Communities in our area need to work together to expand the Northwest Chicagoland Regional Airport (formerly the Greater Rockford Airport) and to develop businesses related to the Union Pacific Railroad’s intermodal facility in Rochelle.

The proximity of the intermodal center, where containers are transferred between trucks and trains and the airport, make every community in the 70th District attractive business locations. These transportation facilities can be the economic engines that bring well-paying jobs to our region.

As a state representative, I will be committed to working with district communities to use these facilities to attract new businesses, adding jobs that pay good wages and broadening our tax base. Our goal should be to export value-added products, not valuable jobs, from our area.

The recently announced Target distribution center in DeKalb is just one example of the kind of clean business that can be attracted because of our proximity to the intermodal center if we promote our regional resources as well as our local communities.

The Chicago region, of which our district is a key part, is one of the world’s largest handlers of international intermodal freight. The Rochelle facility, where many containers originate in Asia, makes DeKalb, Ogle and LaSalle counties vital links in world trade.

As a state representative, I will also be an advocate of increased use of the Rockford airport. While the airport is already a major hub for UPS and a provider of low-cost passenger service, it holds major promise as an alternative to O’Hare airport for both cargo and passengers.

Bob Brown, DeKalb

Democratic candidate for state representative, 70th District