Sunday, May 20, 2012

About DeKalb County ...

dekalb
www.dcedc.org

Small Town Charm, Big City Amenities: DeKalb County, Illinois is one of the most attractive places to live and do business thanks to its leaders and citizens.   The county boasts affordable homes, top-rated schools, and welcoming communities.  The business climate is productive, the workforce dependable, and there is easy access to transportation, telecommunications and utilities.

DeKalb County is located on the western edge of the Chicago Metro Area and I-88 Research and Development Corridor and in the center of the I-39 Manufacturing and Logistics Corridor.  Major interstate highways including I-80, I-90, I-94, I-55, and I-57 connect DeKalb County to all Mid-American Markets in a congestion-free environment.  This geographic location positions the county within a short distance of Chicago affording easy access to cities including Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Detroit and the Ohio Valley.  There are many opportunities to access air and rail transportation at the region’s airports and intermodal hubs.

DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation:

The DCEDC is a public/private partnership working to facilitate sustainable and diversified growth within DeKalb County. DCEDC coordinates industrial attraction, expansion and retention; workforce development and business assistance for the county’s 14 cities and communities and serves as the primary resource for site selectors, investors and industry leaders.

DeKalb County at a Glance:

Strong Development through the Recession

  • 28% of all Metro Chicago industrial construction in 2010 was in DeKalb County.
  • The 3M Regional Distribution Center in Park 88 in DeKalb developed by Venture One Development Services and Clayco Realty Group was selected as Industrial Build-to-Suit Project of the Year by the Chicago Chapter of the National Association of Industrial Office Parks.
  • All new manufacturing buildings in metro Chicago during 2010 – SK Hand Tool and Smart Motion Robotics – were built in Sycamore Prairie Business Park. Construction of a new plant for H.A Phillips Refrigeration is underway.
  • SK Hand Tool was completed for Ideal Industries in a remarkable 16 weeks by Krusinski Construction Company.


Manufacturing and Logistics Hub

  • Manufacturing is the largest producer of GDP in the county with concentrations in primary metals, fabricated metal products, machinery, computer and electronic products and plastics and rubber products manufacturing exceeding the average concentration for similarly-sized markets by factor of 2 to 3.
  • The Logistics Industry increased 126% since 2004 with major new distribution centers developed for 3M, Target and Panduit.


A Growing, Diverse, Highly-Skilled Workforce

  • Employers in the county have access to a workforce of over 275,000 within a 40 minute drive.
  • Average 2010 labor force: 60,000.
  • Job recruitment and training assistance are available through many different agencies, including privately-owned and publicly-funded enterprises.
  • At least 60% of the residents of the county have completed some level of college and about 30% have completed four years or more of post-secondary education.


Outstanding Educational Resources

  • Northern Illinois University: The City of DeKalb is home to the second largest university in Illinois.  It has an enrollment of over 25,000 students and competes in NCAA Division 1-A athletics.  The university has attained prominence for its diverse array of programs, forward-looking faculty, and dynamic research laboratories.
  • Kishwaukee College: is located in the village of Malta and provides quality education and service for the people and businesses of the area.  The College is home to the Center for Business Development and Continuing Education and has won awards for its work with non-traditional students.
  • The county’s nine school districts have low student-teacher ratios.
  • There are outstanding day-care and preschool programs are available in every community.


Additional Benefits to Calling DeKalb County Home

  • The Northern Illinois Technology Triangle and NIUNet are working to connect the entire county and surrounding areas to the Fiber Optic Network that will afford unlimited telecommunications capacity for next generation technologies.
  • The county is home to international corporations, local businesses and everything in between.
  • DeKalb County industries have ranked workforce characteristics, public services, utilities, and community services to be above the North American average in current surveys.