Area Development
A contract recently proposed by Boeing could bring 1,100 jobs and an estimated $57 million annually to Illinois. Boeing has submitted a proposal to produce replacement aircrafts of Eisenhower-era KC-135 planes to the Air Force.

"Boeing's NewGen Tanker would support more than 200 jobs at Hamilton Sundstrand in Rockford and in the surrounding communities, bringing $11 million in economic impact to the region each year," said U.S. Representative Don Manzullo (R-IL). "Boeing is in great position to win this competition and build the Air Force's next-generation refueling tanker, putting more Americans back to work in northern Illinois and throughout the country."

Boeing already employs more than 600 people in Illinois.

The Air Force is seeking to replace the planes with Boeing's proposed new, lighter model. The NewGen Tanker will save millions of dollars annually on fuel costs.