Based on job growth and investment, business has never been bigger in Lake County, Illinois. Lake County Partners is poised to stoke the success with a strategic workplan focused on business retention and attraction, which is leveraging Lake County’s incredible talent, real estate, and quality of life, and resulting in significant investments.
“In the last four and a half years, Lake County Partners has fueled $810 million in direct capital investment, created nearly 4,200 new jobs and retained over 4,723 existing jobs,” says Lake County Partners’ Director of Business Development Director Ron Lanz. “I am currently managing a robust project pipeline, with 42 projects in key industries like advanced manufacturing, life science and sustainable energy. Our involvement with the Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership is also opening up new business attraction opportunities. In my conversations with business leaders, their optimism remains strong, so I expect to see continued investment and growth in the back half of 2023.”
One in every 7 local jobs is in manufacturing, and Lake County has two times the workforce to support it than other similarly-sized communities. Top talent, coupled with innovation, leading-edge technology, access and infrastructure, are among the many reasons that local leaders are choosing the area to grow. The industry has become a major focus of Lake County Partners; as a result, many local employers are enlisting Lake County Partners’ support as they make major expansion and hiring decisions.
Over the past year alone, Lake County Partners has been directly involved in brokering deals for a variety of manufacturers – work has included coordinating economic incentives, tapping into workforce initiatives, finding space, making connections and producing ribbon cuttings and ground breakings. Examples of recent wins follow.
RECENT MANUFACTURING WINS IN LAKE COUNTY
Belle Aire Creations, a creator of market-leading fragrances and flavors for the world’s leading brands, worked with LCP to celebrate a sustainable 40,000 sq. ft. facility in Round Lake Park, a short distance away from its main campus in Mundelein. The new facility quadrupled the company’s manufacturing footprint, and created 15 new jobs that shortened lead times and increased capacity. The company is also currently expanding in Libertyville with a new global headquarters and creative center.
Graph-Pak Corporation, a 35-year leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of paperboard packaging, relocated into a 207,000 sq. ft. facility in Island Lake. The project represented a $7 million capital investment and created 110 new jobs. LCP worked with the state and leveraged Enterprise Zone economic incentives to keep Graph-Pak in Illinois.
Quaker Houghton, a global leader in industrial process fluids, committed to a $25 million retrofit and expansion of portions of its 75,000 sq. ft. Zion facility.
LCP teamed with the state to provide Enterprise Zone economic incentives, including those that exempted the company from state and local sales taxes on eligible building material purchases to offset project costs. The project retained 31 employees and created 10 new jobs.
Margolin Fanletic, an Illinois-based e-commerce apparel and shoe retailer, purchased a 232,000 sq. ft. building in Gurnee to expand its warehouse and distribution operations.
This $17 million capital investment created 40 new jobs. LCP worked with the company to leverage Enterprise Zone economic incentives and defray a portion of the retrofit expenses.
Since 1978, RealWheels has manufactured stainless steel accessories for heavy-duty trucks and vehicles. With demand growing and new product development underway, RealWheels worked with LCP to expand into a 65,000 sq. ft. facility in Zion. LCP coordinated with city officials and the state to help RealWheels tap into TIF, EDGE, and Enterprise Zone incentives. As a result, RealWheels invested $6 million, retained 45 local employees and hired 15 new people.
For more than 40 years, Advanced Prototype Molding (APM) has been providing its prototype molding services via a wide range of capabilities including 3d printing, RTV molding, and tool and die. With business booming, APM made a capital investment of $5 million to expand into a new 50,000 sq. ft. facility and create 45 new jobs in Wauconda. With LCP’s help, APM tapped into a suite of incentives including TIF, Enterprise Zone, and EDGE.
Rosalind Franklin University (RFU) launched the Helix 51 incubator over four years ago to advance early-stage and start-up life science companies in Lake County, Illinois. Since its inception, Helix 51 has welcomed 15 companies specializing in fields such as oncology, cardiovascular health, infection disease, fibrotic disease and fibromyalgia.
LCP has profiled many of the startups, including Covira, Everyplace Labs, and ARTEC Biotech, going in depth to look at the groundbreaking ways that they will change the life science landscape and have global impact.
Using $2 million in matching funds from the Illinois Department of Commerce’s wetlab buildout program awarded in 2022, RFU invested in the build out an additional 14,000 sq. ft. of wetlab space in the IRP that was recently completed and is now coming online. The new built-out lab space features:
8,000 sq. ft. on the first floor, divided into 2 spaces of approximately 4,000 sq. ft. each that can be used by one or two growing companies; and,
6,000 sq. ft. on the second floor, divided into 9 individual labs.
Each area has space provided for lab refrigerators/freezers, storage, and other scientific equipment. RFU has also provided chemical fume hoods and biosafety cabinets, and both spaces are also equipped with emergency power. Occupants of the spaces also have access to the IRP’s 8 conference rooms and Harris Collaboration Zone as well as autoclave/glass wash and lab ice machines and a café. Also available nearby in the Helix 51 incubator is a new class 100,000 clean room and state-of-the-art lab equipment. Furthermore, the campus is located in an Illinois Enterprise Zone, giving prospective tenants fiscal incentive opportunities.
Avison Young is representing the space, and interested companies are encouraged to seize the opportunities quickly. Get the building specs in this brochure.
LAKE COUNTY IS LEADING IN LIFE SCIENCE
As part of the buildout, RFU expanded the Helix 51 incubator to handle additional lab-based companies – an important step because Helix 51 is the only biomedical incubator north of downtown Chicago.
Two new companies have signed on to the Helix 51 Incubator in the last 6 months: UP Oncolytics, a spinout from Advocate Aurora that was founded by a neurosurgeon and focuses on oncolytic viruses for treatment of glioblastoma, and Integrated LifeSystems, a medical device company founded by two former Abbott executives.
The flurry of activity at RFU has grabbed attention and confirmed what many economic development pros across the nation know: Chicagoland has quickly emerged as the life science industry’s “third coast.” Over 125 regional biotech leaders recently converged for the Lake County Bioscience Real Estate Summit to celebrate the industry’s growth and marvel at the IRP, with representation from AbbVie, World Business Chicago, Aptinyx, Intersect Illinois, Jones Lang Lasalle and many other leading life science companies and architectural/engineering firms.
The summit zoomed in on Lake County’s vibrant life sciences ecosystem, which includes 147 companies, supports 33,000+ jobs and generates $85 billion in worldwide sales.
Major league pharmaceutical and biotech companies in Lake County like Abbott, AbbVie, Pfizer, Horizon Therapeutics, Takeda, Amgen and Fresenius Kabi have also powered the metro to #2 in the nation for pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing. There is no end in sight, with Lake County’s life sciences job market growing steadily at 10% per year.
The region is now poised to rise into the top 4 national markets, turbocharged by investments in talent and institutions like the IRP, and the landing of the Chan-Zuckerberg project – an instance in which Chicagoland life science leaders beat out 57 applications from 36 US cities to land $250 million to fuel lab infrastructure and research to propel growth and innovation in Illinois. It’s no wonder that so many growing life science companies are taking an interest in the IRP and looking at ways to leverage Lake County’s success.
Lake County Partners’ signature annual breakfast, aptly named “The Big Event,” once again brought together hundreds of business and civic leaders for a morning focused on continued collaboration and business growth. The morning will also marked the organization’s 25th anniversary of fueling economic development in Lake County, Illinois.
The Big Event specializes in providing insights on the latest tools and trends driving economic development, and this year’s program will zero in on performance. Keynote Speaker David Epstein, a New York Times best-selling author of the books Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, and The Sports Gene, will discuss his bold and challenging ideas on the most effective path to success, as inspired by his analysis of some of the greatest executives, scientists, artists and athletes in history.
Big Event attendees honored the tremendous accomplishments of Richard H. Korengold, the outgoing Lake County Partners Board of Governors Chair and Senior Managing Director at Mesirow Wealth Management.
“Under Richard’s direction and vision, Lake County Partners has flourished as the go-to economic development organization in the northern suburbs. His leadership has defined our organization, and we are so grateful for the time and energy that he has put into his position,” noted Steve Madden, the incoming Board of Governors Chair and CEO of Libertyville Bank & Trust Company, N.A. “As measured by job growth and investment, the last four years have been one of the best runs in the county’s history. As the incoming Chair, I am committed to sustaining the forward momentum that will keep Lake County at the forefront of business growth and innovation.”
“Richard has championed the development and approval of the county’s new Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS),” adds Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart. “The CEDS is extremely important because it collaboratively aligns economic priorities across the region and creates an action‐oriented, five‐year economic development strategy that will enhance our communities and business climate. I am confident that the final CEDS product has set us up for success and will result in a better Lake County for generations to come.”
“Richard’s achievements, and the economic growth that we’re seeing in Lake County, are nothing short of extraordinary,” says Lake County Partners president and CEO Kevin Considine. “Our team is currently nurturing 22 new projects, with six wins already under our belt this year. In the last four months alone, we have welcomed a new PR company, food manufacturer, vitamin supplements manufacturer, frozen pizza manufacturer, food equipment manufacturer and an affordable senior housing project into the area, which has resulted in over $190 million in new capital expenditure, 666,000 sq. ft. of new and reactivated space, 493 new jobs and 450 retained jobs. We expect that trajectory to continue through the back half of the year. All told, since 2019, Lake County Partners has been directly involved in projects that have resulted in 4,155 new jobs, 4,677 retained jobs and $807 million in direct investment. I am very proud of what we have accomplished with the support of our partners and Lake County Partners’ Board of Governors.”
“It has been my pleasure to work directly with local leaders to enhance the economy, grow business and make sure that we are positioned for future prosperity,” responded Korengold. “Lake County is in excellent shape. Over the last several years, our Gross Domestic Product has grown 9.6%, reaching $69.7 billion. The number of businesses in Lake County now exceeds pre-pandemic levels, and growth has been particularly prominent in our key industries of advanced manufacturing, life science, healthcare and professional and technical services. Economic projections indicate that more new jobs, increased consumer spending and growth capital investment, and continued state-of-the-art real estate construction are on the horizon. My tenure as Chair of the Board of Governors has been very rewarding, and I have appreciated the opportunity lay the foundation for another 25+ years of success at Lake County Partners.”
One company that has leveraged Lake County Partners’ resources to expand is Henry Broch Foods. At the Big Event, the company will be honored with the 2023 Community Investment Award for investing in its existing Waukegan headquarters by adding 160,000 sq. ft. of new production, robotic warehouse and distribution space. Not only is the company retaining 400 existing jobs, but it is adding an additional 150 new jobs in Lake County too. The project represents a capital investment of nearly $40 million.
“I am thrilled to accept the award on behalf of Henry Broch & Company,” said VP of Business Development Edan Antonetti. “From our headquarters in Lake County, Henry Broch Foods has established itself as one of the leading food manufacturers in the nation. Our success is the direct reflection of the work environment that we have created in Waukegan. People have been a game changer for us. In deciding to invest in more people and new space, we knew that we wouldn’t find better talent and support than what we have here in Lake County.”
The Big Event is made possible with generous support from the Lake County business community including Lake County, the College of Lake County, Old National Bank, the Hunter Family Foundation, Abbott, AbbVie, Comcast, Horizon Therapeutics, Innovation Park, the Gorter Family Foundation, 1818 Renewable Energy, a5 Branding & Digital, Advocate Condell Medical Center, Aston Carter, Bridge Development, BCI Acrylic, CBRE, Great Lakes Construction Association, Great Lakes Credit Union, Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, JP Morgan Chase, Libertyville Bank & Trust Company, N.A., Mesirow, Pace Suburban Bus VanGo, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, UCC Environmental, The Upper Illinois River Valley Development Authority, Van Vlissingen and Co, Walgreens, Barbara’s Bookstore, Five Grain Events and World Business Chicago.
At Lake County Partners’ legendary Big Event, so-called because it brings together the largest group of business and community leaders in Lake County for an inspirational morning focused on economic growth, the year’s Community Investment Award honored advanced manufacturer Henry Broch Foods.
Henry Broch Foods has a long history in Lake County, and especially in Waukegan. The family-owned company was founded in 1941 and today, the company is one of the largest and most successful U.S.-based international food ingredient, processing and co-packing companies in the world. The company sources quality natural ingredients from growers, and its suppliers produce vegetables, fruits, herbs, spices and natural colors that have been concentrated, dehydrated, extracted or pasteurized.
Henry Broch Foods is at the cutting-edge of the food industry, and it is devoted to the pursuit of new blending, formulating and packaging ideas that keep up with evolving consumer demands. You can find their products in a variety of applications including spice and seasoning blends, batters and breading, bakery blends, sauces, soups, salad dressings, flavors, extracts and colors, fruit juices, flavored beverages, jams and jellies, prepared meats, entrees, ethnic foods, pasta, rice and grains, pizza and snack foods.
Despite many attempts by other states to lure them away from Lake County, the company has made a commitment to grow and invest in Waukegan to leverage the area’s significant talent and proximity to other business leaders in Lake County’s steadily growing food manufacturing cluster.
Lake County Partners worked closely with the company’s leadership to help them expand their existing Waukegan headquarters by adding 160,000 sq. ft. of new production, robotic warehouse (ARSR) and distribution space. Not only is the company retaining 400 existing jobs, but it is adding an additional 150 new jobs in Lake County too. Their project represents a capital investment of nearly $40 million.
“Our family is very proud of what it has built in Lake County over the generations, and we are excited to begin this next chapter,” noted VP of Business Development Edan Antonetti. “In Waukegan, we have found and nurtured creative and committed people, honed our technologies and committed to being at the forefront of food manufacturing innovation. This has been our secret recipe for business growth.”
“This is an incredible commitment to long-term expansion in Lake County,” noted Business Development Director Ron Lanz. “Lake County Partners is fortunate to have had the opportunity to assist Henry Broch Foods in its decision. We have celebrated a steady stream of new business development in Lake County, and a lot of our recent work has been concentrated in the manufacturing sector. Food production is particularly pronounced, and we’re expecting that trend to continue in the coming quarters.”
The Lake County Partners team is currently nurturing 22 new projects, with six wins already completed this year. In the last four months alone, Lake County Partners has welcomed a new food manufacturer, vitamin supplements manufacturer, frozen pizza manufacturer, food equipment manufacturer, PR company and an affordable senior housing project into the area, which has resulted in over $190 million in new capital expenditure, 666,000 sq. ft. of new and reactivated space, 493 new jobs and 450 retained jobs. The back half of 2023 is lining up to be equally as successful.
All told, since 2019, Lake County Partners has been directly involved in projects that have resulted in 4,155 new jobs, 4,677 retained jobs and $807 million in direct investment.
The success at Henry Broch Foods is emblematic of the huge role that advanced manufacturing plays in Lake County’s economy. It is a $20 billion dollar business and the largest contributor to our gross regional product. One out of every seven local jobs is in manufacturing, which is more than any other private sector industry.
Food and beverage manufacturing, in particular, employs over 2,100 people in Lake County and provides a very stable, rewarding and welcoming career path. Non-durable goods, which includes food and beverage manufacturing, is a $13.7 billion industry by output. Since 2019, five food-related companies in Lake County have received over $33M in growth capital investment, including Cool Beans in Lake Forest, McClary Innovation in Barrington, Produce Alliance in Buffalo Grove, Riceworks in Long Grove and Winestyr in Gurnee.
Importantly, 29% of sales for Lake County’s food and beverage manufacturing firms stays within the county—making it a huge economic engine in the community.
The food manufacturing success in Lake County really reflects industry trends in the greater metro region. Chicagoland is the nation’s food innovation and manufacturing capital, and it is home to its largest food manufacturing workforce as well.
Its proximity to the nation’s most productive farmland and an extensive transportation network helped grow the historic industry. Today, Chicagoland is the nation’s crossroads, making it easy for food manufacturers to get their products to market. The region has 6 of 7 Class I railroads, and it is home to North America’s largest inland port: CenterPoint Intermodal, which occupies ~6,400 acres and handles ~3M TEU annually. Nearby O’Hare International Airport is the #1 U.S. port by value, moving $330B in imports and exports in 2022.
Chicagoland also benefits from an interconnected web of partners that support industry innovation and food-related business growth, including over 75 incubators and accelerators.
“Chicagoland’s prowess in the food manufacturing industry is remarkable,” notes Hannah Loftus, the Regional Director of Research for World Business Chicago. “The region is #1 in the U.S. when it comes to employment, output and talent. It is also #1 in a variety of sub-industries including sugar and confectionary products, graining milling, fruit and vegetable preservation and dairy. Over 43% of supply chain inputs for food and beverage manufacturing companies come from this area. Just last year, we saw $328 million in growth capital for food-related firms, which represented 175% growth from 2019.”
Lake County Partners is fortunate to work with incredibly skilled education leaders who are training the next generation of talent in Lake County. In pursuit of the best way to arm young students with the in-demand skills that they need to flourish in the workplace, local innovators are shaking up the traditional mold and charting a new path forward in education. Illinois schools and the businesses they serve will benefit immensely. The following is part of an ongoing series of blogs spotlighting Lake County’s strong education system. Learn more about the Illinois State Career Pathway Endorsement process here, and see how investments are shaping next generation talent here.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) provides high-school level instruction for careers in high-wage, high-skill, and in-demand occupations. CTE programs have been crafted to strengthen students’ technical skills, articulate transitions to postsecondary programs and/or employment, help meet learning standards and close achievement gaps.
“Lake County has emerged as a leader in CTE, and it has helped put our schools at the forefront of education in the state and the nation,” says Dr. Michael Karner, Lake County’s Regional Superintendent of Schools. “Educational leaders around the county are aligning programming with CTE courses to build career pathway endorsements. Because of the cutting-edge approach, career exploration is much more robust, and students are better prepared for the working world.”
A recent survey of 18 Lake County high schools found overwhelming support for and enrollment in CTE.* There are currently 14,244 high school students participating across the fields of manufacturing, healthcare and information technology. Manufacturing makes up the largest percentage of the cohort, with 8,016 students participating.
Most of the respondents indicated that they expect the enrollment numbers to continue to climb as the schools transition to more robust course selections. In fact, the Lake County Tech Campus’ enrollment continues to increase each year, and the school is anticipating more than a 10% increase next year. Many schools will be adding new opportunities in fields like sports medicine, agriculture, video/animation and robotics.
Round Lake High School is one such example, where planning is underway for a new sports medicine pilot that will train 28 students next year. The school has also made incredible connections with local employers to create seemingly unorthodox training opportunities. “This year, our Project Lead the Way classroom is working with Takeda to create prototypes that will be used in real world quality inspections on their manufacturing line,” says Eddie Adamson, the school’s CTE Department Chair. “Round Lake High School students meet with employees from Takeda multiple times throughout the year in order to perfect their ideas and products. It is a very synergistic process, and one that inspires our students to think big.”
WORK-BASED LEARNING IS A GAME-CHANGER
What used to be a 10-minute career inventory survey in most high schools has evolved into an entirely new process that weaves curriculum in with the philosophy of education. Schools leverage resources like SchooLinks and YouScience to help students understand their passions and interests, and this knowledge informs class selections and career opportunities. Supplemental career exploration events, internships and connections with mentors in the community round out the approach. The result is a well-informed, passionate and committed individual who is ready to build a career and immediately meet business needs in Lake County.
Meaningful CTE experiences are brought to fruition through a “Work-Based Learning (WBL)” strategy that connects employers and future employees through structured learning experiences that develop transferable skills for postsecondary education and the workplace.
“We have prioritized community partnerships, and they have been instrumental to our success at Grayslake D127,” reports Gina Schuyler, the CTE Department Chair for Careers and Community Partnerships. “Students can be seen meeting with companies at lunchtime for summer hiring, exploring areas of interest and taking field trips to job sites to understand the reality of certain work environments. Our coordinator also creates monthly calendars for students and parents to engage with the community.”
“We understand that today’s high school is not just the physical walls of the classroom; it is the classroom and the community together that helps create REAL learning,” adds Schuyler. “We even use the hashtag #D127GetsREAL – an acronym that stands for Real, Engaging, and Authentic Learning. Often times, these mini experiences turn into rewarding internships or more intensive career exploration opportunities. CTE’s popularity has growth so much that we have created 8 new positions in the last four years alone, taking our staff from a team of 12 to a team of 20 to accommodate demand.”
WBL is critical to advancing equity and opportunity for all Lake County students because it results in affordable or no-cost advanced education.
For example, at D127 in Grayslake, students participated in the College of Lake County’s Apprenticeship Spring Break Program, which then launched into a “Learn and Earn” program that combines job-related classroom learning with structured on-the-job training with a mentor in fields like business, education, horticulture, manufacturing and information technology.
D127 also received a grant through the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association (FMA) to host a summer camp for middle schools called Nuts Bolts and Thingamagjigs that enabled students to tour Libertyville-based manufacturer Laser Precision and learn how to earn tuition reimbursement for manufacturing training.
“Laser Precision has experienced tremendous success, in part because of Lake County’s high quality workforce,” said Human Resources Manager and Lake County Partners Board of Governors Member Kimberly Wimer. “As a growing manufacturer, it has been our honor to engage with students and provide exposure to the high-tech careers that await them in this industry.”
Students and parents will also connect with Waukegan-based manufacturer LMT Onsrud to begin “pre-apprenticeship” talks. Several others will be placed in embedded school-day internship classes with local manufacturers like SuperShox.
The crown jewel of manufacturing education – the College of Lake County’s new Advanced Technology Center in Grayslake — will also play a role, as students take tours of the space and learn to apply their CTE class skills in a new environment.
Curated experiences like this are certainly among the reasons that so many Lake County high school students are exploring CTE. Further growth is anticipated, with the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) recently announcing scholarships for those earning the manufacturing career pathway endorsement.
“As manufacturers look to build a skilled workforce of the future, it’s important we work collaboratively with employers, educators, and policy makers to create chances for students to learn about manufacturing through career exploration and specialized training opportunities. The many wonderful programs available in Lake County provide a model for the rest of the state to follow,” said Sarah Hartwick, Vice President of Education & Workforce Policy at the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and Executive Director of the IMA’s Education Foundation. “Manufacturing provides young people with safe, clean and high-wage careers, and job opportunities are abundant in exciting fields like robotics, machining, electrical vehicle production and more.”
Lake County also stands to benefit from the new Youth Systems Building Academy, which was established in December 2022 and is overseen by the U.S. Department of Labor. The Academy provides training and technical assistance to workforce systems and community partners to help them explore, design, test, implement and expand approached to workforce attraction, particularly for young workers.
Nationwide, nine communities were recently chosen by the Department of Labor to participate in the Academy, and Lake County was one of those selected. Participating partners include Lake County Workforce Development, the College of Lake County’s Indiana, Illinois and Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting, the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150, and the Lake County’s Regional Office of Education.
The group held its first in-person session in March, and is collaborating online before the Academy convenes again later this summer. Expect to hear more on this exciting initiative as it moves forward. It is sure to have a lasting impact on Lake County’s robust talent pipeline.
*This estimate does not include Deerfield/Highland Park and Zion Benton high schools.
The new year kicked off with fantastic economic news, presented by World Business Chicago (WBC) to Lake County Partners’ Municipal Economic Development Group at its first meeting of the year.
The highly engaged group, comprised of City Managers and senior staff from municipalities across Lake County, has been meeting quarterly for over eight years to get insights into the latest economic development trends and access to tools that serve the needs of the county’s diverse communities. The meeting series is hosted by Libertyville Bank & Trust, in the family of the Wintrust Community Banks.
“Wintrust Community Bank serves the entire Chicago metro region and extends into southern Wisconsin and northwest Indiana. Our priority is supporting local communities by engaging in local organizations and events,” said Libertyville Bank & Trust Chief Executive Officer and Lake County Partners Board of Governors Vice Chair Steve Madden. “It is important for us to develop and strengthen relationships with the very leaders that make Lake County so vibrant. This municipal meeting forum is a perfect fit because we can share our extensive financial expertise in a format that also relays the personal touch of a small institution.”
Other economic indicators also paint a picture of solid economic health in Lake County. In just three years—from 2018 to 2021—Lake County’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew 9.6%, reaching $69.7 billion. Real GDP was also up 1.1% in the same time frame. The GDP metric is considered the gold standard measure of overall economic activity because it accounts for the value of the final goods and services produced in an area.
The GDP increase is inextricably linked with the growth of local businesses—an area where Lake County once again shines. As of Q2 2022, Lake County had 20,278 businesses, which exceeds pre-pandemic levels. As a result, demand for labor continues to increase. The number of job postings went up 36% between 2019 and 2022. Growth was particularly prominent in in-demand fields such as nursing, software development, retail and customer service. Importantly, these are high-quality jobs with a median advertised hourly salary of $21.02.
“The tight labor market has resulted in a very low unemployment rate of 4.1% which is close to pre-pandemic levels and greatly improved from the 14.2% rate experienced at the peak of COVID,” said LCP’s Director of Strategy and Intelligence Bethany Williams. “Lake County’s key industries of life science, advanced manufacturing, healthcare and professional and technical services will continue to thrive, and we expect to see outputs grow. This means that we must engage all of our human resources, which is why LCP’s strategy is so laser-focused on talent development and business outreach.”
“Lake County is a great model of economic development. The economy is in excellent shape, and the entire Chicagoland region is poised for future growth,” said WBC Regional Director of Research Hannah Loftus. “Economic projections indicate that you can expect to see a 21.8% increase in metro area GDP by 2027, and Lake County will enjoy another 2.8% uptick in jobs in that same time frame. Top sub-industries projected to grow include company management, restaurants, education, advanced manufacturing, child care and computer systems design. All told, those will help generate over 10,000 new jobs. LCP’s strategic business support, coupled with the power of the new Greater Chicagoland Regional Partnership, will sustain the forward momentum.”
Economic growth is certain to be bolstered by local spending power. In 2022, consumer spending totaled $20.8 billion, which made the local business ecosystem the third largest by county in the entire state of Illinois, and roughly 9% of the entire metro area. This figure is expected to go up, with forecasts projecting an additional 14.8% spend over the next five years.
The year was also record-breaking for Chicagoland’s growth capital ecosystem, with $18.38 billion in raised—including $10.36 billion in venture capital and $8.02 billion in private equity. This figure has continued to climb over the past several years, having grown 14.28 billion over the last four years alone.
Growth capital investment has been particularly powerful in fueling many of the same key industries that support Lake County’s economy—manufacturing, life sciences, information technology, finance, consumer and business products, healthcare, energy, transportation, distribution and logistics. In 2022, Lake County companies raised $89.79 million in growth capital through just 15 deals in these areas.
This has had favorable implications for commercial real estate, with Lake County seeing more than 20 investments in spaces of 20,000 sq. ft. or more in 2022. As a result, the industrial market is particularly tight; vacancy remains at 3.59% – a historic low. Last year, Lake County saw a net absorption of 908,035 sq. ft. of industrial space, and there is another 367,750 sq. ft. under construction through big, state-of-the-art projects like the Hawthorn Mall redevelopment and the Panattoni development in Vernon Hills and the Bridge Point Development in Mundelein. Overall, Lake County’s real estate costs remain competitive in the metro area.
“The upbeat data shared by World Business Chicago at the recent municipal meeting is completely in line with what we are seeing in Vernon Hills and more broadly across the county,” said Jon Petrillo, Vernon Hills’ Assistant Village Manager. “There has been tremendous investment, and our economy continues to thrive. In Lake County, you’ll find leaders who are willing to work with businesses and open to innovative development that strategically lays the groundwork for future growth.”
This post is contributed by our partners at Visit Lake County – the official destination marketing organization and champion of tourism for Lake County, Illinois. The organization is comprised of thirteen community partners plus Lake County, along with 200 industry partners including hotels, attractions and hospitality-related industries, all of whom recognize the powerful economic impact of tourism.
“In wine there is wisdom, in beer, there is freedom, in water there is bacteria,” said U.S. Founding Father and esteemed libation consumer Benjamin Franklin.
Lake County makes its own, from beer and wine to vodka and whiskey. Thirty-plus independent businesses highlight the Lake County Libation Trail which winds throughout the county and showcases adult beverages from locally-sourced ingredients, designed to dazzle and educate the most discerning tastes.
Visit Lake County launched the Libation Trail initiative in 2017 with only eight participants, and since then it has blossomed.
The Libation Trail marketing strategy aims to support the county’s thriving craft beverage scene throughout the year, with February designated as “Libation Trail Month” and an added focus during the “Spooks and Spirits” Autumn Celebration. These campaigns encourage locals and visitors to taste Lake County’s character, enjoy its vibrant communities, and support local businesses in the process.
“Visit Lake County supports these hospitality partners year-round in our promotional efforts and referrals to groups we attract to stay here, and the locals show great loyalty to their favorites,” said Visit Lake County Programs Director John Maguire. “Guests will find the state’s oldest brewpub, innovative newcomers, creative collaborations and great camaraderie among the industry peers. Award-winning craft beer, fine wine and delicious spirits make it an easy sell.”
Visit Lake County designates every February as “Libation Trail Month,” which includes a Check-in Challenge. When craft drinkers arrive at a participating location, they check in using their mobile passes to show they are in attendance. The user can scan the QR code on table tents or go to the website for a current list of participants and receive Libation Trail updates. If libation-ers check in to five or more Lake County Libation Trail partners during February, they are entered into a sweepstakes to win a commemorative long-sleeved shirt.
Finding a suitable multi-purpose facility is an essential element of opening a brewery, winery or distillery. Several new businesses and expansions are planned for 2023. Lake County has certainly demonstrated that it is a welcoming home for food, drink, and craft artisans. This is true not only for new businesses, but also for existing businesses that decide to expand into local communities to build on their success.
Lynfred Winery is one such example, having launched two Lake County locations over the last 14 years. Although the headquarters of its winery sits in DuPage County’s Roselle, the 40-year-old berry beverage maker opened its doors to its Wheeling location in 2009, while the Highland Park facility is nearing its first anniversary in June.
“For Wheeling, it was the charm of the building itself and its prime location on Milwaukee Avenue,” said Lynfred Wheeling and Highland Park Director of Operations Matt Philips. “We’re nestled between two nice restaurant districts, and being adjacent to the tollway was also a selling point. Lynfred is fortunate to have name recognition, and the community and our partners in town fully embraced us.”
“In Highland Park, the ability to be a part of a community with an established downtown, nestled in an area that gets daily foot traffic is what attracted us. There is a spillover from the traffic, whether they visit before dinner or go shopping, and they discover us along the way. We’re in great company among other industry leaders located nearby, including 28 Mile Distilling Company, Ravinia Brewing Company and Half Day Brewing Company.” As is the case with many growing small businesses, Lynfred Winery’s expansion plan has relied on community support and appealing brick and mortar spaces.
This also applies at Harbor Brewing Co., where the business has expanded to three Lake County locations since its inception. These spaces include the company’s first taproom facility in Winthrop Harbor, the lakefront Biergarten that sits on the Lake Michigan harbor at North Point Marina and its most recent Lake Villa establishment.
Camaraderie in the industry is a cornerstone of success, as Harbor’s Lake Villa location shares its space with other Lake County Libation Trail participant 9th Hour Brewing Co.
“Breweries are very tight-knit,” said Harbor Brewing Co. owner Kyle Wenzel. “When we opened our Lake Villa location, we were interested in sharing a space with a few fellow home brewers so that we could share ideas, energy and success. 9th Hour Brewing Co. decided to dip their toes in, and now, they’re distributing. It’s a nice way to help other potential breweries and entrepreneurs come up at a low-cost entry.”
“The community was receptive to us when we started 10 years ago. Winthrop Harbor is my hometown. I had a home brewer hobby and passion. We started really small, and it helped in the beginning, to get up and running in a community that knows you. We started with a small tap room, kept our day jobs, and slowly grew from there. We expanded as we could, but being in a local community that knew us definitely helped us to start.”
Other burgeoning breweries, wineries and distilleries have also found opportunities and jumped at the chance to call Lake County home. They have found immense support from municipal leaders, reliable utilities, a lively entertainment scene and a variety of spaces that can adapt to their uses and support retail spaces as well as manufacturing and distribution.
“Our current location in Lake Zurich stood out as a central location between both the Chicago and Milwaukee markets. It affords us with reasonable rent and the opportunity to purchase as we grow,” said Phase Three Brewing Co. co-owner and director of operations Evan Morris.
“The Village of Lake Zurich has been instrumental in not only streamlining the governmental approval process that comes with operating a business, but also in their willingness to actively facilitate community engagement for our brand.”
The Lake County Libation Trail is only growing and achieving more fame. For example, North Shore Distillery in Green Oaks was the first craft distillery to open in Illinois since the Prohibition Era. Sonja Kassebaum, one-half of the ownership at North Shore Distillery, was featured in “Chemists, Bartenders and British Royalty: Eight Women Who Changed Gin History” in Wine Magazine. Mickey Finn’s Brewery in Libertyville was the state’s first brewpub in 1993 and continues to win brewing industry awards today.
Several other breweries, distilleries and wineries have been honored with the Illinois Office of Tourism honor of “Illinois Made,” recognizing the state’s makers, creators, artisans, artists, family-owned businesses and more, including the aforementioned North Shore Distillery and Lynfred Winery, as well as the Copper Fiddle Distillery in Lake Zurich and Tighthead Brewing Company in Mundelein. Many Libation Trail partners have received countless awards for their innovative and fresh creations.
“As someone who grew up in Lake County, in the Buffalo Grove and Grayslake area, and then moved on to live and operate businesses elsewhere in Chicagoland for several years, the opportunity to return and tap into all that the area has to offer was exciting.” Morris said.
As one of Illinois’ largest industry sectors, manufacturing is a pillar of the state’s economy. It supports nearly 30% of all jobs in Illinois, and has an even greater share in Lake County where local production is dominated by pharmaceuticals, plastic products and medical equipment thanks to the presence of globally-recognized leaders like Abbott, AbbVie, AkzoNobel and Baxter. Those giants are in good company among high-performers like Novelis, Echo, HydraForce, Laser Precision, Yaskawa, Zebra and many others.
Manufacturing employs nearly 100,000 in Lake County, which is among the highest concentrations in the state. An impressive one in every seven Lake County jobs is now in manufacturing. Locally, the industry’s labor force has grown 3.6% over the last year alone, representing 2,200 new workers. The increased employment base will go a long way towards supporting manufacturing businesses in Lake County, but we cannot rest on our laurels if we wish to stoke the growth.
Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) projections indicate that some manufacturing occupations could see up to a 20% increase in employment growth over the next six years. To meet the demand for talent, Lake County leaders have partnered on cutting-edge solutions to foster growth and workforce development. Collectively, the following five initiatives serve as a model that other communities can use to support the surge in manufacturing and meet the needs that accompany such a tremendous uptick in production:
1. Form Innovative Partnerships to Develop Talent
Through our close relationships with local manufacturers, we know that workforce is often the biggest asset or impediment to growth. For this reason, Lake County Partners has spearheaded a partnership with the College of Lake County, Lake County Workforce Development, the Lake County Tech Campus and area high schools—under the umbrella of the “Lake County Workforce Ecosystem”—to align training with in-demand skills and put employers directly in touch with talent and upskilling opportunities.
A core focus of Lake County Partners is meeting directly with business leaders to discuss challenges, and then using that intelligence to take action that strengthens the local business climate. Through our close relationships in the Workforce Ecosystem, we can quickly assemble tailored solutions related to recruitment, site selection, infrastructure, financing and incentives that make it easier for businesses to grow in Lake County. Connect with us here to schedule a quick call with us and tap into our free business resources and connections.
2. Invest in Education
Businesses are only as healthy as the workforce that supports them. The College of Lake County (CLC) is a key player in the Workforce Ecosystem and a long-time leader in community education. The school has leaned on creative, out-of-the-box thinking to strategically invest in talent development and arm students with in-demand skills.
As a result, Lake County now has over 1,000 students in manufacturing programs at the college and high school levels that will go on to fuel business growth. That number only stands to grow, thanks to CLC’s latest endeavor and its crown jewel of manufacturing education: the incredible Advanced Technology Center (ATC) in Gurnee.
The ATC is a former big box store that is being thoughtfully transformed into a 142,000 sq. ft. center for manufacturing education. Nearly 500 community members recently gathered together to celebrate the grand opening of the ATC with a ribbon cutting—fittingly made out of metal and cut apart by a trio of torch wielders, including a student, instructor and CLC president Dr. Lori Suddick. The fanfare is certainly justified.
The ribbon cutting commemorates phase 1 of the ATC, which engaged local manufacturers to strengthen Lake County’s workforce by providing industry-relevant career pathways focused on industrial technology, fabrication, and welding. Phase 2 of the project, currently under consideration, will reimagine the other half of the facility and reflect the input from the broader community and local manufacturing leaders.
In the short time since the ATC opened, its impact has been immense—prior to its existence, CLC averaged 115 welding students. This semester, which is the first-time offering classes at the ATC, there are over 200 students. With the launch of the new program and facility, CLC can teach and train upward of 700 students annually.
CLC also offers dual credit partnerships with 24 high schools in more than 40 academic areas—that encompasses 2,200+ high school students who are enrolled in dual credit classes that both reduce the time students spend completing certifications and provide an annual savings of approximately $1.5 million for students and families.
These programs were intentionally designed with multiple entry and exit points to meet the educational needs of a variety of students. The coursework to complete credentials is purposefully sequenced so that students can earn one or more certificates on the way to completing either an Associate in Applied Science or Associate in Science degree.
The power of dual credit partnerships can be seen in CLC’s relationship with the nearby Lake County Tech Campus. Tech Campus students can earn up to 9 college credits at no cost through CLC. Credentials are stackable, so students can use them to supplement post-secondary education as they zero in on a long-term career path.
The Tech Campus is well-regarded as one of the best career and technical education training facilities in the Midwest. It was established nearly fifty years ago to pool together local educational resources to educate high school students. Today, it is an extension of 22 area high schools spanning Lake and McHenry counties.
This year, the Tech Campus welcomed 1,900 students—its largest cohort in the past 10 years, which solidified its position as the biggest career technical secondary educational center in the entire state of Illinois. It is also the largest career center in the state, both in space and student population.
3. Pioneer Bold New Career Pathways
Communities that lead manufacturing growth won’t do it by staying tethered to traditional models. Dual credit programs are a fantastic way to get young people engaged and foster their interest, but we can’t stop there. Local schools have begun to explore new certifications that provide clear pathways for high school students to pursue a career in manufacturing while benefiting from practical workplace experiences, streamlined connections with area employers and minimal educational costs.
The Illinois School Board of Education (ISBE) has provided a means of establishing these certifications through the Illinois State Career Pathway Endorsement Process. As of earlier this year, twelve schools in the state have moved forward to pilot programs, including Grayslake District 127 in Lake County. The school has leveraged a grant through Ed System NIU to establish a four-step process that results in a seal on a student’s transcript that can distinguish them from other peers entering the field of manufacturing.
The transcript seal is as important as the process itself. In strategically walking students through the steps of the endorsement framework, educators like Gina Schuyler can help them make more informed post-secondary education decisions. Grayslake D127 uses the program YouScience to engage students in 11 brain-based games that align interests and aptitudes across a broad spectrum of career options. The tool begins conversations that students can then explore with the support of a mentor. Grayslake D127 is excited to add to this process with SchooLinks, a career readiness product that can help counselors, CTE teachers, and internship coordinators collaborate more efficiently.
As students take early college credit classes in the form of dual credit, articulated credit or AP credit, they can pursue professional learning experiences outside of the classroom. Examples of career exploration activities include site visits to employers, virtual experiences, career expos, and mock interviews. Team challenges can take place within a lab-based classroom such as a “skills check” through an employer, or through involvement in Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) such as Skills USA, FBLA, FCCLA or NTHS. Finally, the school ensures students are reading and math ready for post-secondary options.
As other schools in Lake County, including the Tech Campus, begin to embrace the endorsement process for their students, Grayslake is pioneering a discussion with Workforce Ecosystem partners to garner support for the initiative, establish best practices, and chart a path forward that increases participation and support.
To fuel this program and ensure its success, the Workforce Ecosystem is also lining up buy-in from the business community. This is an important step that starts with educating and engaging local business leaders so that they can more quickly tap into Lake County’s extraordinary talent pipeline.
4. Build Diverse Community Support
Engagement is fundamental to establishing clear direction that serves the entire community as a whole. Lake County Partners secured a federal grant to lead the development of a county-wide Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) that has earned the full endorsement of area leaders. The Lake County CEDS supports continued economic prosperity through social initiatives tied to affordable housing, paratransit, early education and other important elements that support manufacturing growth and tie into the ideas included in this article.
5. Keep the Feedback Loop Open
Economic growth doesn’t happen in a vacuum. To build flourishing businesses and vibrant communities, leaders must be open to connecting, discussing and listening. Economic development organizations like Lake County Partners can drive conversations forward by bringing together informed elected officials, business owners, workers, educators and other stakeholders to ensure that training and investments remain relevant, forward-thinking and inspiring.
HOW CAN YOU TAP INTO TALENT IN LAKE COUNTY?
One of the many benefits of operating a business in Lake County, Illinois is access to a strong workforce pipeline. Connect with us here so we can put you in touch with the talent that your company needs to grow.
2022 was a pivotal year for educational investments in Lake County. Local educators understand that innovation, technology, research and training are necessary to build the workforce that businesses need now, and in the future—and they have prioritized spending to create new career pathway programs, support startups, build lab space and train students with in-demand skills that can propel success in key industries like life science, advanced manufacturing and healthcare.
The year’s most notable achievements spanned all ages, once again demonstrating the power of Lake County’s educational system and its ability to nurture talent from kindergarten through high school and beyond.
ROSALIND FRANKLIN UNIVERSITY
Rosalind Franklin University (RFU) launched the Helix 51 incubator nearly four years ago to advance early-stage and start-up companies. Since its inception, Helix 51 has welcomed 9 companies specializing in fields such as oncology, cardiovascular health, infection disease, fibrotic disease and fibromyalgia, with a tenth about the begin.
Helix 51 graduated one company, AirAnswers, which then became the first company to reside within the school’s Innovation & Research Park (IRP). Using $2 million in matching funds from the Illinois Department of Commerce wetlab buildout program (with RFU matching another $2 million), RFU is now building out more than 14,000 sq. ft. of additional wetlab space in the IRP that will come online in Q2 2023.
As part of that buildout, RFU will expand the Helix 51 incubator to handle an additional 9 lab-based companies – an important step because Helix 51 is the only biomedical incubator north of downtown Chicago. RFU is also in advanced discussions to bring in an out-of-state biotech company to the third floor of the IRP.
This year, RFU’s new College of Nursing also received approval from the Higher Learning Commission to offer a Master of Science in Nursing for Entry into Nursing Practice (MSN-ENP) degree program, which is designed to fuel talent and meet healthcare demands in the region.
RFU also recently partnered with LCP to host an ongoing monthly BioInnovations Speaker Series to address key issues in healthcare and biomedical research through a hybrid format of both live and virtual meetings. This program consists of both RFU leading faculty researchers in key disease areas as well as regional industry leaders involved in these diseases.
COLLEGE OF LAKE COUNTY ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY CENTER
In 2022, the College of Lake County celebrated the grand opening of its crown jewel of manufacturing education: the incredible Advanced Technology Center (ATC) in Gurnee. The ATC is a former big box store that is being thoughtfully transformed into a 142,000 sq. ft. center for manufacturing education. It will strengthen Lake County’s workforce by providing industry-relevant career pathways focused on industrial technology, fabrication, and welding. Phase 2 of the project, currently under consideration, will reimagine the other half of the facility and reflect the input from the broader community and local manufacturing leaders.
The ATC is critically important for business retention and attraction. Though the local manufacturing labor force has grown 3.6% over the last year alone (representing 2,200 new workers), it is estimated that some manufacturing occupations will see up to a 20% increase in employment growth over the next six years. The ATC will strengthen Lake County’s talent pipeline to meet those future needs.
In the short time since the ATC opened, its impact has been immense—prior to its existence, CLC averaged 115 welding students. This semester, which is the first-time offering classes at the ATC, there are over 200 students. With the launch of the new program and facility, CLC can teach and train upward of 700 students annually.
With the ATC now open, CLC turns its attention toward raising awareness of this powerful symbol of Lake County’s investment in workforce development. LCP is leading the way on tours for manufacturers, municipal leaders and the broader business community.
LAKE COUNTY TECH CAMPUS
The Tech Campus is well-regarded as one of the best career and technical education training facilities in the Midwest. It was established nearly fifty years ago to pool together local educational resources to educate high school students. Today, it is an extension of 22 area high schools spanning Lake and McHenry counties.
In 2022, the Tech Campus welcomed 1,900 students—its largest cohort in the past 10 years, which solidified its position as the biggest career technical secondary educational center in the entire state of Illinois. It is also the largest career center in the state, both in space and student population.
Because of a unique dual credit partnership with the College of Lake County, Tech Campus students can earn up to 9 college credits at no cost through CLC. Credentials are stackable, so students can use them to supplement post-secondary education as they zero in on a long-term career path.
This partnership is just one example of the relationship that CLC has with 24 high schools in more than 40 academic areas—that encompasses 2,200+ Lake County high school students who are enrolled in dual credit classes that both reduce the time students spend completing certifications and provide an annual savings of approximately $1.5 million for students and families.
NEAL MATH & SCIENCE ACADEMY
At the end of 2022, local leaders from AbbVie, the North Chicago School District and IFF, along with teachers, students and community members, also gathered together to celebrate the grand opening of the magnificent new Neal Math and Science Academy—the only middle school in North Chicago. It has support increased enrollment by accommodating up to 625 students, all of whom will benefit from a thoughtful curriculum that stresses science, technology, engineering and math.
HOW CAN YOU TAP INTO TALENT IN LAKE COUNTY?
One of the many benefits of operating a business in Lake County, Illinois is access to a strong workforce pipeline. Connect with us here so we can put you in touch with the talent that your company needs to grow.
Living in Lake County means that you can climb the career ladder and continue to enjoy life long after the work day is done. With a strong balance of top-quality communities, leading employers, convenient commuter options and a wide variety of outdoor activities and entertainment venues, you will find a rewarding life in Lake County—and judging by the top headlines of the year, others have clearly taken notice.
We take great pride in rounding up this sampling of recent praise and recognition:
Chicagoland was named #1 metro for projects and #3 in the nation for corporate expansion and relocation projects by Site Selection Magazine.
Illinois became the 5th state in the nation to produce $1 trillion in annualized economic activity—an historic accomplishment that reflects the productivity of local workers.
Among the companies lauded by the Chicago Tribune for being the best workplaces in the region were Wintrust Financial Corporation, Horizon Therapeutics, Medline Industries, Trustmark, Learning Resources and Impact Networking.
Global commercial real estate firm CBRE credited Lake County with being at the heart of biotechnology growth in the state.
Illinois named #1 state of LEED Development by U.S. Green Building Council.
Greater Chicago enjoyed unprecedented life sciences growth, with venture capital investment up 286% – the most significant increase in bioscience venture capital funding of any major U.S. Market in the past three years.
Highland Park, Lake Forest and Deerfield were among the top 20 suburbs in the nation, according to iheartradio.
Crain’s Chicago Business named Illinois among the top states in the country for bioscience growth—in the past 4 years, employment in the sector grew 4.5%.
Clean energy jobs grew by 5% in Illinois, resulting in 5,000 new jobs in solar panel installation, lithium battery recycling, electric vehicle charging, infrastructure construction and more.
How Can Your Business Enjoy the Perks of Operating in Lake County?
Recent Comments