This month's edition of StatelineBusiness features some positive news about the energy needs of the country. Some local business leaders, such North American Tool's Senior Vice President Bernie Bowersock, have described the economy as being in a psychological recession because of high energy costs and perceived challenges in the housing markets.

Bowersock said, however, that many people are employed in energy production, a billion dollar business. As companies continue to mine, drill or produce energy in alternative ways, more jobs will be created and the economy will grow.

March's cover story features one company that may profit more from energy needs -- Clinton's own Scot Forge. The forging company employs 192 workers and just completed a $22 million expansion project. On the shop floor powerful furnaces heat metal up to 2,300 degree and press it into various sizes and shapes. More than 200 parts are produced daily and shipped out via truck to customers.

The future looks bright for Scot Forge. The Clinton plant supplies steel to warehouses such as Jorgensen and Ryerson Steel and an array of industries including mining, power generation, ship building and the oil industry. Some of its major customers are Caterpillar, P&H Mining and Bucyrus Erie out of Milwaukee as well as the U.S. military. Because power generation is a growing need, Scot Forge has been able to offers its products to companies building equipment for mining and oil drilling.

The biggest news of the past month was Chemtool's announcement to move to the site of the former Beloit Corporation facility at 1165 Prairie Road, Rockton, and bring jobs to the Stateline Area.

Rockton Village President Dale Adams, Winnebago County Chairman Scott Christiansen and Winnebago County Economic Development Director Sue Mroz worked with Chemtool President Jim Athans for more than two years to bring the company to the former Beloit Corporation site. Chemtool will relocate from its 58-acre headquarters in Crystal Lake, Ill. and merge its facilities in Elkhorn, Wis. and Harvard, Ill. to fill the 178 acres on the former Beloit Corporation site.

Chemtool, a privately held corporation founded in 1963, is one of the largest manufacturers and custom formulators of lubricants and specialty products for industry worldwide. It enjoys close business relationships with some of the largest corporations in the automotive, steel, aircraft and lubrication industries. Some of Chemtool's customers include Boeing, John Deere and Caterpillar.

Nearby in South Beloit, North American Tool, 215 Elmwood Ave., continues to do well. In the past two years the company has invested $3.5 million into the plant and new machinery.

North American Tool manufactures special threading products at its South Beloit facility. The company's customers include the aerospace, petro-chemical, energy, defense, manufacturing, computer, medical, automobile and other industries.

A little north of the border, EcoEnergy is looking for a few good acres to erect a wind energy facility in Union Township in Rock County. EcoEnergy LLC, a division of the Morse Group, hopes to lease farmland and erect three turbines. The energy produced will then be sold to Wisconsin Public Power Inc.

We hope you enjoy this edition of StatelineBusiness!