Covira Signs on at Rosalind Franklin University   

Lake County is the proud home of the largest life sciences cluster in the Midwest, and it's growing at a record rate. Rosalind Franklin University's Helix 51 incubator has signed five new tenants in the past six months alone, and all of them are leveraging Lake County's resources and proximity to industry leaders like Abbott, AbbVie, Baxter, Horizon, Lundbeck and Pfizer to grow. 

One of the newest to sign on is Covira, a biotech company spun out from the University of Chicago that develops drugs to modulate the gut microbiome. It has been named one of the top twenty most innovative companies by Business Worldwide Magazine - recognition that is helping the startup move forward in the FDA approval process.

“We chose Helix 51 because we know that Lake County is the heart of the nation’s life science corridor. Here, we can find the additional talent and investors that we need to successfully achieve Covira’s growth objectives,” says Covira CEO Peter Farmakis.

It All Comes Down to Talent

When the Daily Herald interviewed business leaders on the secrets to their success, they all waxed poetic on the benefits of a strong Midwestern work ethic. At a time when talent is paramount, companies are finding that the local workforce has an ideal mix of dedication, in-demand skills and a desire to get the job done.

The Gateway to Global Markets

When it comes to attracting talent and accommodating business, Lake County's multimodal connectivity makes recruiting and commuting a snap – particularly as transportation returns to pre-COVID levels. We went inside Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport to see how new services are launching to meet the surge in travel.

Important Investments in Business Growth

Meet a Partner

Dan Seals

CEO

Intersect Illinois

Illinois is celebrating a surge in business growth. How is Intersect Illinois positioning the state for continued success?  

Illinois is certainly seeing business growth right now - we ranked 3^rd in the nation for corporate expansions and relocations in 2021 according to Site Selection Magazine. We are positioning the state for further success by focusing on the industries where Illinois is most competitive. Those industries are manufacturing, electric vehicles, tech, agribusiness, life sciences, and logistics. In those industries, we are launching a new campaign designed to make the case for Illinois as great place to do business called Be in Illinois. Read Dan's guest blog post on reasons to grow in Illinois.

What industries are particularly hot right now?

The electrification of manufacturing and electric vehicles (EVs) are some of the biggest trends to hit manufacturing in years. In Illinois, we’ve built an attractive ecosystem for EV consumers and manufacturers alike, with strong incentives for both. We’ve seen this trend in Lake County as well, where EV charging station manufacturer EVBox set up shop and is thriving. And, of course, the life sciences industry is big. As the coasts continue to see high costs, Illinois and Lake County provide a low cost alternative and all the talent you need.

How does Intersect Illinois work with LCP and other partners to drive business success?

Lake County Partners is a key collaborator for us. When we have a lead on a project that is appropriate for the region, we work with LCP to assure that we highlight the options available in Lake County. We also work together on marketing Lake County’s assets, such as that life sciences sector. Additionally, we work together as a part of Team Illinois - a group of economic development partners that come together to promote the state.

As a life-long Illinoian, what do you consider the state’s biggest strengths?

Illinois’ overall strengths are its central location, skilled workforce and logistical infrastructure. Our location means that you are never far from your customers or suppliers. For example, you can reach any major center in the U.S. in four hours or less. We’re home to an extensive talent pool, thanks in part to our 200+ higher education institutions, which include some of the world’s best. Forty-three percent of our workforce holds an associate’s degree or higher.

Illinois also provides unmatched access to the world via air, port, rail and road infrastructure that connects us to the U.S. and the world quickly and efficiently. I would also add that we have a great quality of life in Illinois, with fantastic sports, museums, restaurants and people. That’s why we are home to the headquarters of 38 Fortune 500 companies as well as thousands of start-ups. If you’re a business, it’s great to be in Illinois.

We appreciate your leadership and continued partnership with LCP. 

Lake County Partners has been a great partner to Intersect Illinois. The organization does excellent work in promoting the region and its remarkable advantages. For instance, the life sciences industry in Lake County is outstanding and includes the largest biopharma cluster in the country. And, we’ve seen numerous advanced manufacturing companies locating and growing in Lake County. We are fortunate to have a partner like LCP to keep companies investing and creating jobs in Illinois.

Our work to drive economic development in Lake County would not be possible without the leadership of our Board of Directors & the support of our investors.