The event, organized by Rockford Manufacturing Collective founders Derek Sherman and Eric Canada, included tours of three Rockford-based, family-owned manufacturers, remarks from local leaders and a roundtable with Rockford industry leaders and U.S. Small Business Administration representatives. According to officials the roundtable event was intended to serve the dual purpose of showing SBA representatives the impact small manufacturers on the local economy and connecting these manufacturers with SBA programs. “While other jobs in healthcare and in service industries are certainly important, manufacturing jobs attract wealth from clients outside our metropolitan area.” SBA representatives also toured Chem Processing and Ultra Stamping & Assembly Inc.Gordy Cushman, VP of operations at Ultra, told SBA representatives how tariffs are affecting his business. “As the collective promotes local manufacturers here and abroad, the U.S. SBA provides manufacturers with crucial business-building resources.