News & Events

Established in 2013, Manteno-based gluten-free, non-GMO and organic pizza maker Urban Farmer has 50 employees and has expanded to two shifts, five days a week. It also plans another expansion at the 10-acre site within the next year. And, in December, the company purchased the Peotone-based Teresa’s Pizza, a low-cost frozen pizza found in many Midwest grocery store.

For the first time, Kankakee County will be represented at the premier U.S. foreign direct investment summit SelectUSA in Washington, D.C. Hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration from June 18 to 20, the event is expected to draw more than 2,600 attendees and 1,100 vetted global investors.

With steady corporate expansion, Kankakee County consistently led Illinois metropolitan areas in associated job growth in the first quarter of this year. Among small Illinois metros, the community has led three of the past four years in job as well as technology growth, according to Milken Institute. To better connect the Greater Chicago region with the wealth of employment and training opportunities throughout Kankakee County, the community has relaunched WorkKankakee.org with improved content and navigation for students, parents and educators as well as current job seekers.

IKO Industries Kankakee is expanding as the groundwork for a 15,000 square foot addition has begun. The space will accommodate a new production line, requiring the hire of 10 to 15 new employees.

Nucor Corporation has purchased the Alabama Metal Industries plant in Bourbonnais and hired back between 65 and 70 of the employees who were slated to be laid off.

A report issued January 23 by leading location advisory, economic incentive and corporate real estate services firm Site Selection Group places the Kankakee Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) – which shares boundaries with Kankakee County – among the nation’s top 10 metros positioned for growth of the millennial demographic. Using data provided by Claritas, Dallas-based SSG’s “The Best Metro Areas for a Talent Pipeline” forecasts that the Kankakee MSA will experience 6.1% growth of the millennial population – classified by the firm as the post-college population under 35 – from 2016 to 2021.

Leading food innovator FutureCeuticals Inc. announced last week a $2 million, 14,700 square foot expansion of its headquarters operation in the Greater Chicago community of Momence, Illinois. According to the company, which holds more than 50 patents for functional food ingredients, the additional space will house its 50 to 60 member sales, customer service and marketing force. Another 20 to 30 employees are expected to be hired within the next 12 to 24 months.

In terms of growth in the local industrial, institutional, military, utility, multifamily residential, infrastructure and commercial markets, 2016 projects announcements in Kankakee County in 2016 are projected to yield $120,700,000 in capital investment, 699,290 square feel of new space and 904 new jobs.

Outstanding high-technology growth by local companies like multinational bioscience leader CSL Behring and Riverside Healthcare has helped to place the Kankakee Metropolitan Statistical Area – which shares boundaries with Kankakee County – at the top among small metros in the state of Illinois again in 2016. Kankakee MSA’s overall ranking also jumped from 90 to 74 from 2015 to 2016 when compared against 201 small metros nationwide.

NEXT50 Open House and Expo is happening Dec. 2 from 4-7p.m. at Kankakee Community College’s Manufacturing and Industrial Technology Center. It’s free and open to the public. High school students, parents, teachers and guidance counselors are highly encouraged to attend. Refreshments will be served, including Johnsonville brats.