Edited by Susan Longworth Acknowledgements The Industrial Cities Initiative(ICI) is a project of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s Community Development and Policy Studies Division, led by Alicia Williams, vice president. Susan Longworth edited this document. We would like to acknowledge and thank government, private sector, and civic leaders in all ten ICI cities who agreed to interviews for this publication. The individuals interviewed for the ICI are listed in Appendix D. We gratefully acknowledge the many individuals from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago who contributed to this publication: Michael Berry, Jeremiah Boyle, Mary Jo Cannistra, Daniel DiFranco, Emily Engel, Harry Ford, Desiree Hatcher, Jason Keller, Steven Kuehl, Susan Longworth, Helen Mirza, Ryan Patton, and Marva Williams. Special thanks to Katherine Theoharopoulos and Sean Leary for art direction and graphic design work. ©2014 Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago The Industrial Cities Initiative profiles may be reproduced in whole or in part, provided the profiles are not reproduced or distributed for commercial gain and provided the source is appropriately credited. Prior written permission must be obtained for any other reproduction, distribution, republication, or creation of derivative works of The Industrial Cities Initiative profiles. To request permission, please e-mail [email protected] or write to the following address: Industrial Cities Initiative Community Development and Policy Studies Division Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago 230 South LaSalle Street Chicago, IL 60604-1413 The views expressed here are those of the contributors and are not necessarily those of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. The description of any product or service does not imply an endorsement. Introduction The Community Development and Policy Studies (CDPS) division of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago undertook the Industrial Cities Initiative (ICI) to gain a better understanding of the economic, demographic, and social trends shaping industrial cities in the Midwest. The ICI was motived by questions about why some Midwest towns and cities outperform other similar cities with comparable histories and manufacturing legacies. And, can ‘successful’ economic development strategies implemented in ‘outperforming cities’ be replicated in ‘underperforming cities?’ The effort to improve the economic and social well-being of these cities and their residents occurs in an environment shaped by: • Macroeconomic forces: Globalization, immigration, demographic trends including an aging population, education and training needs, and the benefits and burdens of wealth, wages, and poverty impact these cities, regardless of size or location. • State and national policies: Economic development leaders contend that state and national policies pit one city against another in a zero-sum competition for job- and wealth-generating firms. • The dynamic relationship of city and region: Although cities remain the economic entities, regional strengths and weaknesses to a large extent determine the fate of their respective cities. As a first phase, we profiled ten midwestern cities whose legacy as twentieth century manufacturing centers remains a powerful influence on the well-being of those cities, their residents and their regions. However, the objective of the ICI was not only to look at the individual conditions, trends and experience of these places, but to also explore these cities in comparison to peers, their home states and the nation. Therefore in addition to reviewing an individual profile that may be of particular interest, we also advise reading the Summary of Findings (http://www.chicagofed.org/ICI_Summary.pdf) which explains further the motivation and context for the ICI and provides thematic observations that emerged from the interviews, as well as supporting data. Overarching trends, relating to human capital – its quantity and quality, industry concentrations, employment and productivity outlooks, educational attainment, diversity and inclusion, housing and poverty, and access to capital that are described in each of the profiles are coalesced in the Summary of Findings to arrive at conclusions and next steps. They constitute an essential component of the overall narrative. In addition, attached to each profile is a series of appendices. These important documents provide insight into the data methodology and resources used, and a data summary for each city. Industrial Cities Initiative Joliet, Illinios 1 and southeastern Europe — as well as businesses that benefitted from the resources and industry of the JOLIET, IL region. Joliet’s economy deteriorated during the 1970s with the decline of the U.S. steel industry, and by 1983, according to local officials, the city led the nation in unemployment. In the same year, civic and business Overview leaders united to develop strategies to turn around the Joliet economy in ways that were sustainable.2 Joliet, Illinois is located approximately 35 miles Today, Joliet’s population is 147,433, an increase of southwest of the city of Chicago. Joliet is the county 39 percent since 2000, making it the fourth largest seat of Will County, Illinois. It remains an industrial city in Illinois. Joliet has experienced significant city, where 15 percent of employment involves either population growth over the past two decades, almost the creation or movement of goods.1 It is also the doubling in size since 1990 (chart 1). In contrast, the home of two casinos, a Frontier League baseball team, population of the state of Illinois has increased much the Chicagoland Speedway, and the historic Rialto more slowly, only gaining 12 percent since 1990, Square Theatre. From 1858 to 2002, it was also home compared to 21 percent for the country as a whole. to the Joliet Correctional Center featured in many However, the two decades from 1970 to 1990 saw movies and songs. Joliet’s population decline by almost 5 percent, while Joliet was incorporated as a city in 1852, although it the state and nation grew by 3 percent and 22 percent, had existed as a settlement since the 1600s and as a respectively (chart 2). village since 1834. Even in those early days, Joliet had However, the recent population growth has also a locational advantage being on the Des Plaines River brought an increase in challenges. The percent of and later the Sauk Trail, the Illinois and Michigan families living in poverty in Joliet has typically run Canal, and the Rock Island Railroad. Early industry higher than state levels, and this trend continues, with in Joliet centered on its abundant supply of limestone, almost 10 percent of Joliet families living under the which fed local needs for building, especially poverty line, compared with 9 percent for the state as a following the Chicago Fire of 1871. Joliet was also whole. Joliet has become more diverse with an almost the site of some of the earliest steel mills built in the 100 percent increase in the Hispanic population since United States, beginning in 1869. These assets drew 1990, which now comprises more than 25 percent of residents – in particular immigrants from Ireland Chart 2. Total population (indexed, 1970=100): Chart 1. Total population: Joliet, 1970-2010 Joliet and comparison areas, 1970-2010 Year Year Joliet IL U.S. Source: U.S. Census Bureau (A-1). Industrial Cities Initiative Joliet, Illinois 3 the total population.3 The growth in the Hispanic load rail cars once they are in the city. This time can population far exceeds growth in the population be cut almost in half, as it takes less than eight hours as whole, and outpaces trends at both the state and to off-load at the intermodal in Elwood. national levels. Leading multinationals with a presence in the Joliet Framed by U.S. Interstate highways to the east (I- region, include: Dow Chemical, Exxon Mobil, 355), west (I-55), and south (I-80), Joliet is part of the LlyondellBassell, Caterpillar, and others. However, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin Metropolitan Statistical few of these corporations have roots in Joliet. Most Area (MSA). The Des Plaines River runs through Joliet, are multinational corporations and consider only as do several commuter and freight rail lines.4, 5 The the economics of investment decisions. Countering potential for high speed rail development promises to the prime location, is the cost of doing business in further leverage Joliet’s location, if it comes to fruition. Illinois, the high price of unionized labor, relatively high corporate taxes, and the uncertainty stemming Joliet has capitalized on these sustainable assets, as from the state’s chronic financial challenges. well as its commuter-distance location to Chicago, to Headquarters locations range from Texas to Kansas evolve from an isolated victim of the rust-belt into to Switzerland and The Netherlands. Managers cycle a regional center with a firm foothold in the global through the area on two-to-three-year rotations, supply chain. This change did not happen overnight further undermining any opportunity to make local and did not happen by accident. connections or commitments. Regional presence An indicator of Joliet’s connection to the world appeared in a 2011 letter to the editor of the Joliet Herald News. In the letter, Joliet City Manager Tom Local leaders speak with pride of Joliet as the source Thanas responded to a recent article attacking the city of limestone for the Chicago Water Tower completed for overstating the seriousness of a municipal budget in 1869. Today, Joliet’s reach extends far beyond the deficit. Manager Thanas devotes a portion of the letter metropolitan region. Because of its sustainable assets – to defending the reasons for preserving a “rainy day” the rail lines, the expressways, and waterways, as well fund balance. Included on the list are unforeseen as proximity to two international airports – Joliet has natural disasters, workers’ compensation claims, a firm foothold in the global supply chain as a leading changes to state and federal legislation, and finally, inland port.