“Our expansion to Illinois represents years of planning and a shared vision
for long-term growth. This investment reflects our confidence and commitment to building products, workforce development and partnerships that endure. We’re proud to work alongside state and local leaders to create meaningful economic opportunities while expanding our manufacturing footprint that serves our customers and communities.”
— Sean Kenney, CEO, Hyundai Translead
“We looked at a litany of states, quite a few sites, but we kept coming back
to Mt. Vernon [Illinois]. And there are a few reasons behind that. One reason
is logistics. Mt. Vernon is ideally situated from both a rail standpoint as well as a road and a trucking standpoint… But frankly, the most important aspect was what we saw was an alignment of values.”
— Raj Bhargava, CEO, Manner Polymers
“IBM is pleased to partner with the Governor to further the state’s techno-logy and innovation ecosystem. IBM’s FutureNow Chicago delivery center will support new jobs, expand our Chicago delivery capability for IBM’s clients, and together, we will build the future of technology talent and create sustained economic growth.”
— Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO, IBM
“Illinois EDC is a huge asset to the state of Illinois. GAF was my first interaction working a project start to finish with them. They are a really good resource. I’m not always keen on having an extra layer. They were impressive.”
— Denise Mullis, Senior Vice President, J.M. Mullis Inc.
“Illinois’ central location to our other markets in the Midwest and the strong workforce made Illinois the perfect spot for breaking ground to bring customers more bargains.”
— Eric Van Der Valk, Exec. VP & COO, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Inc.
“Our new facility in Chicago aligns with the company’s long-term operational goals and growth strategy. This is a decisive step in the company’s transition from pure R&D to scaling up for commercial production. This requires different techno-logies, different facilities and different skillsets. This move allows us to construct a semi-automated battery pilot line vertically integrating our lithium metal reactor, and the incentives assist in funding critical pilot equipment, accelerating our timeline to market.”
— Emilie Bodoin, Founder and CEO, Pure Lithium
“The Chicagoland area offers the best of all worlds for Mars Snacking — a vibrant urban environment, strong communities and access to world-class talent. We are proud to deepen our roots here, advance the Mars Snacking business and continue our long-standing commitment to community engagement and responsible business.”
— Andrew Clarke, Global President, Mars Snacking
“Teklab proudly announces the opening of its new state-of-the-art laboratory facility in Collinsville, Illinois. This move marks a major milestone in the company’s continued growth and long-term investment in advanced technology, expanded capacity and talent. With this new facility, Teklab is positioned to drive continued growth in the Midwest while expanding its expertise nationwide. The project was made possible through the support of the State of Illinois, particularly DCEO, along with valued partners ARCO Construction and the Bank of O’Fallon. Teklab also extends its appreciation to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for working with the Teklab team to ensure all laboratory accreditations remained fully intact throughout the transition.”
— John Riley, CEO, Teklab Inc.
“We chose Chicago because of the city’s exceptionally strong talent network. And with our Chicago office, we can expand our key relationships with great Midwest universities while providing meaningful opportunities to a seasoned, high-quality workforce.”
— Andrew Elsener, Co-Founder, Spot Inc.