work.   Today's report shows that any progress is tenuous at best and Congress still has a lot of work to do for there to be a meaningful recovery.  The small steps that have been taken up to this point to get the economy heading in the right direction have provided only a small boost.  Congress needs to come together and move forward with commonsense, bipartisan solutions in order to create jobs and boost the economy."

SPRINGFIELD, IL (04/06/2012)(readMedia)-- "You call, we haul," is uttered by many transportation company Soldiers throughout the state. Motor transport operators drive the force, hauling rolling stock to ammunition and other vital supplies.

The Illinois National Guard's 129th Regional Training Institute out of the Illinois Military Academy at Camp Lincoln trained 11 Soldiers from various state and Army components to be certified as motor transport operators (88M) at the Illinois State Police Training Area in Pawnee, March 18 to April 1.

The 129th operates, like many other military schools, with a crawl, walk, run course progression. The Soldiers start in the classroom learning everything from hand and arm signals to how to fill out a dispatch form.

Soldiers then move to hands-on practice backing up with a 5-ton cargo truck, a 915 with a tractor trailer and a Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck with tractor trailer. They also practice driving in convoys and night vision driving.

The main emphasis of the training is to give Soldiers the skills they will need to be successful during future operations.

Illinois is one of 20 states offering a course that certifies Soldiers as 88Ms.

"The Illinois Military Academy has been described as the best Army school house in the nation," said Col. Thomas Weiss of Williamsville, the director of Training, Operations and Plans at Camp Lincoln. "It's important we support our Military Academy by enrolling in its courses before considering other sources of training."

Soldiers will receive quality training at the 88M course, the instructors said.

"The training that we put together is among the top in the country," said Sgt. 1st Class James R. Griffin of Riverton, a course manager in the 129th. "Back in July we received an accreditation from both United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and the 88M transportation proponent as an Institute of Excellence. We have had several best practices for things we have done, not just out here on the lanes, but also for our work behind the scenes."

Spc. Chris R. Rapacz of Springfield, a former gunner in an active-duty field artillery unit and now with the 724th Transportation Company, an Army Reserve unit in Bartonville, said he is excited about the training he's received.

"It's great," said Rapacz. "That's why you join the Army; to do neat things. I shot some of the biggest guns in the military and now I am going to drive some of the biggest trucks. I am all around satisfied with everything about this training."

Several Soldiers from out of the state participated in the training as well.

"The quality of the training is good," said Pfc. Jason T. Snyder of Louisville, Ky., who drills with the 203rd Forward Support Company in Elizabethtown, Ky. "I am confident that I will be able to take a lot of these skills back to my unit and on a deployment if needed and will be able to utilize these skills."

In addition to being a benefit for Soldiers attending the course, the course also provides many benefits to the state of Illinois that make this the ultimate win-win scenario.

"It will help Illinois save money because Illinois is the largest National Guard transportation state in the United States," said Sgt. 1st Class Ed D. Heap of Bushnell with the 129th. "We have the most transportation companies and, with us doing our own training, we don't have to pay a different state for lodging and meals. We don't have to pay a lot to the Soldiers for traveling. It also helps Illinois National Guard Soldiers save a lot of wear and tear on their vehicles when they don't have to do a long drive."

"These skills are very applicable to real-mission scenarios," said Heap. "Overseas in theater they do have the line-haul missions. They are going to have to back up under all sorts of missions."

Several of the instructors have performed as 88Ms while in a deployment overseas and know the importance of transportation.

"An 88M is very essential to the overall mission of the Army," said Heap. "Without 88Ms units won't get their supplies. I consider 88M to be the main backbone of the Army because we haul the supplies including the food, water, fuel, ammunition. So without the 88M the Army can't run logistically."

Griffin agreed with Heap's assessment.

"I used to have a quote for the guys who would make fun of me for being a truck driver and it says that 'I may not be the pride of the Army, but without me your pride don't ride,'" said Griffin.