2022 Makers Madness Kicks Off

Nominations are now open for the third annual Makers Madness: The Coolest Thing Made In Illinois, presented by Comcast Business.

Kankakee County received $21.3 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The Kankakee County Board introduced the Respond, Revitalize, and Reinvest initiative is help distribute this funding within the community.

Fresh Del Monte is one of the world’s leading vertically integrated producers, marketers and distributors of high-quality fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, as well as leading producer and distributor of fresh produce across the globe. With a production facility located in Kankakee, the site employs roughly 250 people, and exports more than 20 million pounds of produce a year across the Midwest. 

ComEd in 2021 delivered some of its highest levels of year over-year reliability as a result of power grid investments such as smart switches that  reroute power around potential problem areas, new storm hardening and vegetation  management solutions, and cable replacement.

Read the 2022 IMEC Strategic Foresight report from IMEC Illinois to see important trends moving Illinois forward, transformation of the workforce and workplace, and how our connectivity creates a gateway to the global market.

Kankakee County is ranked #5 among small manufacturing communities in the United States (AdvisorSmith). Paired with a diverse set of industries – everything from healthcare and pharmaceuticals to steel, food and plastics manufacturing, and transportation and logistics – the area remains on a strong growth trajectory. In fact, our manufacturing sector is on track to grow almost 14% in the next decade, with more than 7,000 employees in that industry locally.

Comcast RISE – Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment – was created to help small businesses owned by people of color – including Black, Indigenous, Hispanic and Asian Americans –survive the pandemic and thrive in the future. In just one year since the program began, Comcast RISE has provided over $60 million in grants,  marketing and technology services to more than 6,700 entrepreneurs nationally – nearly 550 in this region alone – and the program just expanded to include all women-owned small businesses.

Northern Illinois offers new and existing businesses a host of strong energy-related assets, including low and stable power prices, industry-leading reliability, clean energy options, and more.

The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association is BOLDLY MOVING MAKERS FORWARD and stands shoulder to shoulder with American manufacturers who are leading our nation forward as we recover and rebuild from the global pandemic that is reshaping the world around us. The IMA is proudly standing by your side every single day dealing with COVID-19, supply chain issues, health and safety regulations, and every issue impacting manufacturers.

Tax Incentives for 2021 are available for small businesses affected by COVID-related shutdowns and disruptions.   For 2021, the employee retention credit (ERC) is a quarterly tax credit against the employer’s share of certain payroll taxes.