Discover the
Northwest Illinois Advantage

Wide open green spaces, friendly small towns, low crime, and no congestion keep things simple. It's an affordable, business-friendly environment to grow your business.
Discover the Northwest Illinois Advantage

Close to Chicago
with easy access to markets

 
Transportation Infrastructurethat keeps business moving

99

miles

from Chicago Metro Area

5

interstates

in NW Illinois

5

railroads

Including UP & BNSF

2

barge

Mississippi River Terminals

 
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hard working, blue-collar workforce

 
A stable labor poolthat knows how to work

542K

Workforce

in NW Illinois

13%

Manufacturing

Jobs in NW Illinois

74%

Homeownership

in Whiteside County

<12%

National

Household Median Income

 
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Lower Cost of Doing Business

 
a more affordable business environmentthan the Chicago Metro area

LOW

Union

Labor Presence

-7%

Utility

Cost vs. Chicago

-24%

Transportation

Cost vs. Chicago

-18%

Wage

Median Hourly vs. Chicago

 
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Commitment to workforce development and training

 
A proactive approachto closing the skills gap

19

Trade Schools

or Community Colleges

29

Universities

within 50 miles

5

Development

or retraining progams

1

Forbes

Awarded Vocational School

 
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Small Town Vibe, High Quality of Life

 
Redevelopment ProjectsBringing Small Towns Back to Life

14,000

Acres

of State Parks & Preserves

125

Miles

of Boating & Fishing

30

Downtowns

to Explore

17

Galleries

to Inspire

 
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