The chairmen of seven county boards near the Chicago Rockford International Airport want to formalize their joint appeal to bring a freight terminal to the region. The chairmen plan to seek the approval of the boards in Stephenson, Winnebago, Boone, Ogle, Lee, DeKalb and McHenry counties for a regional alliance to pursue an eight-billion-dollar train-to-truck terminal to be built on what are now farm fields.
If this alliance does become formal, the elected officials believe they'll be able to attract grant money and the backing of federal and state agencies for their venture.
Ogle County Board Chairman Kim Gouker said that the group is not looking at 1 particular project at this time. They hope to bring economic growth for the area in the future that would involve all of the counties.