Public-private partnership brings North America's first supplier manufacturing campus to south Chicago
.

CHICAGO - Ford Motor Company unveiled plans to open the first automotive supplier manufacturing campus in North America on a former brownfield site near Ford's Chicago Assembly Plant on the Southeast Side. The project was made possible by extensive cooperation from Mayor Richard Daley and Governor George Ryan.  

This innovative project is projected to add 1,000 jobs in Chicago's South Side, while reinforcing the viability of manufacturing at Ford's two Chicago-area plants and Ford's commitment to its employees, including UAW represented employees. Investment from Ford, its suppliers and its development partner, CenterPoint Properties, will total more than $400 million during the next several years.  

Extensive roadway and infrastructure improvements in the area will be made by the City and the State to improve the flow of heavy truck traffic and increase the viability of future manufacturing development in the area.  

By integrating logistics, inventories, supplier manufacturing operations and sequencing of manufacturing schedules, the plant and supplier manufacturing campus will be able to respond more quickly and efficiently to changes in customer demands. "This project is an evolution in automotive manufacturing and a way to address competing trends toward globalization and demands for local flexibility to meet customer needs," said Jim Padilla, group vice president, global manufacturing, Ford Motor Company. "This is an important step in Ford's drive to boost customer and shareholder value." Illinois Governor George H. Ryan praised Ford's vision to create a new manufacturing campus on Chicago's South Side. 

"Ford Motor Company's decision to expand their presence here is another example of how Illinois provides the world's leading manufacturers with a competitive advantage in the global marketplace," Ryan said. "Illinois has the skilled workers, advanced transportation network and central location that give companies such as Ford an edge over the competition in getting their products to market. I'm pleased that my commitment to strengthening our infrastructure and workforce is paying dividends in the form of new economic opportunities and jobs for the citizens of our state." "This project will benefit the people of Chicago in many ways," Mayor Richard M. Daley said. "It will create jobs. It will generate additional property tax revenue to ease the burden on homeowners. And it will take one of the largest undeveloped pieces of land in the city, clean it up and make it productive."  

Development and management of the supplier manufacturing campus will be a joint venture between Ford Motor Land Development Corporation and CenterPoint Properties, Chicago's largest industrial property owner and developer. Work on final agreements for the project is expected to be completed by year end.  

Groundbreaking for the initial phases of the multi-phase project is expected within six months. Completion is scheduled for 2003. This is the latest major manufacturing project that Daley and Ryan have brought to Chicago's Far South Side, having partnered last year to bring Solo Cup to a nearby former steel mill site on the lakefront. The City and State also have teamed up recently to create a joint long-term plan for sustainable growth in the Calumet Area for environmental, recreational, and industrial uses. 

(September 7, 2000)