Enterprise Zone Projects
Showcasing Previous Projects
Diamond Senior Apartments
Peru Diamond Development LLC is building a 56-unit senior development for residents 55 and older. The LLC consists of the project’s for-profit developer, 3 Diamond Development (3DD), and a non-profit co-sponsor, the Peoria Opportunities Foundation. The project has been awarded Low Income Housing Tax Credits for the new construction. The development consists of ten residential buildings and one community building. The unit mix will be forty two (42) one-bedroom units and fourteen (14) two-bedroom units. One hundred percent of the building will be income restricted- 12 units at 30% of Area Median Income (AMI) and 44 units at 60% AMI. The project site is located at approximately 927 Wenzel Road, just west of the U.S. Social Security Administration building in Peru, Illinois. The project closed on financing on July 29, 2022. Construction is expected to be complete by 8/31/2023. Total construction costs are $11,941,782.
Aurora QOF
This project involves purchasing, renovating, and constructing a former bank building at 301 W Galena Blvd in Aurora, Illinois. The renovated building is expected to be a single-tenant building to be leased to the State of Illinois, which will use the site as a governmental office. Because the building is currently vacant, the existing employment is zero. The former bank vacated the space, and the offices on the second floor are unoccupied. The total new employment expected at the site will is expected to be 118. The total investment will be $5,280,000 ($700,000 for acquisition, $2,760,000 for rehabilitation, $1,600,000 for new construction, and $220,000 for professional services). The existing building is a 2-story, 20,518 square feet building, plus 10,259 square feet below grade, bank, and office building that is currently vacant. The project will be a complete interior demolition and rebuild. All existing mechanical systems will be replaced.
Midwest Industrial Funds Inc.
Midwest Industrial Funds (MIF), based in Oakbrook, IL, will construct a two-building planned industrial development at a former Village of Libertyville driving range site located at 1900 & 1850 Highway 45, Libertyville, Illinois—the vacant land site to be developed totals approximately 19.15 acres within the to-be-formed Libertyville 45 Corporate Center. MIF will develop the site with two industrial buildings totaling approximately 334,000 SF. The two speculative industrial warehouses will include an associated loading dock area, car parking, and utility improvements. The buildings will be constructed speculatively and marketed to potential tenants for light industrial uses, including warehousing/distribution, assembly, and/or manufacturing. The current construction schedule anticipates construction starting in the summer of 2022 and shell building occupancy in the spring of 2023. The total investment is $30,177,000. Given the speculative nature of the project, it’s challenging to estimate employment; however, given the type of anticipated tenancy and prior development experience, MIF would anticipate full-time employment between 100-150 jobs.
MIF Batavia Douglas
Midwest Industrial Funds, Inc. will construct a new 144,000-square-foot speculative industrial warehouse on 9.24 vacant acres at 1225 Douglas Road, Batavia, IL (Kane County). The building will include a loading dock area, car parking, and utility improvements. The site is currently zoned Light Industrial by the City of Batavia and is in the corporate limits of the city. The shell building will be constructed speculatively and marketed to potential tenants for light industrial uses, including warehousing, distribution, assembly, or light manufacturing. The target construction date would begin in October 2022, and occupancy in July 2023. The project investment is $13.2 million and will create employment opportunities for an estimated 100 to 150 jobs.
MIF Inc. is a vertically integrated industrial real estate investment, development, asset management, and advisory company and has completed seven other similar developments in Kane, DuPage, and Cook Counties in the past 2-3 years.
BrightFarms
BrightFarms, Inc. (Illinois Greenhouse LLC), the largest grower of baby leaf greenhouse lettuce in the country, is making a $100 million investment in a 32-acre greenhouse for lettuce production in Yorkville, IL. Bright Farm’s local entity, Illinois Greenhouse, LLC, recently purchased property consisting of 120 acres of land located at 1726 Eldamain Rd., Plano, IL 60545 (Eldamain and Corneils Roads). The property has been annexed by the City of Yorkville. BrightFarms will develop four 8-acre greenhouses over the course of six years, with a new module (one 8-acre greenhouse) being built every two years. These greenhouses will provide high-quality fresh lettuce for surrounding communities within a four-hour drive of Yorkville, IL. The total project cost is approximately $100M. The first module (one 8-acre greenhouse) will generate 80 new jobs, and employment will increase by about the same number of new jobs every 2 years with each new module. At final buildout, we expect to generate over 300 new jobs.
Plumrose Swift
Plumrose USA, Inc. dba Swift Prepared Foods proposes to expand production of its sous vide (vacuum sealed) products with a 20-year lease and build out of a 173,400-sf shell building in North Aurora. The project will include an investment of approximately $26M in tenant improvements, funded by the tenant, to convert the shell building to a USDA food production facility and installation of approximately $35M in new production machinery and equipment. Swift Prepared Foods anticipates a construction commencement date in October 2022.
Swift expects to start production in 2024 and reach 204 employees by 2027.
Venture One Huntley
Venture One is developing a 729,600 square foot modern precast industrial facility to be known as Venture Park 47 on a greenfield land site in Huntley, IL that will attract new businesses and jobs to the community. The cost of the facility is estimated at $71,250,000 including land acquisition, new construction, and professional and financing costs.
The Village of Huntley has been very supportive of this project. The savings achieved by adding the site to the enterprise zone will help offset the significant unsuitable soil removal cost due to a very large deposit of peat that has threatened to render this high‐profile site undevelopable.
BMMC Peru
The Building Materials Manufacturing Corporation (BMMC) is planning the acquisition of approximately 130 acres of land in the City of Peru, Bureau County to construct a 400,000 square foot manufacturing facility with the potential for future expansion. The proposed site development plans include rail infrastructure, improvements, primary and secondary road access to the site and areas for truck staging and loading.
The total project investment is approximately $82,750,000 and will create 72 new jobs with an estimated annual payroll of $4.7 million.
Viakable Manufacturing
Viakable Manufacturing LLC is planning an approximate 38,500 square foot expansion at its LaSalle IL manufacturing facility located at 2969 Chartres Street. The expansion will consist of an investment of $8,590,000 and will create 6 new jobs. The investment includes new construction and renovation of approximately $2,956,000 and new equipment of approximately $5,634,000.
The company will leverage financing through the Upper Illinois River Valley Development Authority (UIRVDA) for the construction and equipment purchases with a total estimated benefit of ~$249,840 in savings.
Belle Air Fragrance
Bell-Aire Fragrance LLC, also doing business as Belle Aire Creations, was founded in 1982 and is planning the purchase of an existing structure in Libertyville, Lake County, that will serve as its consolidated global corporate headquarters and featuring a Creative Center of Excellence. The total investment will be $3,915,000 including acquisition cost of $1,715,000 and renovation cost of $2,000,000.
This project will result in 15 new jobs and the retention of 50 jobs.
Aurora Car Wash
Mr. Bubbles Car Wash will construct a new state of the art automatic car wash facility on the north side of Aurora near Butterfield Road. The facility will also offer retail sales of auto care products. The investment is $6.7 million including land acquisition, construction costs, equipment and contingencies and professional services.
The project is expected to employ 18 individuals.
MIF Batavia Bork
Midwest Industrial Funds (MIF) is constructing a planned industrial development of the site located at 1459 Louis Bork Dr. within the Batavia Business Park. MIF will develop an approximate 125,000 square feet speculative industrial warehouse with associated loading dock area, car parking and utility improvements.
While difficult to predict employment estimates given the speculative nature of the development, based on other development projects in the area, it is anticipated to create, by a Tenant leasing space, in the range of 20 to 150 jobs.
Inman Electric
Inman Electric Motors, located in LaSalle, Illinois (LaSalle County) is planning an expansion of up to nearly $1,000,000. The project will involve an expansion and renovation of approximately $685,000 and $153,800 in new equipment, primarily a permanently affixed overhead crane that will create 2 full-time jobs. The enterprise zone benefits will save the company approximately $36,000.
Lindsay Windows
Lindsay Windows Illinois LLC is purchasing land and an existing building located at 55 South Constitution in Aurora to allow for an expansion of its existing operations. The total project investment including the land and building purchase, renovations and new equipment is $3,850,000.
Renovations to the new facility will include a new roof, solar, lighting, office space and new docks to expand production and employment.
AZ Polymers
AZ Polymer is purchasing a new 4.81 acre site in Gurnee closing in early January 2021. The land cost $1,205,000. AZP will be constructing a new state-of-the-art 85,000 sq. ft. facility on the site with construction slated to begin in early March.
The total investment is $15,205,000 and will employ 17 new full-time positions.
The company will leverage financing through the Upper Illinois River Valley Development Authority (UIRVDA) with a total estimated benefit of ~$330,000 in savings.
Auto-Kleen Express Car Wash
Auto-Kleen Express Car Wash, a minority owned company, will construct a car wash on the east side of Algonquin at 2201 Algonquin Road in McHenry County. The 6.6-acre parcel will be subdivided into three lots for the car wash, an auto tire and repair shop, and a fast food restaurant.
The total investment for the car wash project is $4,940,000 including land acquisition, new construction and equipment, landscaping, infrastructure and architecture and engineering. The project will create 6-8 full-time jobs.
The estimated savings for from the enterprise zone benefits is $130,865.
Procter & Gamble
Following a multi-state site selection search, The Procter & Gamble Distributing Company (P&G) company has chosen a 149-acre site near Morris Illinois to construct a one million square feet distribution center.
The distribution center is expected to employ approximately 205 individuals, including 25 management personnel (wage range $70,000 – $180,000), 32 supervisors and skilled professionals (wage range $50,000-$75,000), and 148 hourly workers (wage range $37,000-$50,000).
The total investment is $128 million, including $8 million in land acquisition, $68 million in construction, $49 million in equipment and $3 million in architecture and engineering.
The estimated savings from the enterprise zone benefit is approximately $4,281,250.
Venture One Mundelein
Venture One is developing a speculative 195,300 square foot industrial facility to be known as Route 60 Logistics Center on a greenfield land site in Mundelein, IL.
It is estimated that jobs will be created for ~100 tradesmen who will be onsite during the construction of the facility. Once complete and a user is secured it is estimated that ~150 full-time jobs will be created at this location based on the facility size and available auto parking.
The total investment for the project is $18,165,000 including $4,575,000 for land acquisition, $2,600,000 in new construction, and $2,400,000 in building materials. Estimates savings benefit: ~ $226,875.
Shodeen Construction Geneva
Shodeen Construction Company LLC is developing a new residential rental and mixed-use project that consists of the construction of three building, one rental apartment building and two mixed use buildings to be known as Mill Creek. The development is in an unincorporated area of Kane County, adjacent to Geneva.
The proposed development will create approximately 15,000 square feet of retail, commercial, office and restaurant space. The development will generate up to 40 potential permanent jobs, not including any of the construction jobs to build the buildings.
GTI Oglesby
GTI Oglesby, LLC (“GTI”) is a subsidiary of Green Thumb Industries and is undertaking a series of expansions at its facility in Oglesby, Illinois. GTI is an Illinois licensed enterprise to cultivate and produce marijuana products for registered patients and consumers in the State of Illinois.
The expansion at GTI’s Oglesby facility will provide additional supply to meet demand for medical and recreational cannabis use for patients and consumers.
Upon completion of the Oglesby expansion, the facility will be approximately 220,000 square feet and an additional 75 full-time jobs will be created for residents of Oglesby and the surrounding communities, or a total of 125 jobs. The total investment for this expansion project is $41,000,000.
Cedarhurst of McHenry
Dover Development is planning the development of Cedarhurst of McHenry, a new market rate senior housing complex in McHenry, McHenry County, Illinois. Cedarhurst of McHenry will consist of the acquisition of 5.5 acres of land in McHenry, Illinois, on Blake Boulevard just west of Richmond Road, and the construction of a 75,000 square foot, two-story assisted living, and memory care facility.
The total project cost is expected to be $11,000,000 including $8,000,000 of new construction and $500,000 of equipment. Fifty jobs are expected to be created.
Project added to the Zone 2020.
Leone Grain
Leone Grain & Supply is planning the construction of a new 25,000 square foot retail fertilizer, storage and blending facility in Peru, LaSalle County, Illinois. The Company was established in 1930 and purchased in 1948 by Bud Leone who ran the Company until 1970 when he turned it over to sons Mike and Jim Leone. During that time, the Company constructed a 500,000-bushel grain elevator, a chemical storage and mixing facility and a Polaris Snowmobile and ATV Dealership.
The company currently employs 20 and will create an additional 2 new jobs with this expansion. The amount of the investment is approximately $1,142,000.
GRNE Fox Meadow Metro
GRNE Solar will construct and maintain the solar array, owning the equipment under a 25-year lease. Construction of the solar facility will be a $2,600,000 investment.
The project will create 25-30 construction jobs and 2-3 permanent jobs for oversight and maintenance of the project during its lifecycle. This project was awarded by the Illinois Power Agency and is consistent with the Governor’s goals of supplying 25% of Illinois energy production by 2025 with renewable energy. The savings from the sales tax exemptions will result in lower project costs that will benefit water reclamation district and taxpayers in the form of lower water treatment rates.
GRNE Solar Yorkville
GRNE Solar is developing a 2MW solar array that will produce electrical power on behalf of Kendall County who will be the exclusive buyer. The renewable electrical generation will serve the Kendall County Courthouse, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Health Department. The investment will be approximately $2.8 million.
GRNE Solar will construct and maintain the solar array, owning the equipment under a 25-year lease with Kendall County. The project will take approximately nine months to complete.
The project will create 35-30 construction jobs and 2-3 permanent jobs for oversight and maintenance of the project during its lifecycle.
Gjovik Ford
Gjovik Ford, Inc. is constructing a new automobile dealership near the intersection of US Route 34 and Mitchell Road in Plano, IL (Kendall County). Their current dealership is in nearby Sandwich on US Route 34 which will remain in a limited capacity. The project investment is $13,020,000 and will create 9 new full-time jobs and retain 46 jobs.
The surrounding area is undergoing redevelopment. The lot is currently vacant and zoned for Service Business consistent with the City’s zoning and comprehensive plan.
Mr. Sparkle Auto Spa
Mr. Sparkle Auto Spa, LLC has purchased a lot located at the southeast corner of State Route 251 and Shooting Park Road in Peru Illinois for the construction of a new retail service car wash development located on 1.55 acres. The land was purchased from the City of Peru. The lot is currently vacant land. The parcel is in the city limits of Peru Illinois and zoned for business commercial purposes. The total investment is approximately $4,290,000 and the project will create 5-10 new jobs and offer additional economic benefits to a blighted area in the Peru business district.
Project added to the Zone in 2020.
SolAmerica Energy
SolAmerica Energy is constructing a 2 MW solar array to produce electric power on 93.65 acres in Marengo IL (McHenry County) and a 2 MW solar array to produce electric power on 126.06 acres near Huntley, IL (McHenry County). The Marengo project is a capital investment in the amount of $7,295,361 to create 5 full-time jobs. The Huntley project is a capital investment in the amount of $5,953,660 to create 5 full-time jobs. The projects are “community solar” projects that allow households that can’t construct their own solar projects to participate in utilizing renewable solar energy for their own household.
The projects were approved by the Illinois Power Agency and contribute to the State’s goal of achieving 25% of electrical generation from renewable resources by 2025.
Medline Industries, INC
Medline is a family-owned fourth generation medical supply manufacturing and distribution company founded in 1966. They provide over 350,000 medical and clinical products for healthcare facilities worldwide that include surgical gowns, Curad “Ouchless” bandages and procedure trays. They have offices in 20 countries and employ over 14,000 and have over $8 billion in sales.
The project was the construction of 1.3 million square feet of new distribution space in Grayslake, IL (Lake County). The project will involve an approximate $110.5 million capital investment, including land acquisition, construction, equipment and relocation costs that will create an anticipated 250 new full-time jobs.
W. W. Grainger, INC
Grainger, founded in 1927 is a publicly-owned manufacturer of motors, lighting, material handling, fasteners, plumbing, tools, and safety supplies and provides inventory management services and technical support. Headquartered in Lake Forrest, IL, they are a a Fortune 500 industrial supply company with over $10 billion in annual sales in 2016.
The project was a 500,000 square feet expansion at their Distribution Center in Minooka, IL (Grundy County) that included property improvements and new material handling and racking equipment. The total project cost was $80,000,000 that created 300 full-time jobs.
Cinnamon Lake Towers
Cinnamon Lake Towers is a multifamily residential Property located at 270 I Glen Flora in a mostly residential neighborhood in the municipality of Waukegan. The Property was initially constructed in 1980 and has a total of 274 units consisting of 24, studios; 150, one-bedroom units; and I00, two bedroom units, all situated in two, mid-rise apartment buildings. A separate building houses the management and maintenance offices, and a community room with a fully equipped kitchen.
The Property is financed by bonds from the Upper Illinois River Valley Development Authority in the amount of $25,680,000.
The Property also has an allocation of Section 42 Tax Credits that will bring in a total equity contribution of approximately $12,640,821.
James Hardie Industries
James Hardie, headquartered in Ireland, is a building materials manufacturing company that produces fiber cement for the construction industry. The project was a $64,000,000 upgrade at their facility in Peru, Illinois (LaSalle County) that created and retained 350 full-time jobs.
Project added to the Zone in 2018.
Goodwill, 38th Street Corporation
Goodwill 38th Street Corporation is the development of a new commercial building at 1307 38th Street, Peru, IL that was leased to Goodwill Industries, a community-based not-for-profit organization that provides jobs training, and placement services for people with barriers to achieve meaningful employment. The project was the $2,000,000 construction of a new building that created and retained 29 full-time jobs.
Project added to the Zone in 2018.
XPO Logistics
XPO Logistics, headquartered in Greenwich, CT, is one of the ten largest publicly-owned transportation and logistics companies worldwide. They operate in thirty-two counties, employ over 100,000 and are ranked 80th on the Fortune 500 list in May 2019. The project was the expansion of logistics space at their facility in LaSalle, IL (LaSalle County). The total project was $1,800,000 and created and retained 138 full-time jobs.
Project added to the Zone in 2018.
Leland Farmers Grain Co.
Leland Grain is a grain elevator business with storage facilities in Leland, Somonauk and Paw Paw, IL (LaSalle County). The project was the new construction of a grain bin adding 775,000 bushels of new storage. The total cost was $1,400,000 and created 10 full-time jobs.
Project added to the Zone in 2018.
Town Centre Equities
Shodeen Development Inc., established in 1961, is a family owned second generation developer of residential homes in the Fox Lake Illinois region.
The project, Town Centre Equities, was the redevelopment of a mixed use residential and commercial property located at Illinois State Route 38 and Prairie Street in St. Charles, Illinois (Kane County). It includes ten three-story residential buildings with 427 units, six four-story mixed-use buildings with 243 residential units, 87,000 square feet of retail storefront on the first floor and six commercial buildings with 116,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. The total cost of the project is $120,000,000 and created 32 full-time jobs.
Project added to the Zone in 2018.
Eakas Corp
Eakas Corp is a manufacturer of functional and decorative parts for the automotive industry that include door handles, rearview mirrors, gear shifters, automobile grills, vent covers, arm rests and speaker covers. The project is a $2,500,000 improvement to their facility in Peru, IL (LaSalle County) The project created 15 full-time jobs.
Project added to the Zone in 2018.
Reserve at the Hudson
Shodeen Development Inc., established in 1961, is a family owned second generation developer of residential homes in the Fox Lake Illinois region. The project was the redevelopment of a six-story mixed use building at 59 S. Adams Street in downtown Oswego, IL (Kendall County). It includes sub level parking, first floor restaurants, commercial space, market level apartments and a second building across the street with market rate residential units. The total cost of the project was $44,400,000 and created 25 full-time jobs.
Project added to the Zone in 2018.
Illinois Cement
Illinois Cement is a producer of Portland cement in LaSalle County, IL. The site has vast limestone reserves, good access to rail lines and first produced “Owl Cement” in 1897 by a German Company. Over the years several companies bought and sold the facility until 1972 when a joint venture between Centex Corp and the Pritzker family of Chicago formed a new partnership now known as the Illinois Cement Co. that built a new 1,125 ton per day production plant. The project was a $5,000,000 investment in equipment that created and retained 160 full-time jobs.
Project added to the Zone in 2018.
Northern Illinois White Sands
Northern White Sands is a silica sand mining and processing company on 562 acres in LaSalle County, IL. The project was the construction of a wet sand slurry line, a sand drying facility and new transload rail site in LaSalle County, IL. The sand is dried, sized and transported by truck to the trans load site and loaded into railcars. The rail service site, on 25 acres, stores and manages hopper railcars and services accounts transporting bulk cement from truck to railcar. They process over 150,000 tons of product annually. The project cost was $71,000,000 and created 242 full-time jobs.
Project added to the Zone in 2018.
American Nickeloid
American Nickeloid, established in 1898, is a supplier of continuous coil products which include pre-painted, pre-plated, pre-polished metals, vinyl-metal laminates and specialty coated metal. They have facilities in Peru, IL and Walnutport, PA. The Company is a large user of natural gas in their production coated metals. In an Enterprise Zone, companies that buy natural gas from a third-party supplier are exempt from a state natural gas. The project helped retain 170 full-time jobs.
Project added to the Zone in 2018.
Maze Nails
Maze Nails started in 1848 as a lumber company founded by Samuel N. Maze. When he got rust complaints from his customers and serious nail failures due to inferior nails from his wholesalers, he decided to buy a small nail machine and make his own nails out of pure zinc. The Company is a large user of natural gas in their production of zinc nails used in roofing. In an Enterprise Zone, companies that buy natural gas from a third-party supplier are exempt from a state natural gas.
The project helped retain 100 full-time jobs.
Carl Buddiq Meats
The Company is a family owned fourth generation manufacturer of meat products. They package packed-to-go lunchmeats, premium deli, Fix Quix meats, Old Wisconsin sausage and Kingsford barbecue and pulled chicken sauces. The project was the purchase and renovation of a 260,000 square foot vacant facility in Montgomery, Illinois (Kane County) for the manufacturing of vacuum packed portioned pre-weighted lunchmeats. The total project was $23,750,000 with $7,000,000 of facility upgrades and $4,500,000 in equipment. The project created 200 full-time jobs.
Project added to the Zone in 2018.
Go For It Sports
The Company is a start-up construction of a new multi-use sport complex on Galena Road in Yorkville, IL (Kendall County). The facility has a perimeter running track, turfed infield, basketball courts, offices, concession area and classrooms available for rental. The total project cost is $4,500,000 including building cost of $4,111,215, land cost of $250,000 and equipment cost of $40,000. The project created 30 full-time jobs.
Project added to the Zone in 2017.
Cedarhurst of Yorkville
The Company is planning the construction of a two–story 70 unit assisted senior living and memory care facility in Yorkville, IL (Kendall) at the corner of Cannonball Trail and West Veterans Parkway. The facility will feature a large four seasons room, a movie theater, multiple fireplaces, therapy room, activities room and dining room. The memory care portion will be secured and feature a therapy kitchen, sensory areas, fish tank and library.
The cost of building is estimated at $8,000,000, land of $700,000 and equipment of $300,000 and other soft costs for a total project cost of $9,500,000 – $11,000,000 that will create approximately 35 new full time jobs.
ADM Milling Co
ADM Milling is a subsidiary of Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), headquartered in Chicago, IL an American global food processing and commodities trading corporation. The Company operates more than 270 plants and 420 crop procurement facilities worldwide, where cereal grains and oilseeds are processed into products used in food, beverage, nutraceutical, industrial and animal feed markets worldwide. ADM was named the world’s most-admired food-production company by Fortune magazine for three consecutive years: 2009, 2010 and 2011. The Company ranked No. 48 in the 2018 Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations by total revenue. The project was the construction of a new milling operation in Mendota, IL (LaSalle County). The total project cost is $170,000,000 which includes building cost of $50,000,000 and machinery cost of $102,000,000. The project will create 35 full-time jobs.
Project added to the Zone in 2017.