Visit Kankakee County Tourism Contributes to Record Economic Growth in Illinois

Visit Kankakee County announced the area generated a local economic impact of $171.6 million and contributed to an increase in visitor spending across Illinois in 2022. In addition, this boost in tourism contributed $6.6 million in local tax revenue while directly supporting 1,229 jobs in the tourism and hospitality industry, according to the latest data provided by Tourism Economics, a global tourism research firm, which measures the number of visitors as well as their impact on Illinois’ economy during the 2022 calendar year.

The Will Kankakee Regional Development Authority is seeking assistance for the operation of the Development Authority.

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.

Boasting capital investment of more than $1.5B over the recent years, exporting more than $7B from our Kankakee County businesses and manufacturers, and boasting an economical cost of living (92.1%) and housing costs (79.4%), this community is a draw for business, industry and livability.

The Economic Alliance of Kankakee County has named Joe Franco of Kankakee as the inaugural recipient of the IMPACT Award for his commitment to the growth of sustainable development in the region.

Kankakee County’s greatest strength is the ability to thrive given any situation.  Capital improvements and infrastructure projects are underway; global, national, and local shareholders have pinned Kankakee County as a place to invest, employers are expanding and hiring, and new jobs are being created.

Kankakee County ranks #5 in the US for manufacturing hubs, according to Business Facilities Magazine 2022 Metro Rankings Report. The magazine annually recognizes metro areas and cities of all sizes for attracting and retaining businesses from numerous industry sectors.

Manufacturing is integral to the story of Kankakee County, Illinois and our nation. In Kankakee County alone, the manufacturing industry alone outputs $5B annually, and accounts for 20% of the economy.