DU PAGE COUNTY BRINGING OVERSEAS JOBS BACK TO AMERICA

OVER 800 JOBS COMING TO DU PAGE COUNTY

The DuPage County Economic Development Committee agreed on Tuesday to move forward with a proposal that would bring over 800 new jobs to DuPage County, many of which are currently located in China.  The jobs would be created as the result of Peerless Industries, Inc. relocating to DuPage County. 

As part of their relocation, Peerless Industries, Inc. will discontinue manufacturing at its China facility, and transfer their manufacturing, distribution and corporate headquarters to the DuPage County portion of Aurora.  

"I am very excited that Peerless Industries have decided to consolidate their operations and make DuPage County their home," said Grant Eckhoff (District 4), Chairman of the County's Economic Development Committee.  "This will bring new jobs to our area, as well as boost our local economy.  I also want to thank Choose DuPage for their leadership in bringing and attracting businesses like Peerless Industries to our county."

In order to make their move possible, Peerless Industries, through the guidance of Choose DuPage, is seeking to secure funding from private activity Recovery Zone Facility Bonds (RZFB), which is available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. 

John Zediker (District 5), who serves on the Economic and Development Committee, hailed the proposal as a win-win for both DuPage County and the region.

"We are very pleased to see jobs coming into our region, rather than leaving it," noted Zediker.  "This is a win-win for everyone committed to growing our economy and creating jobs in our county, state and nation."

In August 2009, DuPage County adopted a resolution designating the County as an Economic Recovery Zone in accordance with The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  As a Recovery Zone, ARRA allows DuPage County to allocate volume capacity of $69 million in RZFB to private industry for development projects like the Peerless Industries move.  If this project is approved, notes Eckhoff, $49 million would still be available. 

"Those businesses interested in this program should contact Choose DuPage to see if they qualify," said Eckhoff. 

Choose DuPage is the designated agency for implementation of the program guidelines and the application process, marketing the program to prospective applicants, taking receipt of applications, reviewing applications for completeness, and making a recommendation to the DuPage County Board on the eligibility of applications.  Choose DuPage staff is available to meet with or discuss over the phone any specific questions and to assist interested parties in completing the application.  For more information, please call 630-955-2092, or visit www.choosedupage.com.