Polar Wire

From humble beginnings in Alaska over 35 years ago, Polar Wire has consistently expanded their market reach within the lower 48 states via their Lake County manufacturing operations. Continued success and well-earned recognition as industry leaders resulted in the need for more space, which Polar Wire secured with the purchase of their new 29,000sf location in Wauconda. This multi-million dollar investment adds a nearly 50% increase to the company’s local employee count and reinforces the recognized value proposition of locating and expanding manufacturing in Lake County.

ZF Services

When assessing the best location for their North American HQ, ZF Services recognized that its existing home at 777 Hickory Hill Drive, Vernon Hills was always the “right place.”  Lake County’s exceptional workforce, highly accessible location, robust talent training institutions, and supportive local, county, and state partners secured the retention of ZF’s 250 local employees via a lease renewal on the 290,000 square feet facility. 

AZ Polymers

In recognizing the value of Lake County’s workforce talent, optical grade plastic manufacturer AZ Polymers acquired its second site in Gurnee to expand its local operations by an additional 75,000 square feet.  This $10 million dollar facility will add 10 new employees and serve AZ’s warehouse and distribution needs while simultaneously allowing for installation of a third production line at their manufacturing plant.   

Rosalind Franklin University

Rosalind Franklin University celebrated the fifth anniversary of its Helix 51 biomedical incubator, unique in Lake County, which helps scientists make the leap from discovery to commercialization of urgently needed new therapeutics and diagnostics.

A pipeline for companies into RFU’s Innovation and Research Park, the incubator’s 12 companies include U.P. Oncolytics, recently awarded FDA Orphan Drug designation and an NIH $500,000 Phase I fast-track grant for the development of a novel oncolytic virus treatment for brain cancers. Helix 51 company Artec Biotec is developing another approach to brain cancers based on natural killer (NK) cells. Also this year, BLR Bio, another incubator company, was granted FDA Orphan Drug Designation for its investigational therapy for treating scleroderma, an autoimmune disorder.

In addition to driving biomedical innovation, investments in 2024 helped RFU train the healthcare workforce Lake County needs and expand access to care. Those include state capital funds of $8.1 million to build a virtual health system and a $1 million state-funded grant to establish the RFU Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) Medical Clinic.

College of Lake County

In 2024, the College of Lake County (CLC) prioritized fostering collaboration and workforce development through the creation of the Manufacturing Alliance. This initiative strengthens partnerships with local industry leaders, ensuring that educational programs align with the evolving needs of manufacturers while fostering a skilled and sustainable workforce.

As part of its commitment to addressing the skills gap, CLC joined the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) Workforce Challenge initiative, which tackles the shortage of skilled workers entering the manufacturing field by aligning training with specific employer demands. These efforts not only prepare students for high-demand careers but also bolster Lake County’s position as Illinois’ second-largest manufacturing hub, contributing to regional and national economic growth. 

In addition to these efforts, in 2024, CLC partnered with the Lake County Workforce Development Board to advance workforce opportunities through the state’s Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA). This collaboration supports the transition to clean energy by providing training for high-demand green jobs, ensuring students and workers are equipped with the skills needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving energy sector. Together, these initiatives demonstrate CLC’s commitment to driving innovation and economic resilience in Lake County and beyond. 

The year also marked a significant milestone for CLC, as the college reached its fundraising threshold to break ground on the highly anticipated Urban Farm at the Lakeshore Campus in Waukegan. This innovative center will serve as a hub for education, community engagement and hands-on training in agriculture and food production, further advancing CLC’s commitment to environmental stewardship and workforce development in green industries. 

Lake County Tech Campus

The Tech Campus was proud to be serving 2,300+ students in 2024. The Tech Campus proudly recognized 300+ students at a Student Awards Night, and celebrated the accomplishments of students who competed at the SkillsUSA National Competition in Atlanta, where the EMS team earned an impressive 3^rd place finish in the entire country.

Also in 2024, 2,100 students engaged with more than 125 employers during the school's annual Career Expo, exploring exciting regional career opportunities. These events reflect the Tech Campus' ongoing commitment to being one of the Midwest's premier careers and technical education training facilities. Guided by its "Teach, Establish, Connect, and Honor" framework, the Tech Campus continues to connect industry leaders with students, especially with the continued growth of its Give Me TEN+ TECH 50 work-based learning program.

Moving into 2025, the Tech Campus plans to expand its annual Career Expo and enhance its event and engagement programming. 

Big Event

LCP revived the highly anticipated Big Event, with another sold-out crowd of over 500 business and civic leaders, with insights from Board leadership, County Board Chair Sandy Hart and Keynote Speaker Rajeev Kapur.

At the event, LCP presented the "Community Investment Award" to Antioch manufacturer Fischer Paper Products and the inaugural "Talent Advancement Award" to Gina Schuyler, the CTE Department Chair for Careers and Community Partnerships at D127. 

Invested Together

LCP hosted its annual "Invested Together" investor event at Independence Grove to encourage networking, strengthen local connections, and celebrate Lake County's booming economy. Remarks were made by LCP President Kevin Considine, LCP Board of Governors Chair Steve Madden and Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart.

The evening was a celebration of Lake County's spirit of collaboration, and a testament to LCP's appreciation for its investors.

Municipal Meeting Series

LCP continued to build on its longstanding meeting series for public sector partners, made possible by the support of Libertyville Bank & Trust, N.A. The meetings continue to reinforce LCP's strong ties with community leaders.

In addition to the meetings, municipalities receive back-end support from LCP in a variety of ways, including through quarterly data reports that help them in their business attraction efforts.