Des Plaines’ Lawson Products gets state tax breaks to move out

Des Plaines-based Lawson Products will get state tax breaks to move its corporate headquarters to Chicago and move its packaging and distribution operations from Des Plaines, Addison and Vernon Hills to a new facility in McCook.

The distributor of industrial maintenance and repair supplies will get $7.8 million in job-creation tax credits over 10 years, said Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity spokeswoman Marcelyn Love. The deal depends on the company retaining 450 jobs.

The announcement comes while a legislative committee is in Springfield this week debating whether Illinois can afford a massive package of tax breaks for businesses including Sears Holdings in Hoffman Estates and CME Group in Chicago.

The Lawson deal did not require legislative approval.

“When our new packaging and distribution center is completed and our headquarters are relocated, we will further improve operating efficiencies that will help us achieve our vision to be our customers’ first choice for maintenance, repair, and operating solutions,” Lawson CEO Tom Neri said in a statement.

The statement also says “a majority of the teams” that work in the three suburban locations will work in the McCook facility.