Romeoville Mayor John Noak highlighted numerous new development projects and achievements at the state of the village address March 24.
The Romeoville Area Chamber of Commerce lunch at the Edward Hospital Athletic and Event Center, a new 76,000-square-foot building at 55 Phelps Ave., was one of the projects that Noak touted as a huge success since it opened last year.
“It has brought thousands of people to the community,” Noak said to more than 100 attendees. “That is the key about this facility. (They) will spend their money at our facilities and continue to create new economic development.”
The village paid about $11 million for the construction of the athletic and event center using mostly tax increment financing dollars. Indoor Sports Management Group of La Grange is managing the facility and will share some profits with the village.
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The village recently sold the naming rights of the building to Edward Hospital. The naming rights agreement will net Romeoville $500,000 in five yearly installments, according to village documents.
During the hourlong speech, Noak also pointed out several new warehouse and business developments in the community, including a new Ashley Furniture facility with offices, a distribution center and a store that will open this spring.
Ashley Furniture moved into the 454,525-square-foot warehouse at 1045 W. Crossroads Parkway in January.
“It includes over 150 jobs,” Noak said. “We are very excited to have such a large investment in our community.”
Noak said the village added more than 1.3 million square feet of new industrial space and 79,000 square feet of commercial development in 2014.
Other new developments in the suburb last year include the expansion of a company that makes frozen pizzas, and the relocation to Romeoville of a Chicago company that manufactures and supplies personal protective equipment and clothing.
Noak also mentioned that construction might begin next year on the suburb’s first Metra station near 135th street and New Avenue.
“This will change the dynamics and open up new opportunities for the village,” he said. “We are very excited to have it.”