Caterpillar Welcomed By Lake County Business Officials

DEERFIELD, IL — After receiving last week's news that Caterpillar has decided to select Deerfield as the home of its new corporate headquarters, Lake County officials and local business group Lake County Partners issued statements lauding the decision and praising Cat and its employees. Leaders from both groups joined the Village of Deerfield in welcoming Caterpillar to the neighborhood and anticipated working together to ensure that the transition is smooth and successful.

Caterpillar initially plans to relocate approximately 100 employees to its new site immediately. That number could triple in coming years, the groups said. The industrial equipment manufacturer announced plans to lay off 800 workers in Aurora last month.

“Lake County has made it our mission to invest in our people and develop the talent pipelines that our employers need. Caterpillar's decision to bring its headquarters to Deerfield and Lake County demonstrates that our innovative plan to grow jobs and our local economy is working,” said Aaron Lawlor, Lake County Board Chairman.

CEO of Lake County Partners, Kevin Considine, said he was not surprised by the company's choice, "When we first learned of Caterpillar’s decision to relocate and its desire to be near Chicago and transportation, we knew Lake County would be a perfect location based on the company’s criteria,” said Considine. “Access to transportation and talent were at the top of the list, and Lake County delivers with a highly educated workforce and convenient access to O’Hare International Airport and the City of Chicago.”

The County boasted it is an excellent place to live and work, with a highly skilled and increasingly international workforce, easy access to global markets, nationally ranked schools, world-class recreation, and a variety of fantastic communities to call home.

Top photo: Patrick Martin