The South Suburban Economic Growth Initiative (SSEGI), a partnership of businesses, economic developers, service providers, and municipalities committed to transforming Chicago’s South Suburbs, and New Food Strategies (NFS), a company that helps early-stage and mid-size food companies navigate fast growth, have partnered to launch a food processing innovation park in Chicago’s South Suburbs. As part of the project, SSEGI and NFS are offering a food co-packing expansion opportunity for a company interested in becoming an anchor tenant for the multi-use facility, which the groups say is “strategically located near a skilled talent pool with excellent transportation access.”
According to John Geocaris, founder and Managing Director of New Food Strategies, there are attractive financing and lease rates available for the built-to-suit facility. The park will incorporate various business support services to tenants, including shared logistics, warehousing, and other costs. Local partners will design and deliver training programs targeted at food processing.
“This new facility will have the spaces and services firms need to innovate and test cutting-edge products and technologies,” explains Geocaris.
Adds Kristi DeLaurentiis, Executive Director of the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association (SSMMA, a lead partner in SSEGI), “The South Suburbs are primed for growth,” says “The area is coming together, pooling our resources and collaborating to support strategic development. We're seeing new investments and bringing new resources to the table to get deals done.”
For more information, contact John Geocaris at jgeocaris@newfoodstrategies.com.
