FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
August 25, 2009

Contact:  Jason Gerwig
630/407-6022

Caroline Roth
630/407-6033

DU PAGE HELPS FACILITATE NAVISTAR MOVE TO VACANT LUCENT BUILDING ON WARRENVILLE ROAD

The DuPage County Board approved an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) Tuesday evening that will help create over 2,000 high-paying jobs in the county with the relocation of Navistar Truck International to the vacant Lucent Technologies building located on Warrenville Road.   

The IGA is the result of multiple meetings between Chairman Bob Schillerstrom, Choose DuPage, Navistar, the Village of Lisle and the DuPage County Forest Preserve.  

“This move by Navistar will create good, high-paying, jobs that will have a positive impact on our local economy both in the short and long-term,” said Schillerstrom.  “DuPage County has the lowest unemployment rate in the region, which is a testament to what can be accomplished when the public and private sector work together as they did on this endeavor.”

The purpose of the IGA is to convey ownership of two parcels of property near CH 23/Naperville Road and Danada Forest Preserve to the Village of Lisle. The two parcels are commonly referred to as Lucent Lane and the Ring Road.  The IGA solidifies an agreement between DuPage County, the DuPage County Forest Preserve, and the Village of Lisle and enumerates the responsibility of each entity in the transfer of ownership to the Village of Lisle for the completion of the Lucent property sale to Navistar.

"Tonight's action was an important step toward making a decision about whether this property is right for Navistar," said Navistar spokesperson Roy Wiley.  "We appreciate the support of Chairman Schillerstrom and the County as we continue to work toward making this property attractive for our business and for the community."

Part of the Lucent campus was sold to the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County that includes East Lucent Land and the "Ring Road" that connects the north part of the campus from Lucent Lane to Forbes and Cabot Drive.  County and Village participation in the private road purchase are necessary to enable the Navistar acquisition and control of the campus. 

"The success of this project will yield great benefits to the County and region in the form of employment and revenue for the foreseeable future," said Grant Eckhoff, Chairman of the County's Economic Development Committee.  "DuPage County's investment in the project will also ensure that a major employer in DuPage will remain and grow."

The participation of local governments will include the payment to the Forest Preserve District of $1,000,000 by DuPage County and $500,000 by the Village of Lisle to acquire the land.

Before the acquisition is complete, the DuPage County Forest Preserve needs to approve the IGA, which they are scheduled to do at their next meeting on September 1, 2009.