Heartland Bakery, LLC will Create 51 Jobs at the Former Parmalat Factory

CHICAGO - Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced almost $800,000 in Opportunity Returns support for Heartland Bakery, LLC, a start-up company founded by people with extensive experience in managing large-scale commercial bakeries, which is purchasing the recently closed Parmalat Bakery in DuQuoin as part of a $1.2 million investment.  The business investment package will help the company create 51 jobs.  This support comes as a part of Opportunity Returns, the Governor’s comprehensive economic development strategy to create jobs and expand the economy in Southern Illinois.  

“We are thrilled to welcome Heartland Bakery to DuQuoin, which has all of the assets in place to build a successful operation for the company and put people back to work.  By not raising sales or income taxes and creating an appealing business climate that encourages innovation and investment, we are sending a strong message that Illinois is the right place to launch and expand a business,” Gov. Blagojevich said. 

Steven Scaff, who has worked in the commercial bakery business for 19 years, founded Heartland Bakery, LLC along with his wife, Laura.  The company will purchase the assets of the now vacant Parmalat Bakery in DuQuoin, providing access to a fully operational plant and allowing the company to have access to a trained, experienced workforce.  The company will manufacture baked goods, such as cookies and biscotti, for in-store bakeries, private label operations and food service companies. 
 
“With a team of individuals with years of experience in commercial bakery management, I am personally grateful for the opportunity to start my own company and revive this former plant into a thriving business.  This could not have been accomplished without the partnership of Governor Rod Blagojevich, DCEO and the City of DuQuoin, and I look forward to growing our business in this community,” Steven Scaff, Chief Operating Officer of Heartland Bakery said.
 
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is administering the business investment package.  It includes 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 that will help enhance the skills of its workforce; a Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP) grant to the City of DuQuoin who will provide a low-interest loan to the company; as well as additional financial benefits, such as sales tax exemptions and tax credits for job creation, resulting from the company’s location within an Enterprise Zone.       
    
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Heartland Bakery to DuQuoin, who has been a terrific partner with us in helping to revitalize an important part of our business community.  Gov. Blagojevich and I are committed to creating good jobs for our hardworking people.  We’re very fortunate to have Heartland Bakery invest in DuQuoin, which will keep our economy growing,” said DuQuoin Mayor John Rednour.

“Gov. Blagojevich and I believe that by being pro-active and targeting our resources at the local level, we’re building an extremely competitive business environment where companies can put more people to work and expand our economy.  We’re excited to be supporting Heartland Bakery and look forward to its success and increased productivity in the region, which will mean better jobs for more people in Southern Illinois,” DCEO Director Jack Lavin said.

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 federal Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security compiled these statistics
  
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.