AbbVie has announced a $380 million investment to build two new active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing facilities at its North Chicago campus. This expansion will add advanced manufacturing capabilities — including AI-enabled technologies — to support production of next-generation neuroscience and obesity medicines.
Construction is set to begin in spring, with operations expected to be fully operational by 2029. As a part of the expansion, AbbVie expects to hire 300+ new team members, including engineers, scientists, operators, and technicians.
Chicagoland has again been named the top U.S. metro for corporate relocation and site selection by Site Selection Magazine, marking a record 13th consecutive year in the #1 position. The annual ranking is based on corporate facility projects and widely regarded as a measure of business expansion and investment activity nationwide. This accolade underscores the region's competitiveness in attracting capital and jobs. Illinois also ranked No. 2 among states for corporate expansion projects.
In the past month alone, many businesses have announced their plans to invest and grow in Lake County. Here are the highlights:
Northwestern Medicine wrapped up a $389 million expansion of its Lake Forest campus, adding 290,000 sq. ft. of new space to boost inpatient and observation capacity; in addition to expanded services, the hospital received state approval to launch a cardiac surgery program, enabling highly advanced heart procedures to be offered locally rather than requiring transfer downtown.
The Chicago Clinical Research Institute signed a 10-year lease at Rosalind Franklin University in North Chicago, creating a critically-needed Phase I clinical research facility and strengthening the region’s life sciences and research ecosystem.
The Consul General to the Netherlands visited Waukegan to celebrate Dutch paint manufacturer AkzoNobel's investment of $58M+ in its aerospace coatings plant to expand automation and North American production.
Swedish furniture retailer IKEA announced that it will be opening up a new 66,000 sq. ft. store at Gurnee Mills, harnessing local spending power while also attracting visitors to Lake County.
A coalition of 175+ stakeholders recently gathered to celebrate the launch of a comprehensive call to action to address the county's housing shortage and establish collaborative strategies to expand options for the community.
The action plan reflects months of regional input and establishes shared goals for policy reform, financing tools, stronger public-private partnerships, and community education on housing needs. Implementation efforts and focused discussions on key priority areas are now underway to ensure Lake County remains an accessible, thriving place to live and work.
Join us Friday, April 24th for our legendary BIG EVENT at the Marriott Lincolnshire Resort, where we expect another sold-out crowd of 500+ business and civic leaders for an inspirational morning focused on the ways that we can strengthen, sustain and leverage Lake County’s countless community assets.
This year, we’re excited to feature keynote speaker Jon Roberts from TIP Strategies, and author of the new book “The Cost of Cool,” for a deep dive into the strategies and initiatives that foster balanced development and community success.
Sponsorship opportunities are available at a variety of levels, and we appreciate the support to produce this unique, high-impact event.
Executive Director Lake County Workforce Development
How does the Lake County Workforce Development Department help employers?
We help build a reliable talent pipeline through comprehensive solutions that address first jobs, career readiness, internships and pre-apprenticeship programs. Our goal is to support job seekers and businesses alike, by creating connections and ensuring that training and education are aligned with current and future hiring needs. We administer grants and time-tested programs that can improve opportunities, increase the likelihood of a successful hire, and reduce costs.
How does your team align with workforce training programs with the evolving talent needs of high-growth industries like advanced manufacturing?
We use labor market data to inform workforce strategies and act as an intermediary with education and training providers - ensuring that skills are aligned with hiring needs. Job posting, wage trends and growth projections inform the priority sectors and occupations where the Workforce Board invests grant training funds. Importantly, our Workforce Board is comprised of leaders from key sectors, making sure that we are plugged into employer needs and industry trends.
What partnerships are proving most effective in building sustainable talent pipelines for Lake County businesses?
In Lake County, we are fortunate to have strong collaboration among innovative leaders in government, business and education. The key to our success is recognizing the importance of working together to fuel career readiness. Collectively, we rely on a strategy that removes barriers to employment so that residents can succeed and businesses can benefit. Click here to see how our work has made Lake County a national model for talent development.
