Chicago, Elgin, Madison, Greenville, Northlake and Quincy Companies Announced as 2010 Edie Award Winners

CHICAGO, May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- What do a technology center in Chicago and an ethanol plant in Madison have in common with a series of commercial redevelopments in Greenville?  What do a data center in Northlake and a wind turbine gearbox facility in Elgin have in common with a manufacturing plant in Quincy?

The answer is all these projects were announced today as winners of the Edie (Economic Development in Illinois) Award.  The annual award is given jointly by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and the Illinois Development Council (IDC) to recognize significant economic development projects finished in the last year throughout Illinois.

"Even in times of economic turmoil, companies are out there investing in our state and creating jobs," said Doug Whitley, president and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. "The Chamber is proud to be working with the Illinois Development Council to recognize some of the exciting developments that were completed across the state."

The Illinois Chamber and IDC believe it's important to showcase recent accomplishments -- especially when they translated into more jobs, a larger tax base and increased economic vitality in Illinois.  

"These companies and the local economic development teams are in the trenches across the state, creating jobs and investing in our communities," said Ed Sitar, chairman of the IDC. "These successful projects are too often overlooked and we wanted to take a moment and reinforce the notion that economic development like this is central to keeping our state vibrant and healthy."

There are up to 15 Edie Award categories based on geography (City of Chicago, Metropolitan Chicago or statewide projects) and development type: manufacturing, commercial, energy, technology and transportation/distribution.  The Illinois Chamber and IDC asked for nominations from across the state for projects completed in 2009 in any of those categories. An awards committee reviewed the nominees and determined the projects most worthy of an Edie Award.  

The six winners of the 2010 Edie Award are as diverse as Illinois' economy, including:

• Abengoa Bioenergy, which invested $256 million to build its signature ethanol plant in the Tri-City Port District in Madison.  
• Ascent, which developed a 700,000 square foot Data Center resulting in a $600 million project in Northlake.  
• Economic Development Director's Office, Greenville, where even in a down economy, the Director of Economic Development in Greenville was able to attract and entice several commercial developments that have changed the retail landscape of the city and its 9,600 residents.  
• Prince Agri Products, which built the company's new 165,000-square-foot manufacturing, warehousing and laboratory facilities opened in the South Quincy Development District in 2009.  
• S&C Electric, which invested $33 million for its Advanced Technology Center -- the latest addition to its industrial campus on Chicago's North Side.
• Winergy Drive Systems and Siemens Drive Technologies, which invested $20 million in the expansion of the Wind Turbine Gearbox manufacturing plant in Elgin that assembles and tests mechanical gear drives used in wind turbines.  

The Edies will be formally presented at the Illinois Chamber's annual meeting in Chicago on June 18, 2010. For more information on the Edie winners, visit www.ilchamber.org.

The Illinois Chamber of Commerce promotes the interests of Illinois business by working to improve the state's business climate. The Illinois Chamber aggressively advocates for legislation and public policies that support economic growth, and is a source of timely and reliable information on matters important to its members, Illinois employers and the general public. www.ilchamber.org.

The Illinois Development Council is an association of economic development professionals and allies that strives to build relationships, professionalism, and a positive atmosphere in which to create jobs and wealth in Illinois. These individuals are employed by municipalities; not-for-profit economic development councils or community development corporations; utilities; railroads; planning commissions; state government; and other partners interested in retaining and growing businesses in Illinois. www.ildevelopmentcouncil.org.

SOURCE Illinois Chamber of Commerce