New Manufacturing Facility Will Create up to 250 New Jobs
CHICAGO – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced the grand opening of the new Medallion Cabinetry manufacturing plant in Lanark. The Minnesota-based company is a leader in the semi-custom cabinetry industry for residential remodeling and building, and its move was made possible by a $630,000 Opportunity Returns business investment package that was announced in November 2005. The plant, which will produce kitchen and bath cabinetry, parts and accessories, is expected to employ up to 250 people by its third year of operation. Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Assistant Director Roxanne Nava joined company and local officials for the grand opening ceremony today in Lanark.
“Medallion Cabinetry understands that Northwest Illinois has all of the assets in place to build a successful operation. By not raising sales or income taxes, we have created a businesses climate that is encouraging investment and innovation and putting more people to work. We are proud to officially welcome yet another first-class company to Illinois,” Gov. Blagojevich said.
The 180,000 square-foot facility has state-of-the-art technology for the precision fabrication and assembly of Medallion’s semi-custom cabinetry products. The plant will produce Medallion’s new Platinum line of inset cabinetry for distribution nationwide.
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is administering the business assistance package of grants and tax credits. DCEO will make available Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) corporate income tax credits over the next ten years based on job creation; Employer Training Investment Program (ETIP) job training funds will help enhance the skills of Medallion’s workforce; and additional financial benefits, such as sales tax exemptions and tax credits for job creation, resulting from the company’s location within an Enterprise Zone.
“As a rapidly growing manufacturing company with Midwestern roots, Medallion Cabinetry is deeply appreciative of the commitment shown by Gov. Blagojevich’s Opportunity Returns program and local officials to bring new jobs into northwest Illinois,” said Tom Cook, President of Elkay Cabinet Division. “We are extremely pleased with our experiences working with everyone in Lanark, and we feel confident that the community supports and shares our strategic plan to position the company as an employer of choice in this region.”
Presently, Medallion employs more than 1,500 employees and operates manufacturing and wood finishing facilities in Waconia, Shakopee and New Ulm, Minnesota, as well as in Independence, Oregon and Culver, Indiana. The company’s products are distributed nationwide through kitchen and bath dealers, as well as selected home centers.
Medallion offers more than 2,000 combinations of door styles, wood species and color finishes in semi-custom cabinetry through kitchen and bath design centers and dealers nationwide. Medallion is a wholly owned subsidiary of Elkay Manufacturing Company of Oak Brook, Illinois. Elkay is a supplier of high value residential kitchen and bath cabinetry and accessories, commercial and residential plumbing products, including stainless steel sinks, faucets and water coolers. The Elkay Cabinet Division includes Medallion, Yorktowne Cabinetry and Mastercraft Cabinets and is the fourth largest cabinetry group in the United States. Medallion is the largest component of the Elkay Cabinetry Division and is headquartered in Waconia, Minnesota.
“Gov. Blagojevich and I believe that we must continually make these kinds of strategic investments that will pay important economic dividends at the local level for years to come. Partnering with an innovative company like Medallion will not only create a great many new jobs in the community, but also enhance the economic vitality of the entire region. We will continue providing communities across Illinois with the support they need to attract and retain business, create good jobs, and promote more vigorous economic growth,” said DCEO Director Jack Lavin.
Gov. Blagojevich recently announced that Illinois added 31,100 new jobs in July, which was the best in the nation that month. This is the second time this year Illinois has created more new jobs than any other state, which has never happened before in recorded history. Illinois also led the nation in job growth in April. The total number of new jobs created this year is 75,200, which is the best start to a year since 1998 and more new jobs than any Midwest state. Since January 2004, Illinois has gained more than 150,000 new jobs, which is also best in the Midwest. The Illinois unemployment rate has been below or the same as the U.S. unemployment rate since May 2006, the first time this has happened in seven years. The unemployment rate in Carroll County has declined from 9.1 percent in January 2003 to 4.9 percent in August 2006. The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security compiled these statistics.
“Medallion Cabinetry has been a great partner throughout this process, and we’re thrilled to officially welcome them to our community. The new jobs that are coming back to Lanark will have even greater impacts on the county as a whole as it brings new families and fills existing empty homes. This could not have been accomplished without the partnerships with DCEO, Medallion, the City of Lanark, MSA engineering and Blackhawk Hills RC&D/EDD. We appreciate Gov. Blagojevich’s vision in economic development, and his assistance in helping us bring new economic growth to Carroll County,” said CCEDC executive director Dave Keiser.
Gov. Blagojevich’s Opportunity Returns regional economic development strategy is the most aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating jobs in Illinois’ history. Since a one-size-fits-all approach to economic development just doesn’t work, the Governor has divided the state into 10 regions – each with a regional team that is empowered and expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges. Opportunity Returns is about tangible, specific actions to make each region more accessible, more marketable, more entrepreneurial and more attractive to businesses. It is about upgrading the skills of the local workforce, increasing the access to capital, opening new markets, improving infrastructure, and creating and retaining jobs. Opportunity Returns is about successfully partnering with companies and communities, both large and small, to help all of Illinois reach its economic potential.