News & Events

From new investments and developments to job creation and the latest educational opportunities, Kankakee County’s economy continues to strengthen. Explore the highlights of our past year’s growth by reading this year’s Thrive Magazine!

The latest Cost of Living Index numbers for the third quarter of 2025 are in – and Kankakee County continues to offer residents one of the best values in the region.

Big things have happened in Manteno since the former Kmart warehouse property was purchased by the Chinese-based company Gotion High-Tech. Even bigger things are set to happen within the next calendar year.

Visit Kankakee County invites locals and visitors alike to “paint the town” with the launch of the Kankakee County Mural Trail, a self-guided new way to explore the area’s art, culture, and creativity.

It’s been two years since Gotion announced plans to build a $2 billion factory in Manteno, Illinois. So far the company has built the first five assembly lines inside a 1.5 million-square foot former Kmart warehouse in Kankakee County.

The NAACP Illinois State Conference will host its 88th Annual Convention from Friday, September 26, 2025, through Sunday, September 28, 2025, at the Quality Inn & Suites in Bradley, Illinois. This year’s theme, “The Fierce Urgency of Now,” is inspired by the timeless message of Rev. Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. and will guide a weekend of workshops, discussions, and events focused on advancing civil rights and social justice across Illinois.

The Economic Alliance and the Grundy Livingston Workforce Board are bringing awareness of the job opportunities available and the skills needed for manufacturing positions in our community. One event will be a tour and conversation at Gotion, an energy storage system and electric vehicle battery manufacturer in Manteno.

Several employers in the Kankakee County area are hiring. A job fair is set for August 20 in Momence. Free and open to the public.

Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific announced plans to come together to create the first transcontinental railroad in America. This combination will connect more than 50,000 route miles across 43 states, linking around 100 ports and reaching nearly every corner of North America. It’s a big step forward that will strengthen the U.S. supply chain, support American manufacturing, and open new opportunities for economic growth—for all of us.

In an effort to assist displaced workers in our community, KCC Workforce Services is helping prepare residents for upcoming job fairs. A total of 5 workshops are planned between July 8th and Aug 4th, with two at the Momence Public Library and the other three at the KCC North Extension Center in Bradley.