2021 Year-In-Review

 

Though the pandemic lingered, Lake County’s talent and strong mix of life science, advanced manufacturing and professional services industries powered the local economy forward in 2021. Lake County Partners celebrated a flurry of new businesses and expansions, forged important connections and led the creation of a strategy that will support lasting and inclusive growth.

 

We are honored to have had our work recognized with the Partnership Award by the International Economic Development Council in 2021.

Lake County Partners Helped Spur Investment and Economic Growth 

 

InvestorIcon_-1
InvestorIcon_2b
InvestorIcon_6
InvestorIcon_5
InvestorIcon_3
InvestorIcon_4
JeffAdams

"I am 100% confident that we would not be where we are as a company without the networking opportunities provided by Lake County Partners."

 

Jeff Adams

President, Laser Precision

1516268206756

“Businesses find enormous success because Lake County Partners works behind the scenes with partners to provide easy access to talent and development programs."

 

Karen Stoneman

Vice President of Human Resources, Sysmex America, Inc.

1578810392695

“Lake County Partners provides a rewarding venue in which to meet with other business leaders, share perspectives and work together to benefit the community."

 

Donovan Pepper

Senior Director, Government Relations & Civic Engagement, Walgreen Co.

1516303343980

“Our meetings with Lake County Partners have provided insights to growth that have informed our decision-making about future clinic locations that our current data sets can’t match. It’s the personal touch of Kevin and staff that make LCP so unique."

 

Trent Gordon

Vice President, Business Development, Patient Service Areas and Integration at Advocate Aurora Health

1516577840790

“I’m really happy to be a part of Lake County Partners. I’ve had the privilege of knowing and working with President Kevin Considine over the last handful of years, and I have always found LCP to be a great partner for business in Lake County."

 

David Alexander

Managing Member, Alexander Law, LLC

New and Expanded Projects Defined 2021 for Lake County


From groundbreakings to ribbon cuttings, Lake County hosted plenty of opportunities to gather this year

(safe and socially distanced of course).

Belle Aire Ribbon Cutting


The company celebrated its latest expansion with a new, sustainable Round Lake Park facility that quadrupled its manufacturing footprint in the county. Belle Aire Creations will further grow at a new Libertyville location set to open early next year.

Horizon Therapeutics’ Headquarters Makeover


After buying the 70-acre former Takeda property in Deerfield, the company unveiled its exciting plans for the space and began welcoming employees back to a cutting-edge office.

AZ Polymers Breaks Ground


This exciting project came to fruition thanks to collaboration among the Village of Gurnee, Illinois DCEO and Lake County Partners, setting the stage for a new manufacturing facility and creating 25 new jobs.

Mighty Hook Ribbon Cutting


The advanced manufacturer purchased a new facility and moved its headquarters to Waukegan, where the company now has capacity for continued growth and can establish a robust training program to upskill employees.

Waukegan National Airport Customs Building Ribbon Cutting


A $2 million investment made this new facility possible, ensuring that the airport complies with strict Department of Homeland Security requirements and will be able to receive international flights for the next 20 years.

Fischer Paper Products Grand Opening


This long-standing Lake County manufacturer celebrated the completion of its new headquarters in Antioch, paving the way for new jobs and anticipated growth that will increase its workforce 10% each year for the next five to 10 years.

Advanced Manufacturing is Thriving

 

From pizza to manufactured goods (and the packages that they go into), find it all in Lake County.

  • Fifty-year-old pizza chain Lou Malnati’s consolidated its corporate offices, manufacturing and fulfillment in Buffalo Grove to respond to rapid growth.
  • Amazon will open its third Waukegan facility by the end of the year, increasing the number of people working for the company in the city to approximately 1,000 in more than 1.1 million square feet of space.
  • Medline continued to expand its Lake County footprint with three plants, two offices and a 1.4 million square foot Grayslake distribution center.
  • HM Manufacturing looked to add a new shift in Wauconda, with the company anticipating up to 26% growth by the end of the year.
  • Medical device manufacturer Medical Murray completed state-of-the-art expansions at its facilities in North Barrington and Lake Zurich.
Side_1
Slide_2

Innovation, Research and Training is Fueling the Next Generation

 

Lake County’s roster of innovative institutions, companies and leaders continued to make waves, setting the stage for continued success.

  • Rosalind Franklin’s Innovation & Research Park celebrated the first anniversary of its $50 million, 100,000 sq. ft., state-of-the-art facility in North Chicago that has cemented Lake County’s position as a leader in life sciences. The facility and its Helix 51 incubator welcomed a number of cutting-edge tenants this year.
  • The College of Lake County announced the launch of its new world-class Advanced Technology Center in Gurnee that will further serve the manufacturing community by providing career pathways. CLC also partnered with MxD to expand its apprenticeship program and create a manufacturing talent pipeline suited to future business needs.

Ranked Among The Best

Lake County continues to rake in praise and receive national recognition.

 

Accolades
Accolades_new-1
Accolades3
Accolades4
Accolades_new2
Accolades_new3

Lake County Partners Continues to Drive Progress Forward

christina-wocintechchat-com-HG9M8M29Ig4-unsplash resized

Lake County Partners Leads Collaboration to Develop County Economic Strategy 


Following Lake County Partners’ receipt of a $110,000 federal grant to lead the development of a new Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, the organization got to work. This year has been filled with stakeholder sessions to create a well-rounded strategy that will create jobs, fuel collaboration and strengthen Lake County’s economy. Expect continued momentum and a concrete plan in early 2022.

Laser Welding resized (1)

A New Digital Marketing Campaign Attracts Advanced Manufacturing and Life Science Businesses 

 

One of the year’s big goals was the launch of an automated drip campaign to attract life science and advanced manufacturing businesses from strategic locations across the country. Attraction and retention remain a core focus of Lake County Partners' communications.

Thank You to Leaders and Investors

As a non-profit organization, Lake County Partners’ work wouldn’t be possible without you. We appreciate the leadership of our board of governors and the generous support of our investors.