Medline gets $17.5 million tax package from state, to add 200 jobs
Mundelein-based Medline Industries Inc. said Monday it will expand its operations and add 200 jobs in Lake County thanks to a $17.5 million tax incentives package from the state.
As part of the state's 15-year deal, Medline has agreed not to move its headquarters out of state and, instead, will spend about $60 million to expand in Mundelein and open another office in a new location in Lake County. The company also aims to expand its warehousing operations in or near Sauget, south of East St. Louis in Illinois, said company spokeswoman Vivika Panagiotakakos.
Panagiotakakos could not say what other states were being considered for the expansion.
“Medline is proud of its long-standing relationship with Illinois and Lake County and we are thrilled to continue our significant presence in the state. We look forward to building upon this strong foundation that has been developed over many years,” Medline Chief Operating Officer Jim Abrams said in a statement. “Health care is constantly changing and we are expanding to meet those needs. Medline's workforce is world-class and many live in communities throughout northern Illinois. This agreement is a pledge and testament of our continued commitment to our customers, our employees and the state of Illinois.”
Medline, a global manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies and services, has about 12,000 workers worldwide, including about 1,600 in Mundelein. It has been expanding in recent years with its own brand name of personal care items, including adult incontinence products, and protective gear that has been in demand for Ebola preparedness and response. The company distributes medical supplies, such as gloves, facial masks and surgical gowns for hospitals, medical centers and nursing homes worldwide. It also owns the brand name of Curad bandages and distributes them to retailers for consumer use.
Medline will receive a tax credit worth an estimated $17.5 million against its future state income tax liability. The credit is offered under the state's Economic Development for a Growing Economy, or EDGE, program and is available to companies weighing a project in Illinois against sites outside the state, said a spokesman with the state.
The EDGE agreement, administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, also requires Medline to retain at least 1,600 jobs in Lake County. Of those positions, the company will receive part of its EDGE credit for retaining 714 jobs associated with its Mundelein headquarters.