Manufacturing

The Normal Town Council has reviewed elements of a new strategic plan and approved changes to the Enterprise Zone that would offer development incentives in portions of Bloomington-Normal, including Bloomington's under-performing Eastland Mall.

There will be a significant workforce reduction at the Bridgestone Off-the-Road Tire Plant in Normal. Neither the company nor the United Steelworkers union representing workers could provide a precise number of jobs targeted.

Automobile seat maker Adient will open a facility in Normal to serve Rivian. The $8 million investment will create 75 new full-time jobs.

Technical Metals Inc. in Fairbury is a 55-year-old family business that provides grinding, welding and other metal services to heavy equipment manufacturers.

Retaliatory tariffs by China could hurt McLean County more than most counties in the U.S. and more than all but one other county in Illinois.

A small manufacturer in Bloomington faces many pressures. Joe Diemer has owned Midwest Molding Solutions for a quarter century.

Heartland Community College has signed up 26 new apprentices to learn and train with businesses in the region, while getting paid. During National Apprenticeship Week, Heartland is spotlighting more than 60 active apprenticeships to boost the regional workforce.

Bridgestone Americas in Normal hosted a group of business, education and government leaders on Friday for the third annual “Makers on the Move” statewide bus tour to showcase manufacturing plants in Illinois.

The manufacturing company broke ground Monday on the project, which will replace an aging office building. The new building will be powered by solar energy and is designed to conserve water.

Manufacturers have been scrambling for workers for years and the need is rising as the baby boomers that disproportionately make up that part of the workforce retire. That's not likely to change soon.