ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) -- A vision of building two manufacturing companies on Rockford’s west side has been in the works for about 5 years. This project is now one step closer to becoming a reality. One local group is taking steps to add more resources and create jobs for the west side.

Directors of Progressive West Rockford Community Development Corporation met with the mayor and deputy mayor Wednesday to discuss the group's vision illustrated by the architecture department of Judson University.

The group's focus is on phase one, which highlights two manufacturing operations that would create at least 120 jobs for citizens to make more than $50,000 a year.

"Each would employ 60 plus people and these are decent paying jobs and I can only imagine the impact that will have on people on the west side of Rockford. These factories will be owned by the people over there indigenous to the community. Jobs solve violence if you are busy working you don't have time for violence," said Reverend Earl Dotson, Sr., the president of Progressive West Rockford.

“When you bring jobs to the area, you’ve got money. So people are spending money on clothes, haircuts and things that they need to keep themselves going from day to day or month to month,” said Dawaun Neal, the owner of Classic Cuts on South Main Street.

This project would require an investment of about $10 million of public and private funds. Reverend Dotson says they have a verbal "gap" financing commitment from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. They will be seeking a similar sum from the city through one of its federal and or state-funded programs, like the Community Development Block Grant Funds.

Reverend Dotson said the group received a call from a Fortune 500 company Tuesday that said it was interested in investing in the project. Reverend Dotson said this is a great opportunity because this company's revenues exceeded $57 billion in 2016.

“They said, 'Reverend Dotson, we think we can work with you,' and to say that I was elated is an understatement. A $57 billion multi-national corporation,” said Reverend Dotson. "With them coming to work with the city of Rockford, it can make an enormous difference in what goes on in this city. You're talking about safety, when you have people who are employed making decent incomes, there's no need to rob, and break into homes and sell dope.”

The group is working on bringing other projects to Rockford as well like a charter bus service, music recording studio, restaurant, banquet, sports bar facility and other venues that would create more than 300 jobs.

“I think Rockford’s been behind for a long time, so anything you do to improve any area is great for the community and if they are going to bring jobs here that will be great as well,” said Neal.

Reverend Dotson says West Side Rockford's Revitalization is consistent with the City of Rockford’s 2015-2020 plan and the Northern Illinois Region CEDS. He says both plans address regional economic development and are important for the region.

Reverend Dotson is now working to get local politicians on board. He says Mayor Tom McNamara and Winnebago County Board Chairman Frank Haney have been supportive of the plan.

No exact start date for the project has been announced.