​Established on November 4, 1902, as the Fox River Valley Manufacturer's Association,  now known as the Valley Industrial Association was founded  "for the benefit and advantage for all concerned"  manufacturers in the Aurora area. Founded by 16 companies, four of which remain members today (Richards Wilcox, Aurora Metals, and Aurora Specialty Textiles, AMWELL /Division of McNish Corporation), the VIA currently serves more than 200 members, both Industrial Manufacturers and down line businesses that serve them, area educational institutions and municipalities. The VIA’s members are located primarily in the Northern Illinois counties of Kane,  DuPage, Cook, Lake, McHenry, Kendall and  DeKalb, but are not required to be within these areas for membership.

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Awards

2018 – VIA SPARK Sustainability Award
2020 – VIA SPARK Most Improved Benchmarker
2021 – VIA SPARK Social Responsibility Award
2022 – SPARK Finalist in Social Responsibility, Innovation, Operations, Culture
2023 – SPARK Finalist in Social Responsibility, Innovation, Operations, Workforce Development (Under 150 Employees)
2023 – Winner VIA SPARK Social Responsibility Award
2024 – SPARK Finalist in Social Responsibility, Innovation, Operations, Workforce Development, Culture (Under 150 Employees)

 

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The Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association (RETA), founded in 1910, is an international society of individuals and companies involved in the design, operation and service of industrial refrigeration systems. Its purpose is to provide education and training, as well as networking benefits, to both experienced operators and those who have recently entered this rapidly expanding field.

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IMEC is a team of improvement specialists and technicians dedicated to providing organizations in Illinois with the tools and techniques to create sustainable competitive futures. The experienced hands-on team at IMEC works closely with its clients to plan critical business improvements in the areas of Leadership, Strategy, Customer Engagement, Operations, and Workforce.

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​Founded in 1925, the Technology and Manufacturing Association is an independent trade organization e​xclusively focused on assisting and promoting small and mid-size manufacturers ​by providing a diverse portfolio of industry-specific benefits and services, including Community, Information, Training, Resources, and Advocacy.

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The American Foundry Society (AFS) is North America’s largest trade association and professional society representing and serving the metalcasting industry. Metalcasters design, manufacture and finish highly engineered metal castings that are essential to how the modern world functions.

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