Method To Open Chicago Plant

Officials from Method joined Mayor Rahm Emanuel and representatives from Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration today to announce that Method will open a flagship manufacturing facility in the Pullman neighborhood on Chicago’s south side.
 
The new space, which will bring about 100 manufacturing jobs to Chicago, comes after a long effort to bring the company’s first US manufacturing facility to Illinois.
 
Said Emanuel. “A fast-growing company like Method could have chosen any city to expand their company, but with our world-class business services, our international market access, and our highly-skilled workers, they chose Chicago as the place to build their first manufacturing center in the U.S. With their commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability, I am proud to welcome Method to the city of Chicago.”
 
The facility will be located what is known as Pullman Park. Method expects to break ground in November 2013, and be fully up and running by early 2015.The company is going to seek LEED certification for the building, which will be designed to be an environmentally friendly facility.
 
“Building a world-class manufacturing plant is pivotal for us as a leader in innovative and sustainable products and the support from the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois have been integral in our considerations,” said Drew Fraser, CEO of Method.
 
“The opportunity to build our first manufacturing plant in Chicago marks a milestone in Method’s journey of aligning our interests as a business with the interests of society and the environment,” stated Adam Lowryc-Founder and Chief Greenskeeper of Method. “As a native of the Great Lakes region, I’m particularly grateful to be returning to the Midwest to help create manufacturing jobs and green-collar jobs in Chicago that will help build strong, prosperous communities.”
 
Method will be eligible for tax credits worth $1.1 million over ten years based on creating and retaining 65 jobs. The tax credits are linked to performance and the company is not eligible for them unless it meets its commitment to create new jobs and invest in the community. Method will also be eligible for training grants to enhance the quality of its workforce.

According to a report in The Chicago Tribune, 150,000 sq.ft. site will emply 65 staffers, with another 20 working for an on-site supplier.

Method, which was founded in 2000 by Eric Ryan and Adam Lowry,  was acquired last September by Ecover, a Belgium-based company that also offers green household and personal care products. With estimated sales of $112 million, Method was ranked No. 49 in HAPPI’s 2012 Top 50 Report, which profiles the leading makers of household and personal care products that are based in the US.

You can read about the 2013 HAPPI Top 50 Report here.