​Sen. Nybo Shows Support for Manufacturing

LOMBARD - State Sen. Chris Nybo (R-Elmhurst) is calling this week for renewed efforts by state lawmakers to support manufacturing businesses in Illinois.

"Manufacturers play a pivotal role in our state, creating jobs within the industry and also providing materials for countless other businesses that all together are key to a strong Illinois economy," Nybo said. "We need to reevaluate our laws to ensure our regulations are reasonable - protecting the environment and consumers without preventing our businesses from succeeding."

Nybo expressed his ongoing interest in promoting Illinois businesses after touring the Vanee Foods Company's Broadview plant Oct. 7 as part of Manufacturing Day events. October is dedicated to increasing interest in the industry and has been dubbed Manufacturing Month.

"Vanee Foods stands as a true American success story: a third-generation, family-owned business started by Dutch immigrants back in 1950," Nybo noted. "It was inspiring learning about the hard-working Van Eekeren family - our neighbors who live in Elmhurst, Wheaton and Naperville - and seeing their longstanding suburban business in action."

The Berkeley-based company, which started with three employees and grew to employ roughly 200, sells more than 500 varieties of customized food products, from canned entrees and gravies to dry mixes and soup bases. Thousands of restaurants and food-service providers across the country use Vanee ingredients in their menu items, including Culver's and Dairy Queen.

"Just as the Van Eekerens have worked hard to achieve the American Dream, lawmakers need to ensure more of our Illinois residents can fulfill their dreams of running their own business," Nybo says. "We all need to support our local businesses - retail, manufacturing, restaurants and service industries."