Kankakee County climbs two spots to #3 in the US for manufacturing hubs for small metros, according to Business Facilities Magazine 2023 Metro Rankings Report. The magazine annually recognizes metro areas and cities of all sizes for attracting and retaining businesses from numerous industry sectors.

Kankakee County’s #3 ranking this year among small metros is only behind to Elkhart-Goshen, IN, which ranked #1, and Columbus, IN as #2. Kankakee County ranked #5 among small manufacturing hubs in the US according to AdvisorSmith and Business Facilities Magazine in 2021 and 2022.

Kankakee County is known for its strength in the manufacturing sector with operations in chemical, biotechnology, food processing, plastics, iron/steel/metal and general manufacturing. Businesses located in our community – from Fortune 500/Global 500 corporations to startups – export $1.6B annually, and growth is projected to continue over the next five years.

The manufacturing industry accounts for 20 percent of the local economy, providing more than $933.3 million in salaries and benefits for local employees. With more than 8,500 jobs in this sector at an average wage of $94k, the community reaps the rewards. For every 10 jobs in the manufacturing field, an additional three jobs are created here.

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