The state of Illinois awarded more than $1.7 million in Opportunity Returns support for suburban-based Levy Home Entertainment LLC, one of the country’s leading book distributors for mass-market retailers, that will allow the company to move its distribution center to a larger facility in Romeoville and keep its sales and marketing operations in Illinois, which is creating 25 new jobs and retaining 305 other jobs.
The business investment package comes as a part of Opportunity Returns, the Governor’s comprehensive economic development strategy to create jobs and spur growth in Northeast Illinois and throughout the state.
Levy Home Entertainment (LHE), which is headquartered in Melrose Park, Ill., was established in 1962 and is the book distribution company of Chas Levy Company, LLC. LHE currently operates its Midwest distribution center and Sales and Marketing offices in Hillside, but as a result of increased growth in recent years, the company will relocate its distribution center to Will County, and move its Sales and Marketing operations to another Chicago-based location.
The new distribution facility will more than quadruple LHE’s effective available space as compared to the old facility. Levy operates two other distribution facilities, one in Clearfield, Utah, and the other in Salem, Va.
“We are pleased that we were able to keep this distribution center in Illinois as we have a long history here, dating back to 1893,” said Barbara Levy Kipper, chairman and CEO of the Chas Levy Co. “We considered a number of neighboring states and found the advantages in Romeoville.”
DCEO is administering the business investment package that includes Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) corporate income tax credits over 10 years based on job creation and retention; and Employer Training Investment Program (ETIP) job training funds that will help enhance the skills of its work force.
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