Business and Industry

LEMONT

Settled in 1836 and incorporated in 1873, Lemont is one of the oldest and charming communities in northeastern Illinois. With rolling hills, three waterways, and its historic downtown, Lemont offers a setting and atmosphere unique to the Chicagoland region. The village is one of the key communities within the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor. Lemont’s colorful early history began in the late 1830’s with the construction of the I&M Canal, and with the influx of immigrant workers who settled and remained. By the mid-1800’s, limestone quarrying became the big business in Lemont and was the main cause of the town’s growth. Many fine local examples of buildings constructed with Lemont limestone still exist, including the Historic Chicago Water Tower landmark on Michigan Avenue. Local government and community volunteers have forged strong partnerships to rejuvenate both the I&M Canal and the old limestone quarries, with the goal of utilizing them for recreational and commercial use.

Our proximity to 1-355, I-55 and I-80, makes Lemont a prime destination for business development. Metra’s Heritage Corridor commuter line provides a convenient transportation link to the City of Chicago. To further preserve its historic heritage and to stimulate economic growth, Lemont has prioritized the revitalization of its historic downtown area, which offers charm, beauty and plenty of atmosphere. Downtown Lemont attracts the local community, tourists and the filming industry with its intact historic architecture, a great variety of specialty shops & restaurants, and adjoining recreational areas.

The Village has four TIF districts and has assembled parcels for future development. Additionally, the Village offers façade grants for preservation of historic buildings and considers development incentives on a case-bycase basis.

The Planning & Economic Development Department can provide detailed demographic, consumer spending, and retail demand reports for the Village or a particular site, upon request. Please contact the Planning & Economic Development Department for more information.

HOMER GLEN

Homer Glen’s 143rd/Bell business district is home to a diverse mix of local businesses and nationally recognized brands. Existing major home improvement stores and grocers anchor dozens of other retail, service, banking and personal care businesses. The district currently comprises over 696,600 square feet in retail use. The strong customer traffic drawn to this business district continues to attract a variety of restaurants and eateries. The convenience offered by Homer Glen’s 143rd/Bell business district makes it the primary shopping area for Homer Glen residents and residents of neighboring communities.

Linked to its rural heritage, a number of agritourism businesses help make Homer Glen distinctive. Pumpkin farms offering visitor attractions are a huge regional draw. Farmers markets, garden centers and horse farms keep Homer Glen’s heritage alive. Other unique businesses in Homer Glen include rural lifestyle retail, art glass design, landscape design, custom home builders and a diversity of home improvement contractors. In admiration of the community, two separate corporate headquarters have made Homer Glen their home. In addition, while supplementing the close access to Silver Cross Hospital, Homer Glen also boasts two urgent/emergency care centers and numerous physician offices and alternative care options. The newest business development in Homer Glen includes Gas N Wash at 159th & Gougar along with Pet Supplies Plus and Culver’s, both developing sites on 143rd Street near Bell Road.

Opportunity awaits along 159th Street with the newly completed IDOT improvements that widened the roadway to four lanes, the I-355 interchange and the hundreds of undeveloped acres fronting the corridor. Over time, the five-mile wide 159th Street corridor will become the economic engine for the community.