U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis 2013 numbers released

KANKAKEE, IL –September 18, 2014 – Continuing the trend of favorable economic reports for Kankakee County, the Kankakee-Bradley Metropolitan Statistical Area maintained its position as the second highest metro in the state of Illinois in 2013 for growth in real gross domestic product (GDP), according to figures released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis. With year-over-year growth 2.3%, which exceeds the national average of 1.7%, the Kankakee-Bradley MSA's Real GDP in 2013 totaled $3.360 billion, positioning the area 138th among 381 metro areas.

Among the 10 MSAs within the state of Illinois, four experienced a decline in real GDP, while four experienced growth of 1.6% or less. Only one MSA exceeded Kankakee-Bradley, at 4% growth.

"From manufacturing to health care to higher education to public infrastructure, Kankakee County is experiencing truly unprecedented capital investment," explains Economic Alliance President/CEO Mike Van Mill. "Put simply, they invest here because they've found success here and can grow more effectively here than in other places.

"The BEA's numbers align perfectly with what we're experiencing on the ground and the outcomes of various national rankings," continued Van Mill. "We're ideally positioned for significant growth."

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