KCEDC CEO outlines three‑pillar plan; Forest Packaging to open Elgin facility, add up to 60 jobs

Michael Casa, CEO of the King County Economic Development Corporation, told the Jobs Committee that KCEDC opened April 1 and will provide monthly updates to the committee. "We opened our doors on April 1, which was my 1st day on the job," Casa said, describing a strategy built on three pillars: business retention and expansion, business attraction and collaboration.

Casa said the organization has prioritized outreach to manufacturers and has begun targeted marketing to real estate brokers, site consultants and corporate real‑estate managers, citing a recent Site Selection magazine ranking that placed Kane County among the top 20 U.S. counties for business growth. Casa said KCEDC is also launching a new website and maintaining social media channels to raise the county’s profile among site selectors.

As an example of active business attraction work, Casa announced that Forest Packaging, a 60‑year‑old family‑owned corrugated packaging company, plans to relocate from Elk Grove Village to Elgin into a 113,000‑square‑foot building at the north‑northeast corner of Bowes and South McLean Boulevard and is expected to bring between 45 and 60 new jobs. Casa said KCEDC has been supporting the company on workforce‑development connections and will provide quarterly project reports to the committee.

Committee members thanked Casa for the report and asked how the county’s workforce and new college facilities might influence inquiries; Casa said the new Elgin Community College facility will be an "indispensable partner" once it opens and emphasized ongoing partnerships with local community colleges and workforce organizations.

The committee received Casa’s update and invited KCEDC to continue monthly briefings.