Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – A company based in Canada, known as REEL, pronounced REY-AL, is opening its first U.S. based manufacturing facility right here in Springfield.

Ryan McCrady, CEO of the Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance (SSGA), told the WTAX Morning Newswatch what this does for our community.

“This is a really good opportunity for our community. To kind of get back into that manufacturing sector in job growth. We have a lot of amazing manufacturers here in Springfield, it’s not really what we’re I guess you could say known for, but there is a desire in the community to have more manufacturing jobs.” McCrady said

REEL is a manufacturer of large industrial cranes based out of Canada. The cranes they build are not like what you see in construction sites, REEL builds the cranes that move around heavy items from one point to the other such as overly heavy items being moved across an assembly line or moving large equipment around at a power plant or in another industrial setting.

Some may ask, why choose Springfield?  McCrady answered that question stating, “REEL International knows there is a growing market opportunity in the US. Springfield’s geographic location is a big advantage to reach a large customer base all across the country, being in the middle of the country, and we have the workforce to support that. We have great workers and have seen that in response to our job opportunities here by our current workers. They have great skills. So, all of those things are what helped attract them into Springfield.”

REEL is set to create 100 permanent jobs for the Springfield and the surrounding areas workforce, and according to McCrady, will be a very good addition to our community with plenty of upside.