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The support comes through the
governor's Opportunity Returns program, his historic, regional
strategy to spur economic growth and create jobs across the
Southwest region and throughout the state.
"USF Holland is experiencing strong
growth in its Midwestern markets," Gov. Blagojevich said. "When
Illinois firms have the opportunity to pursue new levels of growth,
our job is to act as the dynamic business partner that helps them
seize those opportunities and realize their full potential.
Construction of this new terminal in Edwardsville, and the wealth of
jobs it's going to create, will yield tremendous benefits for the
entire local economy."
The new 102-door facility, which
will be located in an industrial park in Edwardsville, is replacing
an older, smaller plant located across the river in the city proper
of St. Louis.
"USF Corporation wishes to
acknowledge Gov. Blagojevich for the financial assistance provided
through the Opportunity Returns program," said Thomas E. Bergmann,
chief executive officer of the corporation. "The strong growth that
USF Holland is experiencing will be well-served by this program."
"By increasing our door and dock
capacity in the St. Louis market, we can be more productive and
cost-effective while providing significantly better service levels,"
said Steven Caddy, president and chief executive officer of USF
Holland Inc. "We are pleased to partner with the state of Illinois
in this venture."
"Gov. Blagojevich continues to show
that he has his ear to the ground when it comes to supporting
projects that can make a real economic impact in our area," said
state Sen. William Haine, D-Alton. "This is the kind of critical
investment that will directly bring new jobs and a renewed economic
vitality to our community."
State Rep. Jay Hoffman,
D-Collinsville, said: "Gov. Blagojevich understands that when
Illinois companies have the desire, know-how and demand needed to
expand their business and grow their work force, we need to do
everything we can to ensure they have the resources to go forward.
Investment deals like this one continue to show that we're creating
an attractive business environment complete with all the tools our
companies need to thrive."
The Illinois Department of Commerce
and Economic Opportunity is administering this business investment
deal. The department will make available $2.8 million in Economic
Development for a Growing Economy tax credits, based on job creation
over a 10-year period, and $87,500 from its Employer Training
Investment Program to upgrade the skills of the work force. The city
of Edwardsville and Madison County also served as important partners
to USF Holland in moving the expansion project forward.
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"Local economies that have a
diversity of thriving industries are more resistant to downturns and
better positioned for steady growth and job creation over the near
and long term," said Jack Lavin, director of the Department of
Commerce and Economic Opportunity. "USF Holland's new terminal in
Edwardsville will give the local transportation and logistics
industry an enormous shot in the arm. This is a savvy investment
that will not only fuel job creation, but continue diversifying the
economic portfolio of the region."
USF Corporation, a $2.4 billion
leader in the transportation industry, specializes in delivering
comprehensive supply chain management solutions, including
high-value, next-day regional and national less-than-truckload
transportation, forward and reverse logistics, and premium regional
and national truckload transportation. The company serves the North
American market, including the United States, Canada and Mexico, as
well as the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and Guam. USF
Corporation is headquartered in Chicago. For more information, visit
www.usfc.com.
About
Opportunity Returns
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 work force, 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.
[News release]
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