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title: Major Investments Fuel Business & Quality of Life
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Business is flourishing in Lake County, Illinois. Get the latest economic development news in our monthly newsletter.

| View in browser     Leading Lake County Forward The Business News You Need to Know     Valent BioSciences Invests in Big Expansion  After opening in Libertyville just 4 years ago, Valent BioSciences has seen such growth that the company is now investing in a major expansion to advance its synthetic biology, biostimulants, fermentation and downstream processing technologies at Innovation Park. Enhancements will include 50,000 sq. ft. of state-of-the-art lab, office and meeting space as well as a new greenhouse.  How Lake County is Fueling Valent's R&D       Major Hawthorn Mall Renovation Underway Phase 2 of the exciting $252 million renovation of the Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills has been given the green light by local officials, paving the way for a vibrant entertainment hub complete with a grand plaza, 55,000 sq. ft. of new retail and restaurant space and 255 luxury apartments What Phase 2 Means for the Mall Makeover       Illinois Ranks Among Top in Country for Business Illinois has ranked #3 in the nation for corporate investment because of its superior business climate, world-class talent and abundant natural resources. The state is celebrating a surge in a number of key industries like advanced manufacturing, private food-related R&D, IT, clean energy and electric vehicles. Startups are also flocking, making Illinois the #1 Midwestern state for business creation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Why Business Thrives in Illinois       Meet a Partner Derrick Burress Principal Lake County Tech Campus   The Tech Campus is connected with 22 area high schools. How has enrollment been in recent years?   We currently have over 1,900 students enrolled at Tech Campus - our largest enrollment since I started as principal 9 years ago.  Aside from last year, which was our first year back from the pandemic, we have seen steady numbers over the past 9 years. We attribute this growth to the idea that students and parents have seen the benefit of Career & Technical Education (CTE), its certificate programs and its dual credit opportunities. CTE is now seen as a great avenue to post-secondary education, be it at the College of Lake County, another university or continuing certifications at another school.   Programs at the Tech Center reflect in-demand skills. Which industries are particularly hot right now?   Just about every major industry in our society has a workforce need, and this intensified during the pandemic. Businesses rely on a skilled, competent workforce, and that is exactly what the Tech Campus has been designed to provide.    We train tomorrow’s workforce and prepare our students for both college and a career. Manufacturing classes like welding and industrial technology have shown great promise in securing a workforce for our local businesses. Our healthcare programs are finding students jobs even before they graduate from the Tech Campus and high school. It is a wonderful time to get the hands-on training necessary to pursue students’ passions.   How do you work with institutions like CLC to train talent? Our stakeholders are paramount in the success of the Tech Campus. We work with business and industry partners to help advise, assist and advocate for our programs. Aside from hiring our students, our stakeholders also help our students envision their future careers.    We are pleased to have partnered with the College of Lake County to leverage their new state-of-the-art Advanced Technology Center for our in-demand industrial technology program. Learn more about this important opportunity in this new blog profile of the Tech Center.        LCP Welcomes Two New Board Members We are proud to welcome two new members to our Board of Directors:   Bria Scudder, Director, State Government Affairs - Midwest Region at AbbVie   Kimberly Wimer, Human Resources Manager at Laser Precision   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. Get Involved or Request our Support Here                 Lake County Partners, One Overlook Point, Suite 280, Lincolnshire, Illinois 60069, 847-597-1220 Unsubscribe Manage preferences |
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