Manufacturing

The Sterling Manufacturing Advantage: Skilled Labor, Quality Training, and Rapid Access to Markets

Skilled Labor

Greater Sterling has experienced rapid growth in multiple manufacturing sectors over the past 5 years. Further, our skilled labor concentration outpaces the national average in a variety of manufacturing industries.

Manufacturing Growth

Percent Growth Industry
463%
Ammunition (except Small Arms) Manufacturing
341%
Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing
257%
Office Supplies (except Paper) Manufacturing
205%
Saw Blade and Hand Tool Manufacturing
182%
Wood Product Manufacturing
121%
Mechanical Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing
77%
Iron and Steel Forging
73%
Laminated Plastics Plate, Sheet, and Shape Manufacturing
62%
ContentAnimal Food Manufacturing
56%
Precision Turned Product Manufacturing

Skilled Manufacturing Labor Above The National Average

Rapid Access to Markets

Sterling, Illinois sits near the heart of the Midwest market. Our community is also within a day’s truck drive of Ford’s BlueOval City in Tennessee, a major development in the southeast market. And we’re just 3.5 hours north of the Gateway to the West. With our multi-modal transportation of river, rail, and 4 major interstates, your company can access any of these major markets in rapid time. Learn more on our transportation page.

Highways

Air Service

Rail ACCESS

Quality Training

Sterling gives your manufacturing company access to multiple post-secondary training institutions within an hour’s drive for talent recruitment, employee upskilling, and customized training.

SAUK VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

  • Engineering
  • Industrial Maintenance Electrician
  • Machining & CNC
  • Multicraft Technology
  • Robotic Welding

MORRISON INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

  • Engineering Technology
  • Computer-Aided Design
  • Automation & Intelligent Controls Processes

Certificates Offered:

  • AutoCAD
  • CNC Manufacturing
  • Manufacturing Processes
  • Welding

BLACK HAWK COLLEGE

  • CNC Manufacturing
  • AutoCAD
  • Engineering Technology
      • (Electrical, Manufacturing, Mechanical)

WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY

  • Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Engineering Technology
Heather Sotelo
Greater Sterling Development Corp.
1741 Industrial Drive Sterling, IL 61081
Phone (815) 625-5255
Fax (815) 625-5094
Email hsotelo@sterlingdevelopment.org