Temporary housing company makes move toward new corporate headquarters
St. Charles, Ill. - Sept. 14, 2015 - As its team helps to find temporary housing for hundreds of families impacted by the wildfires of northern California, ALE Solutions begins construction on a new corporate headquarters in downtown St. Charles. ALE is the nation's largest provider of temporary housing for displaced insurance policyholders.
At a morning groundbreaking ceremony, ALE's Chief Executive Officer Robert Zimmers called it an "exciting day" not only for the company but also for the city and downtown businesses. "We're really here celebrating the whole development. We're just the first to set it in motion," Zimmers said.
The company's new headquarters will be located in a building at First and Illinois Streets, and bordering the Fox River. It's the start of the third phase of the city's First Street Redevelopment project. ALE will own and occupy all of the office floors of the building - 36,000 square feet of space located on the second, third and fourth floors - enabling the company to consolidate its current locations in the St. Charles area at one site. Retail space is slated for the first floor of the building.
ALE's main office currently is located in the Fox Island Square Building at 1 Illinois St., down the street from the construction site. It has had to occupy additional office space scattered throughout the city as more employees were hired to meet customer demand for its services.
"As a family-owned business based in St. Charles, it's good to know we'll soon come back together in one place as a work family," Zimmers noted. "We provide services to thousands of families across the country each month in need of housing in a family environment, so we're thankful we'll be able to continue to do so as we grow."
The company started in St. Charles nearly 15 years ago by Rowena Zimmers. The company has grown from a two-person operation in its first year to almost 300 people today. In the last five years alone, ALE has increased hiring by 20 percent year over year. "We never dreamed we'd be standing here today," said Rowena Zimmers, president and founder of ALE.
St. Charles Mayor Raymond Rogina was among dozens of community members who attended the ground breaking event, which noted ALE's economic significance in supporting downtown businesses and creating jobs over the years.
The company's new corporate home is expected to be complete sometime in 2017.
ALE Solutions works with all insurance providers across the country, specifically with insurance adjusters and policyholders, to find appropriate housing for families displaced from their homes due to a major property - a result of a fire, tornado, hurricane or earthquake.
"Our ultimate goal is to get the families traumatized by personal or natural disasters into temporary housing that brings them comfort as they begin to put together the pieces of their lives," explained Rowena Zimmers.
ALE Solutions continues to operate a 24-hour call center to help families devastated by home loss. For policy holders in need of immediate temporary housing, call (866) 587-1395 or visit www.alesolutions.com.