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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Kenall Manufacturing Plans To Relocate Its Campus To Kenosha, Wisconsin

09/13/2013
Kenall Manufacturing, a leader in the commercial lighting industry, will relocate its headquarters and production facility from Illinois to a 354,000-square-foot manufacturing complex to be built in the Business Park of Kenosha, Wisconsin. The firm plans to create more than 350 jobs during the next five years.

“The construction of Kenall’s new manufacturing facility and relocation of their headquarters to the Business Park of Kenosha is great news for the company and the community, and will benefit the entire state’s economy,” Gov. Scott Walker said. “This shows how serious and successful Wisconsin is in helping businesses expand their operations and create new jobs.”

“We are pleased to welcome Kenall Manufacturing to Wisconsin, and particularly to Kenosha County,” said Reed Hall, secretary and Chief Executive Officer of Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. “A strong partnership with the City and County of Kenosha, the Kenosha Area Business Alliance, Milwaukee 7 and WEDC shows that Wisconsin is a great place for business.”

The newly constructed 354,000 square-foot manufacturing facility, located just East of I-94 at Highway 158, will allow Kenall adequate space for expansion to remain responsive to customer needs and support future growth creating new employment opportunities, the Governor’s Office said. In addition, 13 acres adjacent to the building are included for potential future development.

“As Kenall continues to grow, this new headquarters is a commitment to our future and manufacturing in the United States,” said Jim Hawkins, President and CEO of Kenall. “We look forward to watching our building take shape as we expand Kenall’s presence in the heart of America and beyond.”

The new facility will include state-of-the-art machinery and equipment for fabrication, finishing and assembly capabilities, a certified UL testing facility, an interactive showroom and a dedicated training center.

“We are pleased that Kenall has selected southeastern Wisconsin for this significant operation,” said Gale Klappa, Co-Chair of the Milwaukee 7 regional economic development group and Chairman and CEO of Wisconsin Energy Corporation. “Over the previous 10 months, Kenall took a thorough look at our manufacturing assets and concluded that southeastern Wisconsin is the optimal location to carry out the company’s growth plan. The Kenall decision affirms that our region is well positioned to attract global manufacturing investment.”

The firm received state and local incentives to assist with its relocation effort. Once details of the tax-increment financing agreement are finalized with the City of Kenosha, the project will move through final permitting, with construction expected to begin in the following months. The Business Park of Kenosha is also in close proximity to Gateway Technical College, an important source of skilled labor and customized training for the company.”

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