The waiting is the hardest part right now for a couple of Vermilion County business related items. The new FedEx facility just south of the I-74 – Lynch Road interchange was originally scheduled to have a ribbon cutting sometime this month. But now it looks like it will happen in the spring instead. Vermilion Advantage CEO Tim Dudley says it looks to be a matter of getting everything in line. But the fact remains, these jobs, at least 150 full time positions have been expected, are on the way.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: They’ve entered a lease agreement to use the building out there. I’m sure it’s just related to getting building materials and things and getting employees hired; sometimes that takes a little longer than you expect. But we’re super happy to have FedEx here in town. It’s going to be a great opportunity, not only for them to prosper here, but for our local businesses to be able to get their goods and services out of Danville and Vermilion County faster.
Meanwhile, there’s the waiting for new job opportunities, in regard to what will happen when the Voyant beauty products plant, out towards the Tilton area on Hegeler Drive, closes up shop by the end of the year. Dudley says the main priority is to help workers find new employment, and make it a smooth transition for them.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: They are looking to completely shut that plant down by the end of the year. There are about 200-300 employees being displaced; by us and DACC and others are working really hard to make sure that those employees get placed in other positions around town. As you know there are some openings out there; so if you check our jobs board at vermilionadvantage.com; you’ll see that there are jobs out there to be had.
Dudley says Vermilion Advantage has been told that Voyant is making an effort to sell the existing plant to another company that makes similar beauty products, since that’s what the plant is equipped for.
