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Growth Dimensions reports Stellantis investment, data‑center interest and broadband awards to Boone County
Summary
Growth Dimensions told the Boone County Board about ongoing business recruitment and development activity, including a major Stellantis investment, a data‑center site search, enterprise‑zone sales‑tax waivers for new housing, and broadband grants that will fund Surf Internet deployment.
County economic development staff updated the Boone County Board on active projects in the region and recent accomplishments.
Pam, representing Growth Dimensions, told the board the agency is tracking about 134 projects in process. She reported that Stellantis plans to invest more than $600 million to reopen the Belvidere assembly plant to produce the Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Compass for the U.S. market and that the company has said the work would create about 3,300 jobs when it begins operations in 2027.
Growth Dimensions also said a franchise project (identified as Project Blade / a McDonald's) sought a special‑use permit this week to construct a 4,100‑square‑foot building off Route 76. The agency reported ongoing conversations with a pharmaceutical company that had looked at one Boone County site and remained interested in other locations.
Pam said a data‑center prospect is considering 200–400 acres in Boone County and Growth Dimensions is pursuing three potential locations for that project.
On enterprise‑zone policy, staff noted local rules do not allow residential property tax abatements or reduced building permit fees but said state rules allow sales‑tax exemptions for building materials purchased for residential construction in enterprise zones. Pam cited a planned development of about 50 homes in Poplar Grove located in the enterprise zone and said those projects could qualify for sales‑tax waivers on building materials purchased in Illinois.
Growth Dimensions also reported working with a production company called Film in a Bag on site visits, including the Vintage Wings and Wheels Museum, and said the county could host small film projects as soon as spring next year.
On broadband, staff said Surf Internet received a substantial share of local Bee Grant awards for Boone County deployment. Pam reported that nearly 63% of the county’s Bee Grant funds went to Surf Internet and characterized the combined Surf Internet and Bee Grant investment as more than $5,015,000,000 (reported by staff). Growth Dimensions additionally reported offering outreach office hours in partnership with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to connect local businesses with state resources.
The board had no substantive follow‑up directions; members thanked Growth Dimensions for the update and asked staff to continue outreach and site work with prospective businesses.
