June 27, 2013, ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS The Rockford Area Aerospace Network (RAAN), a committee comprised of the Rockford Area Economic Development Council (RAEDC) and the State of Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Office of Trade and Investment, has just returned from a successful trip to the prestigious 50th Annual International Paris Air Show. RAAN and its members were able to attend the show due to a state awarded State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) grant. The grant funded nine Illinois companies to attend the trade show; six of the companies in attendance were from the Rockford region. The local companies that attended included:

The goal of the show was to seize new business opportunities and forge technology partnerships. RAANs continued participation in the Paris Air Show solidifies the Rockford regions globally-recognized brand as a leading, international aerospace cluster. The participation of Illinois companies at the Paris Air Show also helps further Governor Pat Quinns goal of doubling Illinois exports by 2014.

While at the show, RAAN visited with representatives from 37 companies, including France, Germany and Great Britain. Additional outcomes from the show included:

The Paris Air Show was the perfect opportunity to expose Rockford to companies and representatives located all over the world, said Eric Voyles, Vice President for National Business Development at RAEDC. We met with several representatives and highlighted the fact that we are one of the largest epicenters of aerospace activity in the United States. The show was great exposure for Rockford and it allowed us to increase foreign direct investment in our region, which ultimately will lead to new business development and more job creation.

The Paris Air Show is the largest and worlds most prestigious tradeshow focused on bringing together the biggest aviation and aerospace companies to showcase the latest technological innovations. Approximately 2,100 companies exhibit from 45 countries and 151,000 trade visitors attend the show. Since its inception, the show has been at the heart of the development of the aviation and space industry and over the years has become one of the industrys major networking events.

The Rockford Region is one of the largest epicenters of aerospace activity in the country, home to more than 200 suppliers. There are more than 90 aerospace suppliers in the Rockford metropolitan area alone. The region leads the state in aerospace manufacturing employment, with more than 80 percent of Illinois aerospace workforce being found in Rockfords metropolitan areas. This makes the Rockford metropolitan area sixth in the nation in terms of concentration of aerospace production employment and one of the largest in the nation in overall aerospace employment.

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Rockford Area Aerospace Network Shares Results from 50th Annual Paris Air Show