When Fortune Brands Innovations decided to put down roots in a place that could potentially employ 1000+ people, it looked to Lake County. “There are great schools, it’s close to Lake Michigan and accessible to downtown Chicago. It’s a very special place,” said Leigh Avsec, the head of the Fortune Brands Innovation’s external affairs, while also citing Lake County’s proximity to O’Hare International Airport, Interstate 94, and train connections.
Fortune Brands Innovations is just one of many companies who decided to invest and create jobs in Lake County in 2025. Among other big wins:
📈 AbbVie announced it would spend $195 million to expand in Lake County
📈 Belle Aire Creations began its 2nd expansion in 4 years, and has grown from 60 employees to 200+ according to Jason Dhaliwal
📈 Flex celebrated a 335,000 sq. ft. facility in the Village of Libertyville expected to bring 200 – 400 new jobs
📈 Lake County was named a top 10 county for economic development by Site Selection Magazine – in a competition of 3,154 counties in the U.S.
📈 Lake County’s GDP grew 3.2%, compared to 2% nationwide
With $633 million in capital investments, 862 new jobs and 1,333 retained jobs directly resulting from our work in 2025, we can proudly say that we’re at the forefront of economic growth in Chicagoland. There’s never been a better time for businesses and community leaders to get involved with us to leverage Lake County’s incredible success.