2020 was a challenging year that most of us would prefer to put in the rear view mirror. Economic development throughout Kenosha County, however, continued to be strong. Significant development projects added 1,250 new jobs and resulted in more than $200 million in new capital investment. Kenosha County is still the premier destination for new investment and talent in the Chicago-Milwaukee corridor, and is poised to emerge from these challenging times stronger than ever.
1. ADVOCATE AURORA HEALTHCARE
The new Advocate Aurora Health Center Pleasant Prairie opened its doors in June. This campus features a $130 million, 100,000 SF medical office building and 100,000 SF surgery center. | Read more
2. BRISTOL BUSINESS PARK
The Janko Group began site work on its 150-acre business park adjacent to the Prairie Highlands Corporate Park in the Village of Bristol. | Read more
3. BRISTOL HIGHLANDS COMMERCE CENTER
Chicago-based developer HSA Commercial Real Estate broke ground in June on the first phase of a 68-acre business park adjacent to the Prairie Highlands Corporate Park in the Village of Bristol. | Read more
4. DISASTER RECOVERY MICROLOANS
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) has provided up to $4 million in Disaster Recovery Microloans for Kenosha businesses trying to recover from damage that occurred during the civil unrest in August. A total of $1.45 million was awarded to 27 Kenosha County businesses in the first round of awards, announced on December. | Read more
5. EDA CARES ACT
The Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded a $4 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to KABA to capitalize and administer a Revolving Loan Fund that will provide critical gap financing to small businesses that have been adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic in Wisconsin. | Read more
6. GENEVA SUPPLY
Geneva Supply has purchased a 385,000 SF building in Western Kenosha County to be the site of its Chicago Area operations. The third party logistics supplier, based in Delavan, WI, plans to employ more than 100 people. | Read more
7. HARIBO
Haribo has broken ground in Pleasant Prairie on their first North American manufacturing facility in celebration of their 100th anniversary. The more than $300 million project is one of the largest direct investments by an international company in Wisconsin history. The first phase of construction is scheduled for completion in late 2022. | Read more
8. HERZING UNIVERSITY
Herzing University has relocated its Kenosha campus to a 42,000 SF building in Downtown Kenosha that previously housed the Kenosha News. The $5 million new building is more than twice the size of its previous campus. | Read more
9. KENOSHA COVID-19 SMALL BUSINESS RECOVERY FUND
The City of Kenosha provided $600,000 in grants for Kenosha businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. KABA administered the funds, awarding 55 local businesses grants of up to $15,000. | Read more
10. KROGER
Kroger, along with its U.K.-based technology partner Ocado, is currently building a new fulfillment warehouse in Pleasant Prairie, a project that will result in up to 400 new jobs coming to Kenosha County. The building’s warehouse will have 300,000 SF, with a connected, 30,000-square-foot office. The $145 million facility will have up to 400 employees, potentially growing to 700 within five years. | Read more
11. NEXUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Nexus plans to complete its nearly $100 million Pleasant Prairie sterile injectables plant in April 2021. The three-story, 84,000 SF facility is being built in the Prairie Highlands Corporate Park and will employ 77 workers in the fields of high-tech production, engineering, quality control, and supply chain management. | Read more
12. NOSCO, INC.
Nosco, Inc., a Gurnee, IL-based packaging manufacturer in the healthcare industry, is moving its HQs and new production operations to Pleasant Prairie. The company will employ 300 workers at the 177,000 SF leased facility, located in the LakeView Corporate Park. | Read more
13. OLD DOMINION FREIGHT LINE (ODFL)
ODFL will be the first tenant in the 120-acre Midwest Transportation Center, being developed by Darwin Realty. The $3 million, 250,000 SF truck terminal is set between the Canadian Pacific and Union Pacific rail lines at 6824 77th Ave. | Read more
14. PRITZKER ARCHIVES & MEMORIAL PARK CENTER
A groundbreaking for the Pritzker Archives & Memorial Park Center took place in October in the Village of Somers. The 288-acre campus at I-94 and Highway E will also feature community green space with 7,440 feet of walking paths. | Read more
15. R+D CUSTOM AUTOMATION
R+D announced the relocation of their HQs & plant operations to the Salem Business Park. The new 62,000+ SF building, to be complete in the second quarter of 2021, represents an investment of approximately $6 million and will bring nearly 60 jobs to Kenosha County. | Read more
16. REALCHEM MANUFACTURING
RealChem is relocating from Mundelein, IL to a 72,324 SF building in LakeView Corporate Park. The manufacturer of hand sanitizer, disinfectants, and other cleaning products is proposing having approximately 75 to 100 new employees. | Read more
17. SALEM BUSINESS PARK
Zilber Property Group is constructing two new buildings in the Salem Business Park in the Village of Salem Lakes. Stabio North America is relocating from Bristol, more than doubling its space with an 110,500 SF new building. The expansion could allow the metal fasteners manufacturer to grow from 50 to 85 employees within three years. Advent Tool and Manufacturing Inc. is relocating from Antioch, Illinois, filling half the space of a 50,000-SF multi-tenant building. | Read more
18. SNAP-ON INCORPORATED
Snap-on, Inc. purchased a 121,000 SF industrial facility in Pleasant Prairie’s LakeView Corporate Park, saying in a statement that “ the purchase furthers the company’s commitment to the area.” | Read more
19. TRIFINITY SPECIALIZED DISTRIBUTION
Trifinity relocated to Kenosha from Waukegan, IL, bringing 61 jobs with plans to expand capacity. The fulfillment company moved in January into a 250,000 SF facility in the Business Park of Kenosha. | Read more
20. ULINE
Pleasant Prairie-based Uline Inc. has two new distribution centers under construction at its Kenosha campus along I-94 at County Hwy 142. The $130 million project consists of 1.1 million SF and 644,000 SF distribution facilities. The new buildings would take the campus employment from around 700 to 1,050. | Read more