South Suburban mayors, officials and businesses are proceeding with plans to create a "Green Time Zone" for employment based on passenger rail, cargo facilities and green manufacturing.

"The South Suburbs is one of those areas where you have not seen significant state investment over the years," said Democratic State Rep. Will Davis. "We are not just asking for a handout. We want to build something in these communities."

That was Davis' message to Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development Director Warren Ribley last Monday during a tour of South Suburban rail, freight and manufacturing sites. Ribley had come to hear about the Green Time Zone project and learn what role the state can play.

"What I've seen is you have the right vision, not only for the type of jobs that will bring us out of this recession, but that are the future for our whole economy," Ribley said.

The day's tour was organized by the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association, the Chicago Southland Economic Development Corp. and the Center for Neighborhood Technology. All three are developing the new economic development strategy for the South Suburbs.

According to estimates prepared by the coalition, redeveloping just 20 percent of the region's vacant industrial land would create 13,451 jobs and $2.3 billion in new income during a 10-year period.

Much of the day's tour centered on companies that are already moving forward with green projects, ranging from manufacturing towers for wind turbines to diesel/electric hybrid cranes for rail-truck intermodal yards.

The day started at Funk Linko, an 85-year-old Chicago Heights manufacturer of sign and lighting posts that is now expanding into producing undercarriages for low-emission diesel locomotives and towers for wind turbines.

"I want to create jobs and long-lasting jobs," said Funk Linko CEO Vicky Link.

Behind her were massive locomotive undercarriages moving through cutting and fabrication for National Railway Equipment Co., in nearby Dixmoor. The undercarriages are used on the Dixmoor company's N-ViroMotive, a locomotive that has achieved emissions cuts of up to 90 percent and reduces fuel consumption between 40 percent and 60 percent.

The undercarriage fabricating is just one job Funk Linko is taking on to boost employment. The other is a partnership with Tempest Wind Energy, in Wheeling, which is calling on Funk Linko to manufacture towers for its new high-efficiency Ariel generators.

Tempest Wind Energy generators, blades and towers have been developed specifically for remote, industrial and community applications, company President Elizabeth Iwanicki told the crowd of officials at Funk Linko.

National Railway Equipment Co. Vice President James Wurtz said the green energy projects like those undertaken by the three companies hold the key to the revival of much more than just the South Suburbs.

"This country has lost its vision as to where it puts its money," Wurtz said. "This country has to go back to putting its money into research and development."

Another stop at Mi-Jack Products, in Hazel Crest, showed that some other companies also still believe in old-fashioned R&D, even in the depths of a recession.

Mike Grace, Mi-Jack Products vice president for intermodal rail sales, enthusiastically described the technology the company has developed for its new low-emissions hybrid electric gantry crane.

"This is set to revolutionize the crane industry," Grace told mayors and officials, as a crane operator put the huge machine through its paces.

The crane will be used at the Port of Long Beach, in California, to transfer international shipping containers between rail cars and trucks. It is projected to cut fuel costs and emissions by up to 70 percent.

By promoting the green products of manufacturers like Mi-Jack, along with the South Suburbs' abundant cargo and passenger rail infrastructure, South Suburban mayors and others hope to create job opportunities for economically distressed communities, according to David Chandler, of the Center for Neighborhood Technology.

The Center for Neighborhood Technology has been using private grants and other funding to help develop the Green Time Zone strategy. Chandler was a key speaker on Monday's tour, explaining the concept to Ribley and other attendees.

"The Green Time Zone can make Will County and Cook County the hub of hubs when it comes to freight transportation and transit-oriented development," Chandler said.