The President of Vermilion Advantage, Vickie Haugen, says she is excited about some of the things that are in the works for our area during 2019. She notes 2018 was a very good year with the decision of AutoZone to double its Midwest Distribution Center in Danville – taking it to 450,000 square feet and adding over 100 new jobs. It was also during 2018 that construction began on the Villas of Holly Brook Senior Citizen development along Bowman Avenue.
Haugen says 2019 is expected to see new retail development on the northwest corner of Vermilion and Fairchild Streets in Danville, and new development next to the new OSF Urgent Care medical facility now under construction in front of Meijer on North Vermilion.
And 2019 will see a doubling of the 52-thousand square foot Flex-N-Gate facility in Danville as the company plans to double its present workforce of 135 by 2021. The company along Lynch Road is bringing new investment to Vermilion County amounting to over $18-million dollars.
Haugen adds Oakwood and Hoopeston are also expected to continue seeing new development this year.
Construction on a new Mach 1 Travel Plaza is scheduled to begin early this year along route one in Tilton. Commercial Broker Larry Kuchefski says it will include a car wash, Little Ceasars Pizza, package liquor and a gaming parlor.
Kuchefski also said last month that some big box stores have shown an interest in other land in that area (near Vermilion Chevrolet), but none have committed. Kuchefski says 18 acres at the site have been set aside for possible development by a box store. And he adds other stores and restaurants have shown an interest in the area – but none have signed agreements to locate there.
