Manufacturing is the economic foundation of the Quad Cities region as well as Iowa and Illinois. It is estimated that there are 800 manufacturers within a 60-mile radius around the Quad Cities region.
How does the region not take for granted this important industry? By proactively investing in it and collaborating with local companies and academia.
That seems to be the focus of the newly announced Quad Cities Manufacturing Institute (QCMI).
The QCMI is a partnership between Western Illinois University, the University of Illinois System and Iowa State University. It will focus on research and development and workforce development in advanced manufacturing and materials. The new entity aims to foster collaboration between the U.S. Army, the Rock Island Arsenal, businesses in the Quad Cities region and the participating universities and community colleges. It will be housed at WIU’s riverfront campus in Moline and the arsenal. That installation is home to 80 tenant organizations and employs 6,000 military, civilian and contractor personnel.
The institute will be a catalyst for greater investment in the Midwest’s manufacturing sector and collaboration with defense partners like the Rock Island Arsenal Army installation, said Peter Collins, an ISU interdisciplinary engineering professor in a news report.
This effort also shows a strong commitment to helping the Rock Island Arsenal continue to provide critical products and services to all of our Armed Services.
“We’re going to be focusing on the research, but if we only do that without figuring out how to translate it into the hands of end users and industry and Rock Island Arsenal, then we’re kind of failing at our job,” he said.
The institute is being funded by investments by the universities as it becomes established, Mr. Collins said. As it expands, the institute will seek funding through grants and contracts with government and industry partners.
We appreciate the proactive nature of this institute and the collaboration that is taking place across Illinois and Iowa, which was evident by the number of elected officials from both states and both political parties who expressed support for the institute.
Additionally, the institute is looking at manufacturing from a holistic perspective.
Now that the ceremonial start of the QCMI is complete, the tough work begins, said Jay Walsh, vice president for economic development and innovation at the University of Illinois and a QCMI board member said at the event.
That work will include the long process of looking at assets in the education, business and military communities, examining the needs of the JMTC on Arsenal Island and developing plans to help each other, he added.
However, Mr. Walsh told the QCBJ that a big part of the institute’s work will also be working with students. Much of that work will focus on getting college-level students ready for the workforce. But there will also be great efforts to work with kindergarten through 12th grade students to show them the importance of manufacturing in the region.
We applaud this new institute and look forward to it helping to keep manufacturing a regional success story.
