Quad Cities officials eye Boeing factory bid

MOLINE — Northwestern Illinois officials want to team up with their Iowa counterparts to woo a Boeing plant that could bring more than 8,500 jobs to the Quad Cities.

The (Moline) Dispatch reports the Bi-State Regional Commission sent a letter to the governors of Iowa and Illinois asking them to promote a regional bid for the multi-billion assembly plant.

The letter was signed by community leaders in Moline, Rock Island, East Moline and Rock Island County in Illinois along with Iowa officials from Davenport, Bettendorf and Scott County.

Davenport Mayor Bill Gluba admits the bid’s a “long shot.”

Illinois is one of 22 states vying for the factory. A Boeing spokesman says the Chicago-based aerospace company is narrowing the list of potential location. A final section is expected in early 2014.