In a sweet deal for the city, Bloomington is now home to candy manufacturer Ferrero's only chocolate factory in North America, an addition that represents continued economic investment in the area and dozens of new jobs.
"I'd be kidding if I didn't admit to feeling a little bit like a kid again today as we celebrate the opening of our very own chocolate factory," Bloomington Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe said Tuesday morning. "When we see Crunch bars, 100 Grands, Raisinets and Kinder Bueno candies in the stores or at the movie theaters, we'll know that Bloomington played a role in making the world just a little bit happier."
Mwilambwe was one of several state and local leaders on hand at Tuesday's ceremonial ribbon-cutting. The gathering celebrated a 70,000-square-foot expansion at the Bloomington manufacturing plant — a literal chocolate factory whose output will be used in known brands like Butterfinger.
"Today's ribbon-cutting goes beyond chocolate, believe it or not," Mwilambwe said. "It's about a promise kept."
Mwilambwe said he recalled sitting in city administrative offices and speaking with Ferrero's North America leadership team, who told him they had a "history of making significant investments in communities [where] they are located."
Since the Italian multinational company's arrival in 2018, Mwilambwe said it's invested nearly $300 million. Its latest expansion also added 50 jobs to the area.
Also in attendance Tuesday was Gov. JB Pritzker. It was his second visit to Bloomington-Normal in the past week, following a visit to electric automaker Rivian to announce $827 million in state incentives. Ferrero also has benefited from state and local tax incentives. Asked why the state has doubled-down on its investment in the region, Pritzker said the area is attractive to business leaders.
"It's in part due to the great economic development efforts right here in Bloomington-Normal — so let's give credit where credit is due..." Pritzker told reporters. "I think the other is companies want to come here. They want to be in Central Illinois. We're just trying to make it easier for them to come at the state level by providing some tax incentives so they know we're here and we can compete with other states."
Ferrero also is set to open a new production facility at the end of this year dedicated to Kinder Bueno chocolate bars. The $214 million facility will add 200 more jobs once it's up and running.
Mwilambwe said he expects to have "robust" conversations with "community partners" to discuss an ongoing labor shortage amid additional employment growth.
"It's a nice problem to have because we're growing, but we have to be a little bit more aggressive because it takes awhile to develop housing. So, I'm looking forward to more discussions on that," Mwilambwe said.
Logan prison
Also Tuesday, Pritzker said he thinks municipalities like Lincoln, about 40 minutes southwest of Bloomington-Normal, should pivot their focus to private economic opportunities. Pritzker was asked about the concerns of some state and local leaders that a plan to demolish and rebuild the run-down women's prison would potentially hurt the local economy as hundreds of jobs move out.
"I think that really is the future for most places across the state: Not to rely upon a state-run facility, a prison. That can't be a great economic growth strategy. We want to work together to see how we might be able to attract some new companies like [Ferrero] and others that we've been getting to Logan [County]," he said.
