Business Development
New Companies in 2011/2012
Grupo Casa Zepeda
International Automotive
Faurecia
Family Video
Wema Vogtland
Papa Johns
Fantastic Party
Discover Me Travel
Taqueria el Torita
Integrated SCM
Game Stop
Pacific Global Logistics
Liberty Tax Service
Chrysler Group LLC Suppliers
Android Industries
Camryn Group
Oakley Industries, Inc
Ventra
Syncreon- US Automotive
Grupo Antolin
Johnson Controls
Eberspaecher
Faurecia
Guardian
IAC
Belvidere-Boone County Leads the State in Enterprise Zone Capital Investments:
Growth Dimensions administers the Belvidere-Boone County Enterprise Zone and from July 1, 2010- June 30, 2011 there were 55 projects certified within the zone, which resulted in $595,739,382 of total capital investment, creation of 471 jobs and retention of 1,976 jobs. The Belvidere-Boone County Enterprise Zone is one of ninety-three Illinois enterprise zones designated by the State of Illinois in cooperation with one or more local governments to receive various tax incentives and other benefits to stimulate economic activity and neighborhood revitalization. The Belvidere-Boone County Enterprise Zone consisting of 6.7 square miles was certified by the State of Illinois on July 1, 1985. The Belvidere-Boone County Enterprise Zone is now set to expire on June 30, 2015.
2011/2012 Job Creation and Investment
Belvidere / Boone County Enterprise Zone:
Growth Dimensions administers the Belvidere-Boone County Enterprise Zone, which provides financial incentives for the development and expansion of commercial and industrial facilities. Since 2011, twenty-nine commercial and ten industrial projects were started or are under construction that will result in the creation of 479 jobs and will generate approximately $20,569,612 of capital investments in the Belvidere-Boone County Enterprise Zone.
Industrial Related Investments included:
International Automotive Components, Faurecia Interior Systems, General Mills, Chrysler, Wema Vogtland, Eberspaecher North America, Versacold Logistics, Integrated SCM, BioVantage Fuels, M & M Paltech.International Automotive Components, Faurecia Interior Systems, General Mills, Chrysler, Wema Vogtland, Eberspaecher North America, Versacold Logistics, Integrated SCM, BioVantage Fuels, M & M Paltech.
Commercial related investments included:
Family Video, One Stop Pacemaker, Miguel Zepeda, Belvidere YMCA, Winter Plaza, Howlett Homes, Denny Spradling, Belvidere House, Papa John’s Pizza, Sherman Properties, Swedish American Medical Center, SteamPlant Restaurant, Fantastic Party, Road Ranger, Shopko, Taqueria el Torito, LaMarca’s North State Motors, Casa San Miquel, DiCello’s, Dave Rickebaugh, Poon & Lee, LLC, Belvidere Fire District #2, Great Clips, Char-Don, Inc., Tom Lewis, Red’s Tavern, Abracadabra Hair & Nails, Belvidere Dental Associates, Liberty Tax Services.
500,000 sq. ft. of Industrial Building Space Has Been Leased and Under Contract in 2011:
Over 500,000 sq. ft. of industrial building space is now leased or under contract and off the market in Belvidere, occupied by companies expanding and locating to the area. Four new (unannounced) Chrysler suppliers are moving in and setting up shop in Belvidere. As of today, the total capital investment and associated job numbers of the suppliers have not been released. Construction and site preparation is beginning on an additional 100,000 sq. ft. industrial building in Townhall Industrial Park, with plans being considered for yet another 100,000 sq. ft. industrial building this year.
Business & Industry Highlights
Innovative Belvidere Company Looking Forward to Significant Growth:
Wema Vogtland, a midsize German and American owned company who offers retrofitting and modernization of existing metal cutting machines, located to Belvidere in July 2010 and has been experiencing steady growth, currently employing 58 workers.
Growth Dimensions' representatives toured the facility in October to see the company's operations first hand. WEMA VOGTLAND Technology of remanufacturing operates on almost all continents, providing innovative machine concepts for machining centers, special machines, transfer lines and production facilities for high-precision machining of complex parts. The company services include retrofitting, modernization and relocation of transfer line, special-purpose machine tools and machining units.
The U.S. operation began in 2010 and growth in 2011 was approximately 25% higher than expected. Company executives expect to experience similar growth for the next few years ahead.
Growth Dimensions Remains Involved for Future Plans of Belvidere Assembly Plant:
Being at the table, building off of past collaborative successes, and building long lasting international relation-ships are just a few of the key elements when discussing the future production opportunities at the Belvidere As-sembly plant after the production of the Dodge Caliber, Jeep Patriot and Jeep Compass comes to an end in 2012. Read More...
Acument Global Technologies:
Acument Global Technologies, parent company to Camcar Belvidere, expanded production and increased employment at their Belvidere facility in 2009. Acument's Belvidere location is absorbing operations from other company plants that have recently closed their doors. Prior to the current changes, the Belvidere plant employed about 100 people. With the added production, employment grew to about 130 people this summer. Currently the company is employing 140 hourly and 20 salaried workers, a small portion of those employees are temporary. Recently, demands have expanded by 140% and the Belvidere Operation is also now dealing with $15-$18 million worth of products from the Wytheville Virginia plant shutdown. Read More...
General Mills/Green Giant Receives Partnership Award
General Mills was named the recipient of the 2009 Ameren/Illinois Development Council Business Partnership Award. The presentation of the award was made at the recent Illinois Development Council’s 2009 Annual Conference held in Lisle, IL. General Mills was recognized for its partnership in community outreach through leadership service on several area civic organizational boards including Growth Dimensions, the Belvidere Area Chamber of Commerce and the Boone/Winnebago County Workforce Board. Read More...
IDT Defence Contract Would Create 250 New Jobs
Efforts by Integrated Defense Technologies (IDT) (Corrugated Metals) in Belvidere to successfully bid for a Department of Defense contract to manufacture Expeditionary Earth Filled Protective Barriers were temporarily squashed when the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) awarded the contract to a United Kingdom based company. With the help of Senator Dick Durbin and Congressman Don Manzullo, the City of Belvidere, Boone County and Growth Dimensions, the DLA agreed to re-bid the contract providing another opportunity to IDT. The award would bring 250 new manufacturing jobs to the Belvidere area. Growth Dimensions remains actively involved in assisting IDT with its efforts to secure the contract.
Hardware Store Locates in Countryside Square
Poplar Grove Pro Hardware has opened it's doors at 13530 Julie Drive. The store is the 14th business in the Countryside Square development, which is located off of Route 76 in northern Boone County. Mike Farley, owner of the hardware store and of Farley Properties, says that despite the tough economic times, Poplar Grove's business community has come together to support one another. "If we as a business community can think outside the box a little more than usual and provide the right services that people need to conduct their everyday lives we will be OK and stay afloat ," stated Farley. Countryside Square was built in 2005 and currently has 17 occupied units.