Best of Ottawa

Ottawa is the ideal location for companies
and entrepreneurs looking for a new
home. Major interstates, rail, river,
airports and more make Ottawa
a logistical dream come true.
Boyd Palmer
Executive Director
Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry
ottawachamberillinois.com
economic
Development
the sky’s the limit
Ottawa is a growing community
and the possibilities are endless for
manufacturing, research and development,
agriculture, distribution,
commercial development and so
much more.
It’s diverse commerce base
continues to prosper due to Ottawa’s
favorable location, tax incentives and
quality workforce.
Ottawa is ideally positioned on
east-west Interstate 80, nine miles
east of north-south Interstate 39
and just 90 miles from Chicago. A
new industrial park is located two
miles from I-80 at highways 71 and 6.
Rail access is on site, and a barge
terminal is nearby on the Illinois River.
Tax advantages and other economic
incentives attract new business and
industry, and encourage expansion with
existing companies.
The city’s Enterprise Zone
provides investment tax credits and a
waiver of sales tax on building materials
and permit fees.
Ottawa’s Tax Increment Financing
(TIF) Districts allow reimbursements
for a variety of eligible expenses –
such as cost of property, site work,
legal expense, engineering and
architectural expenses.
There are also a number of
attractive TIF sites within a mile or
two of Interstate 80. The City of
Ottawa utilizes a streamlined
permitting process to help meet
tight startup deadlines.
Ottawa also has an established
Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) and is a
Port Authority District.
The progressive banking in the
community aids Ottawa’s economic
development.
Agriculture is a significant part
of the city’s economy as well, with
650,000 acres in production and approximately
1,700 full-time farmers.
The farm population is twice the
national average, close to 4.5 percent
of LaSalle County’s population. These
statistics support a growing desire
for locally-produced food. In addition
to a seasonal Farmers Market, more
locally grown produce is showing up
in the grocery stores.
In addition to a broad-based
retail establishment, the community
is the source of a wide range of
manufacturers’ products for both
domestic use and export.
Ottawa is proud to be home to
many newer technology and mar
ket-driven companies. Some of them
include: Cristal Metals; Petsmart,
Kohl’s Distribution Center, and Clover
Technologies Group; MBL (USA)
Corporation, Tyson Foods, ITW
Zip-Pak, Seattle Sutton’s Healthy
Eating, Frequency Devices, Inc.,
and B&B Electronics.
Our traditional and long
established companies include:
SABIC Innovative Plastics (formerly
GE Plastics), NSG Pilkington (formerly
Libby Owens Ford), U.S. Silica
Sand Company, Fairmount Santrol,
HR Imaging Partners, and Unimin
Corporation.
With a community college
center in downtown Ottawa, the
specialized training programs of IVCC
assist individuals and businesses –
as well the industry as a whole. The
college customizes courses to meet
specific needs of companies and will
conduct classes and training sessions
either on campus or at plant sites.
As you can see here, Ottawa
boasts a well-balanced economy and
progressive business atmosphere.
BEST www.magazineonline.com
of Ottawa | Resource Guide 9 7