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Whirlpool will open a $21 million regional distribution center near Chicago, the company said Thursday.

The 750,000-square-foot warehouse in Channahon will serve the upper Midwest and store Whirlpool appliances and brands. Whirlpool leased the space and has begun receiving shipments, the company said.

Kenco, a third-party logistics provider based in Chattanooga, Tenn., will manage the warehouse and employ about 60 to 70 people at the distribution center when it is fully operational, it said in a statement.

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