Growth Corridors Leverage Kankakee County’s positioned status as a top manufacturing hub for small MSAs, with access to a deep labor pool (2.8 million within a 45-minute radius) and a strong logistics backbone (Interstate 57, three Class I rail lines, and the Chicago Southland regional airport) to target expansions in life sciences, food processing, metals and machining, and transportation and logistics.

Incentives Access The alliance offers a suite of financial incentives and business intelligence tools that provide current property availabilities and market data, enabling faster site selection and investment decisions for prospective investors and developers looking to expand in the Greater Chicago area.

Collaboration Edge As a public/private 501c6 partnership focused on collaboration across business, workforce, and community development, the alliance can facilitate introductions to workforce training programs and educational institutions to ensure a ready, skilled workforce for new investments.

Sector Focus Major target sectors include life sciences, health care, food processing, metals and machining, renewable energy, hospitality, and logistics; develop sector-specific value propositions and partner with local institutions to provide industry-tailored training and facilities.

Momentum Credibility Recent leadership change and award recognition (new President and CEO appointed in 2025, Real Estate Excellence award in 2023) signal credibility and momentum to sponsors and lenders, useful in joint marketing, pilots, and flagship projects to de-risk and accelerate deals.