Manufacturer to sweep 150 new jobs into Aurora
Aurora residents should never have to look very far for a broom from now on.
Freudenberg Household Products, makers of O-Cedar mops, brooms and other cleaning products, announced Monday it is moving its North America headquarters to Aurora next year and bringing 150 new jobs with it.
"One of their product lines, O-Cedar, is a very popular line, and I can attest they are long-lasting products," said Mayor Tom Weisner. "My wife would say that's because I don't use them enough, but we're very pleased to have Freudenberg join us in Aurora."
The 525,000-square-foot facility will be built on Aurora's east side in the Prairie Point West Industrial Park at 2188 Diehl Road. It will serve as the administrative, manufacturing and distribution center for all of North America.
Ron Tillery, president and CEO of Freudenberg, said his team searched 10 sites in four states but wanted to remain in Illinois. Aurora, he said, was an easy sell.
"We quickly got to a decision point that this really is where we need to be. This is a good, honest town. It's a town that reflects who we are," Tillery said Monday. "So we couldn't be more pleased about being in Aurora and keeping our roots."
Freudenberg currently is based in Northlake, but Tillery said the company anticipates investing $41 million into the Aurora site and is projecting a grand opening in the third quarter of 2009.
City officials were able to sweeten the pot a little to further entice the move. Sherman Jenkins, executive director of the Aurora Economic Development Commission, said the city is giving Freudenberg a seven-year tax rebate at 75 percent of the city's portion of property taxes, capped at $1.55 million, and waiving 75 percent of the building permit fees, up to $127,000.
"Especially during these challenging economic times, we are very fortunate to work with FHP," Weisner said. "FHP's outstanding reputation in the marketplace makes this an extraordinary partnership and one which we are looking forward to very much."