February 27: Governor Rauner paid a visit to Decatur Industrial Electric Tuesday afternoon to find out more about the company and talk to their employees about what he is doing in Springfield to help the manufacturing industry.
“This is a great company providing high quality service and this company keeps manufacturing growing and working in America.” Rauner said to a group of Decatur Industrial employees after he toured the plant.
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The manufacturing industry is seeing a lack of skilled and qualified workers as high school graduates have gravitated towards four-year institutions instead of the vocations. Trent Thompson, President and owner of Decatur Industrial, said that was one of the areas he and Rauner covered as he gave him a guided tour of the plant. “What we do is really cool stuff for people who like to build and make things. There are lots of opportunities out there for great jobs that I would really like to see our education system be bolstered for starting in the junior high level and leading into high school and community colleges.” Rauner supported Thompson by saying that more people need to be trained in the trades because “strong manufacturing and a strong economy are key to the prosperity to the people of Illinois.”
In addition to an increase in vocational students, Thompson talked about the difficulty of being a business in Illinois. Rauner agreed with Thompson’s concerns and said there are a few areas he wants to address with the General Assembly. When it came to the high tax burden recently passed by legislators Rauner said, “I want to roll that back down so you can save that money and keep it in your pocket and you can keep it in your business so you can pay more and grow more.” He added he wants to propose a billion dollar tax cut and lower property taxes.
Another area Rauner covered was “cutting the red tape” that makes it more difficult for businesses like Decatur Industrial to do business. “That red tape and fees and requirements and filings and restrictions raises your costs; keeps you from being as competitive as you need to be; and keeps you from growing as fast. So I want to get that red tape off of you so you can grow and boom.”
Thompson said he would be happy with whatever Rauner and the rest of the legislatures could do to make it easier for him to continue his family’s business and become more competitive in the Midwest. Decatur Industrial Electric has been around for over 65 years and Thompson is the third generation to run the plant. He said they remanufacture equipment to help give customers tools that will last a long time and he wants to see that longevity within their business as well.
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Now Decatur: Governor Rauner Talks Manufacturing with Decatur Industrial Electric