The village will receive a little more than $1 million from the state for improvements to the intersection of Northwest Highway and Western Avenue, officials said.
During the Board of Trustees meeting this week, John Heinz, director of public works, and Peggy Blanchard, director of economic development, told of the financial assistance, which will be provided by the Economic Development Program of the Illinois Department of Transportation.
This program provides state assistance to improve highway access to new or expanding industrial, distribution or tourism developments, Blanchard said. “We are excited to keep two corporate citizens,” Blanchard said.
The improved access ensures that GE Capital Auto Financial Services Inc. and Recon/Optical Inc., will remain in the village. GE plans to increase employment to 1,200 from about 650 over the next several years, Blanchard said. Jim Nash, director of facilities for Recon, said his firm plans to double the number of employees to 500 in the next several years as well.
Access is inadequate, Heinz said, and both firms were considering leaving the village.
Under the terms of the program, the companies that benefit from the highway improvements and an adjoining property owner, will pay the remaining cost–in this case, about $400,000.
Improvements call for the addition of lights and left-turn lanes, and the aligning of Old Northwest Highway and Northwest Highway with the new intersection.
