BLOOMINGTON Illinois

CHOOSE JOLIET! Learn how your company can grow in Joliet. The development team can be reached at 815-724-4060, economicdevelopment@ joliet.gov, or at www.joliet.gov/business/ economic-development.

ILLINOIS: BLOOMINGTON - A Diverse and Well-Balanced Location

The City of Bloomington is located in Central Illinois, approximately 125 miles southwest of Chicago, 155 miles northeast of St. Louis, and 64 miles northeast of Springfield, the State Capitol. Bloomington is the County Seat of McLean County, the largest county in Illinois. Interstates 39, 55, and 74 converge on Bloomington, as well as US Route 51 and State Route 9.

Bloomington is also serviced by two major railroad lines and Amtrak, as well as air transportation at the Central Illinois Regional Airport, one of the fastest-growing airports in the country, which services commuter, corporate, and private aircraft.

Bloomington is located in one of the most productive agricultural areas in the nation and boasts an economy that is diverse and well-balanced. In addition to major manufacturing and industries, there are two universities, two hospitals, an entertainment & convention center, one indoor mall, one outdoor mall, and many banks and Savings & Loan Associations located in Bloomington.

Bloomington has identified five economic sectors: business, entrepreneurship, agribusiness, and logistics that can capitalize on the distinctive business location attributes and strengths and are projected to have a long-term, favorable impact on the community.

The median age is 35 and 47% of residents hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. The median household income of $69,000 reflects the types of employers that are located here. Bloomington is home to the corporate headquarters for both State Farm and Country Financial, as well as the first North American Chocolate Factory for Ferrero. Whether you’re an employer seeking an educated and talented workforce or a job seeker who desires a challenging position in a vibrant community, Bloomington has you covered.

Bloomington is home to several top-notch institutes of higher education, including Illinois State University, Illinois Wesleyan University, and Heartland Community College. According to the American Institute for Economic Research, Bloomington was ranked the 10th best college town with under 250,000 residents. More importantly, companies here have access to a steady pipeline of potential workers who are educated, as well as resources to help develop their current workforce.

Bloomington lies at the center of Illinois transportation networks. Three major interstate highways intersect to provide easy access to Chicago, Indianapolis, and St. Louis. The Central Illinois Regional Airport provides non-stop service to Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, and several Florida locations, linking residents to one stop from any destination in the world.

There is also a major rail corridor that passes straight through Bloomington between Chicago and St. Louis. Rail passenger carrier Amtrak operates daily through Uptown Station, a multimodal transportation hub. For commercial use, four freight railroads (Canadian National; Norfolk Southern; Toledo, Peoria & Western; and Union Pacific) run through the county.

There are a wide variety of cultural and entertainment options available in Bloomington. Theater options include the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts; the Community Players Theater; Illinois Shakespeare Festival; the Illinois Symphony Orchestra; Illinois Wesleyan University Merwin Galleries; the McLean County Arts Center; the Miller Park Outdoor Summer Theatre; Twin Cities Ballet; and several movie theaters.

Downtown Bloomington is the heart of the community and is home to a wide range of businesses, public and private projects, and promotes business development and retention. Downtown Bloomington hosts over 80 events each calendar year and has an active arts and history community embedded within.

For more information on all the opportunities in Bloomington, please contact the City of Bloomington Economic Development at 309-434-2295 or visit their website at www.cityblm.org/ed .

ILLINOIS: Arlington Heights - Positioned for Success

Arlington Heights continues to grow and thrive. Home to 78,000 residents with a median annual household income of $100,000, Arlington Heights is also one of the largest business communities in Chicagoland, hosting more than 3,000 businesses with over 40,000 daytime workers.

Location is one of the community’s key assets, offering incomparable positioning within the region. Arlington Heights is served by two Metra rail stations, connecting it to Downtown Chicago in under 45 minutes. Arlington Heights also provides immediate access to three interstate highways, and is conveniently located just 15 minutes from both O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Chicago Executive Airport (PWK).

Arlington Heights also features a unique, vibrant, and award-winning Downtown offering an enticing urban lifestyle with more than 30 shops and boutiques. Cuisine is a key ingredient to Downtown’s success, hosting a diverse collection of nearly 40 one-of-a-kind restaurants and casual eateries. And Arlington Alfresco, which features pedestrianfriendly outdoor dining for more than a dozen restaurants, has been one of Chicagoland’s most sought-after dining destinations since 2020.

Downtown Arlington Heights is also a Chicago area destination for entertainment, hosting outdoor concerts and annual events, and is home to live music venues such as Hey Nonny and Big Shot Piano Lounge. Meanwhile, the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre features live