Celebrating PROGRESS in Kankakee County!

Several businesses were honored and celebrated their successes over the past few years at the Kankakee Daily Journal Progress Awards dinner Thursday, June 2 at Olivet Nazarene University. Economic Alliance President / CEO Tim Nugent shared the growth and perseverance of the community – highlighting key facts including:

• Kankakee County is ranked #5 among small manufacturing economies in the United States.
• ALL local industries – from steel to transportation to pharmaceuticals – are expanding, some growing more than 50% in five years.
•  $256 million in capital investments in 2021 county-wide.
• Renewable Resources:
  • More than 48 solar and wind farms are already running or are in the permitting stages. We have a hydro-electric plant that has been running for years, and there is interest from global investors who have pinpointed our area for modern renewable technology.
  • Kankakee Community College’s newly renovated technology building offers training in the key area of renewable energy. KCC has the ONLY solar-PV training program in Illinois, and one of only three in the region to be accredited by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.
  • Olivet Nazarene University installed 3,000 solar panels in recent months and now gets nearly 20% of its power through renewable sources.

Congratulations to the following:

2020 Award Winners

Innovator in Agriculture – Van Drunen Farms, sponsored by Kankakee Community College

Excellence in Education – Olivet’s Computer Science Program sponsored by Riverside Healthcare

Innovator in Healthcare – Riverside Behavioral Medicine sponsored by Olivet Nazarene University

Innovator in Hospitality – Kankakee Culinary Arts Lab sponsored by Langlois Roofing

Innovator in Manufacturing – Nucor Steel sponsored by CSL Behring

Excellence in Real Estate – Key City Development Corporation sponsored by Economic Alliance

Innovator in Social Services – Uplifted Care, formerly Hospice of Kankakee County sponsored by Home Helpers

Female Entrepreneur of the Year – Wendy Langlois, Owner of On Top Exteriors sponsored by Kankakee Chamber of Commerce

Male Entrepreneur of the Year – Troy Clark, Owner of 5 Star Wings sponsored by First Trust Bank

Small Business of the Year – Janice Miller, Merchant Street Art Gallery sponsored by OAK Orthopedics

Mid-Sized Business of the Year – Hoekstra Transportation sponsored by Nucor Steel

Large Business of the Year – CSL Behring sponsored by Van Drunen Farms

 

2021 Award Winners

Innovator in Agriculture – Greg St. Aubin – Farm Bureau, sponsored by Van Drunen Farms

Excellence in Education – Grace Christian Academy sponsored by Olivet Nazarene University

Innovator in Healthcare – Riverside Healthcare sponsored by CSL Behring

Innovator in Hospitality – Manteno Chamber of Commerce sponsored by Daily Journal

Innovator in Manufacturing – Del Monte sponsored by Economic Alliance

Excellence in Real Estate – Spike Ball sponsored by McColly Real Estate

Innovator in Social Services – Jim Rowe sponsored by Ascension St. Mary formerly AMITA St. Mary’s

Innovator in Technology – Kankakee Community College Career Coach sponsored by Riverside Healthcare

Entrepreneur Couples of the Year – Dave & Tiffany Kruse sponsored by Daily Journal

Entrepreneur Couples of the Year – Mandy & Luke Benoit sponsored by On Top Exteriors

Small Business of the Year – King Music sponsored by First Trust Bank

Mid-Sized Business of the Year – First Trust Bank sponsored by Kankakee Community College

Large Business of the Year – AMITA St. Mary’s now Ascension St. Mary sponsored by Nucor Steel

2022 Award Winners

Innovator in Agriculture – Benoit Aerial Spraying sponsored by Van Drunen Farms

Excellence in Education – Whitney Mittons, Kankakee Community College sponsored by Riverside Healthcare

Innovator in Healthcare – Riverside Healthcare sponsored by CSL Behring

Innovator in Hospitality – Riverfront Society sponsored by Ascension St. Mary

Innovator in Manufacturing – Plochman’s sponsored by Olivet Nazarene University

Excellence in Real Estate – Berkshire Hathaway sponsored by Langlois Roofing

Innovator in Social Services – City Life Center sponsored by McColly Real Estate

Innovator in Technology – OAK Orthopedics together with Ascension St. Mary sponsored by Kankakee Community College

Female Entrepreneur of the Year – Nancy Tholen sponsored by OAK Orthopedics

Male Entrepreneur of the Year – Brandon Malone sponsored by MJP Development Corporation

Small Business of the Year – Vaughn Furniture sponsored by First Trust Bank

Mid-Sized Business of the Year – Rise Banking Company sponsored by Economic Alliance

Large Business – Berkot’s