News & Events

The Kankakee River Watershed Conference held in March, 2023 discussed how local communities and statewide efforts are working to ensure the area’s greatest asset is protected. Key topics including water quantity and quality, biodiversity, nutrients and agriculture, river recreation, watershed initiatives, and sand and sediment were discussed.

$175 million in available grant funding through the Back to Business (B2B) program. Following state recovery for businesses totaling nearly $1.5 billion, the latest American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) -funded opportunity is designed to provide additional support for the hardest-hit sectors, including restaurants (B2B Restaurants), hotels (B2B Hotels), and businesses or organizations in the creative arts sector (B2B Arts). To provide hands-on support and raise awareness about the program, the State has mobilized a network of more than 100 community navigators across Illinois. 

On Thursday, April 13, Kankakee Community College will host a Job Fair from 9 a.m. – noon in the KCC College Center.

One of the biggest challenges manufacturers are facing today is attracting skilled workers. With an aging workforce and new generation of workers entering the industry, manufacturers are forced to take a multifaceted approach to build their talent pipeline, but the question is where do you begin?

CSL Behring continues to grow in Kankakee County as they look to open the area’s first plasma donation center at their site on Rte. 50 in Bourbonnais Township. CSL Behring Kankakee employs 1,500 and has invested more than $750M in the area in the past six years.

Con una inversión de capital de más de $1500 millones en los últimos años, exportando más de $7000 millones de nuestras empresas y fabricantes del condado de Kankakee, y con un costo de vida económico (92,1 %) y costos de vivienda (79,4 %), esta comunidad es un atractivo para el comercio, la industria y la habitabilidad.

The One Workforce grant program covers tuition, textbooks, fees, hand tools, materials, and personal protective equipment for students enrolled in programs which can lead to employment in a field related to manufacturing. Grant students are enrolled in KCC manufacturing-based certificates and associate degrees such as: welding, machine tool, industrial maintenance, electrical technology, and manufacturing technology.

The Kankakee County Convention & Visitors Bureau’s (KCCVB) mission is to market and develop branded Kankakee County destination experiences to enhance community economic growth and quality of life. To achieve this mission, the KCCVB has unveil a newly structured Community Tourism Action Plan (CTAP) Grants Program for 2023.

The primary purposes of the KCCVB CTAP grants are to add vibrancy to communities in Kankakee County and to generate new economic impact through visitation by non-residents.

The need for additional and affordable housing in Kankakee County is critical to the population, growth, and economic development of the community. Results from a residential housing analysis administered by Tracy Cross & Associates, Inc. found the opportunity for new residential development over the next several years in Kankakee County is viewed as STRONG.

Makers Madness is an online contest highlighting amazing manufacturers and their fantastic products made in our state. The contest is a partnership with Comcast Business, an innovation champion and technology provider to manufacturers across Illinois.