By Andi Anderson
John Deere has purchased 234 acres of land in Northwest Indiana, according to a press release from Coldwell Banker Commercial Realty. The agricultural equipment manufacturing giant acquired the parcel for $7 million.
Plans are underway to build a 1.2-million-square-foot warehouse and distribution facility on the site.
The future warehouse, located in the 2100 block of West 181st Avenue near the Illinois-Indiana border in Lowell, will be larger than Chicago’s Willis Tower when laid down on its side. The Willis Tower is 1,729 feet tall.
The construction of this massive facility is expected to generate 1,200 union construction jobs. Upon completion, the facility will create 400-500 permanent positions, according to Coldwell Banker.
Nancy Frigo, president of the Lowell Chamber of Commerce, expressed excitement about the development. “We look forward to the positive economic impact for our community.
South Lake County is ready for growth with this development, providing easy access to major highways and the Illinois border.”
The prime location, strategically positioned at the southwest corner of I-65 south and Route 2, offers more than 2,595 feet of road frontage on I-65 and over 3,397 feet on Route 2.
The site is minutes away from major highways, the Illinois border, and a new hospital currently under construction. It has gas, sewer, and water availability.
Frigo represented the seller, Hallmark Construction Company, in John Deere’s land transaction. Venture One will develop the site.
Coldwell Banker announced John Deere’s acquisition just days after the company revealed it would be laying off workers across the Midwest.
According to reports from NewsNation and WHBF, John Deere laid off around 600 workers at facilities in East Moline, Illinois, and Davenport and Dubuque, Iowa. The layoffs were due to a reduction in demand for products produced at some facilities in Iowa and Illinois.
John Deere has lowered its full-year profit forecast twice, with the latest projection at $7 billion, down from the initial range of $7.75 billion to $8.25 billion. The reduction is attributed to farmers buying fewer machines than expected.
According to the USDA, net farm income in 2024 is estimated to be $116.1 billion, a 25.5% decrease from 2023, due to lower prices for soybeans and corn.
Coldwell Banker’s press release did not include any statements from John Deere. No additional details on the company’s Northwest Indiana project have been made publicly available as of this article’s publication.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-jimfeng
Categories: Indiana, Business, General