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Komatsu broke floor on a brand new $30 million constructing at its Adams Avenue campus in Peoria on Monday.
Native politicians, together with U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, a Democrat from the seventeenth District, had been in Peoria to champion the funding they stated will probably be massive for the way forward for manufacturing within the space.
“One of many issues that makes our nation’s heartland so nice is that that is the place we construct the machines that do the laborious work, not simply right here however world wide,” Sorensen stated. “That is the place we develop the merchandise that maintain nations’ economies going, not simply our personal.”
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Chris Setti, the CEO of the Larger Peoria Financial Improvement Council, stated this new funding exhibits the Peoria space remains to be the “coronary heart of producing” in America.
The brand new constructing will home engineers and different help workers who assist construct Komatsu’s 400-ton vehicles, considered one of which they now have displayed prominently on Adams Avenue.
Komatsu staff round 850 individuals within the Peoria-area, in accordance the GPEDC’s Greater Peoria data hub.
Dan Funcannon, a senior vp at Komatsu, stated they hope to maneuver into the brand new constructing earlier than Christmas 2025. After the brand new constructing is full and staff are moved in, the previous constructing that sits to the north of the brand new one will probably be torn down. The previous constructing was constructed within the Nineteen Seventies.
“It is superior. I’m simply tremendous excited for the workers, actually, it is an funding within the staff who dwell and work, increase households right here in Peoria,” Funcannon stated. “This actually is about investing again into the worker base right here in Peoria.”
The brand new constructing will probably be some of the vital investments seen in Peoria’s North Valley in years. Metropolis councilmember Tim Riggenbach, whose third District is house to the undertaking, stated Komatsu has been a “stalwart” within the space for a very long time.
“Whenever you take a look at the roots of what Komatsu’s predecessors had been, this location has a number of historical past to it, so to respect that and construct upon that, it’s totally satisfying,” Riggenbach stated.
Peoria Mayor Rita Ali stated in a launched assertion:
“Komatsu’s dedication to Peoria is a partnership we enormously worth,” Ali stated. “The brand new facility represents a step ahead in sustainable manufacturing and strengthening Peoria’s economic system and neighborhood. We’re excited to see Komatsu’s continued funding in our metropolis, creating alternatives for the following technology of staff.”
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This text initially appeared on Journal Star: Peoria manufacturer breaks ground on new $30 million building
