A major corporation is conducting a search for a location to establish a factory to manufacture electrical machinery. Illinois is one of approximately six states under consideration for the project. The other states are east of Illinois. The company plans to construct a 180,000 sq. ft. plant on a 16 acre site. Anticipated employment in year 2 is 190 and in year 4 - 350 while planned capital investment is $70 million.
Site characteristics:
Ø Not more than approximately 30 miles from a Port or barge terminal site with a lifting capacity of 800,000 pounds - a 400 ton crane or two 200 ton cranes. The company is not interested in bringing in the cranes. Thus, port/barge terminal must be able to provide the service. However, a site at a port or barge terminal will probably not work for this project for the following reasons:
· the facility must be above the river to avoid floods,
· the site must allow equipment to operate 15' to 18' below the shop floor level, and
· have no underground water stream
Ø Rail service between the facility and a port/barge terminal is required. Also, the rail line should be connected to a regional railway network.
Ø Quick access to a major highway with no bridge underpasses along the access road or highway. Their trucks are not likely to make it under a bridge. Also, access roads and highways must allow for truck weights of 350 tons. Truckloads of 350 tons per year will be infrequent - approximately ten per year, but there will be a number of other loads of approximately 100 tons.
Ø The site must be level or flat and preferably composed of clay
Ø Within 100 miles of a university with an electrical engineering program. The facility will employ a significant number of electrical and mechanical engineers.
Ø Stable workforce - It is very important to the company to locate in an area where they can attract and retain engineers, skilled production operators and administrative staff. At full operation in year four 350 people comprising 230 production workers and 120 highly qualified managers, engineers, technicians and professional staff will be employed at the facility. If there is a training institution nearby that may be well prepared to address the training needs of the production workers, that would be helpful information.
Ø Utilities
· Power necessary: 15 MVA maximum
· No water is used for in the manufacturing process
· No natural gas is used in the manufacturing process
Attached is a site selection questionnaire for interested communities with a site meeting the above criteria. The section requesting labor cost data may raise some questions. Here is some guidance -
o IDES wage rate data is acceptable. Median average wages should be provided for the following OES occupations:
§ 51-2022: Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers
§ 51-2023: Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers
§ 51-0000: Production Occupations
§ 51-1011: First Line Supervisors/Managers of Production and Operating Workers
§ 43-5071: Shipping, Receiving and Traffic Clerks
o The phrase "direct qualified workers" means operational people who actually build the equipment, which relates to the first three occupations listed. The phrase "indirect qualified workers" means operational people who do not directly build the equipment but participate in the overall process (supervisor of 'direct workers', logistics specialists, ...). However, "indirect" does not include the general staff (finance, legal,...).
The company is not interested in an existing building due to specialized requirements and work process flow. Also, they plan to construct their facility to LEED standards.
Project timeline:
Investment Decision - October 2009
Start construction - January 2010
Start production - August 2011
Production reaches full capacity - October 2014
For interested communities with qualified sites, please submit a completed site questionnaire along with any other pertinent information to david.pierson@illinois.gov by Monday, July 6, 2009.
Thank you in advance.
Dave
Dave Pierson
Economic Development Representative
IL Dept. of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
100 W. Randolph St., Suite 3-400
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-814-1346
Fax: 312-814-5247
E-mail: david.pierson@illinois.gov