Vonco Products LLC, a leading manufacturer of flexible packaging and promotional products, is relocating its operations from northern Illinois to Kenosha County, company and state officials announced today.
Vonco, which has been creating customized packaging solutions for more than 60 years, has outgrown its current facility in Lake Villa, Ill., and will be moving to an 80,500 square-foot facility at the Salem Business Park in the Town of Salem.
The company expects to invest more than $4 million in equipment at the facility and create 86 jobs over the next three years.
“I would like to personally welcome Vonco to Wisconsin and thank the company for making this commitment to the state,” said Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, who joined company officials in Kenosha County to make the announcement. “The fact that Vonco and other companies have decided to relocate to Wisconsin in the last six years demonstrates that our efforts to create a positive business climate and strengthen our workforce are making a real impact.”
For Keith Smith, president of Vonco, the move signifies an opportunity to expand the company’s capacity and capabilities.
“We were very impressed with what the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and its partners put together, and we also want to thank the Kenosha Area Business Alliance (KABA) for the role they played in bringing the various parties together to complete this deal,” said Smith. “We’re very excited about what our new location means in terms of delivering solutions for our customers, especially with the launch of our new division focused on liquid-tight packaging.”
To help attract Vonco to Wisconsin, WEDC has authorized the company to receive up to $500,000 in state tax credits over the next three years. The actual amount of tax credits received will be contingent upon the number of jobs created during that time.
Vonco will be the anchor tenant of a new business park being developed by KABA. Vonco is leasing the building from KABA and will have an option to purchase the facility. The company is expected to take occupancy in June 2017. The Town of Salem has created a tax increment financing district to support the Salem Business Park development.
“The Town of Salem is thrilled to welcome an advanced manufacturing company like Vonco Products to our community,” said Pat Casey, Salem town administrator. “We’ve made a commitment to the Salem Business Park and feel that it is an attractive location for business. We’re excited to work with our partners at KABA, M7 and WEDC to attract more investment here.”
“Vonco’s decision to locate in the Salem Business Park is a positive sign that the investment that KABA, the Town of Salem and Kenosha County have made in establishing this park will prove to be a sound strategy,” added Todd Battle, president of KABA.
Other local and regional officials applauded the company for selecting Kenosha County.
Kenosha County Executive Jim Kreuser said: “We are very excited to be announcing this project with Vonco. This is a great company to anchor the development of the Salem Business Park. They are making a substantial investment in the future of their company and we expect that their expansion will result in 100 new jobs in the Town of Salem.”
“It seems like every week, we’re welcoming a new business and new jobs to southeastern Wisconsin,” said state Sen. Van Wanggaard, whose district includes the Town of Salem. “It’s just more proof that our economic environment has improved, and employers across the country are taking note.”
“We are delighted that Vonco Products has chosen to relocate this impressive operation to southeastern Wisconsin,” said Jim Paetsch, vice president of the Milwaukee 7 (M7), the regional economic development entity for southeastern Wisconsin. “Vonco is precisely the type of company we want in our region. The decision to locate here is a strong, positive sign that our regional assets, business climate and quality workforce continue to be attractive to world-class companies.”
In addition to the 86 Wisconsin jobs expected to be created by Vonco, an economic modeling study estimates the project could indirectly generate 96 additional jobs in the region. Those 182 jobs are expected to generate up to $2.2 million in state income tax revenue over a five-year period.
Vonco is the latest company to establish operations in Kenosha County. Since the beginning of 2013, major economic development projects accounting for more than 6,000 new jobs and nearly $1 billion of capital investment have been announced, completed or are underway in the county. Companies that have new facilities in Kenosha County include Amazon, ULINE, InSinkErator, Meijer, Niagara Bottling and Gourmet Foods International.
The announcement comes as more than a dozen state agencies and organizations are marking Wisconsin Manufacturing Month with events throughout October. Wisconsin manufacturers produced more than $57 billion worth of output in 2015, accounting for 19 percent of the state’s gross domestic product. The state’s 9,500 manufacturers employ more than 465,000 workers.
About the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) leads economic development efforts for the state by advancing and maximizing opportunities in Wisconsin for businesses, communities and people to thrive in a globally competitive environment. Working with more than 600 regional and local partners, WEDC develops and delivers solutions representative of a highly responsive and coordinated economic development network. Visit www.inwisconsin.com or follow WEDC on Twitter @_InWisconsin to learn more.
About Vonco Products LLC
Vonco has been creating customized solutions utilizing over 60 years of experience in materials, bag, pouch and sleeve design, seals and closures; moving from concept to production totally in-house to satisfy customer goals and needs. These in-house services support speed to market and a one stop ship process facilitating ease of doing business. In-house tooling and die design further support customized solutions. Vonco has a reputation for supplying quality products that meet and exceed customer needs and has done so consistently. Vonco has built long-term customer relationships, which it leverages to gain market insight. Visit the company’s website at www.vonco.com.