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* Press release…
State Representative Lindsay Parkhurst (R – Kankakee) and Kankakee County Board Chairman Andy Wheeler announced today Kankakee County submitted its Request for Proposal (RFP) to Amazon outside of the Illinois RFP package. Rep. Parkhurst commented:
“The Governor submitted a Chicago only proposal for the State’s RFP for Amazon HQ2. We respect the Governor’s decision, but are not letting this discourage us. The Kankakee County RFP is an inspired, inventive, imaginative, and innovative plan quite different from most submissions. Chairman Wheeler and Kankakee County presented a visionary, comprehensive, and conceptual plan for Amazon H2Q. Our RFP thinks outside the box.”
Somebody got out the thesaurus.
* From the Illinois Policy Institute’s news service…
Kankakee County Board Chairman Andy Wheeler sent their proposal Tuesday after hearing the news about Chicago’s submission. While he conceded that Chicago has the population, it isn’t necessarily known for being business friendly, which was among Amazon’s criteria.
“The amenities that Chicago offers are world class, but I wonder about the business environment,” Wheeler said. […]
Wheeler couldn’t give specifics of his county’s unique plan to persuade Amazon to overlook the lower population, but he said that the offer stood out by “allowing Amazon to create their own incentive package.”
* Local columnist remains hopeful…
For Amazon to select Kankakee County over huge cities such as Chicago, New York, Boston, Washington D.C./Baltimore, Atlanta, Denver, Austin (Texas) plus Ottawa and Toronto in Canada, would be considered a one-in-a-billion shot at best.
However, this county was ticketed as a long shot in 2001 when the Chicago Bears were looking for a new summer home for their annual training camp.
There were more than 20 other Illinois universities in the running at the time. Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, one of the smallest, put this county’s best foot forward when the Bears’ brass came to visit.
* The Kankakee Daily Journal has the fall-back plan…
Kankakee County’s quest to get in on the new Amazon headquarters might have become greater as the Chicago region officially submitted its bid to land the company’s prized second headquarters.
Kankakee County’s hope is that if the Chicago region were to submit the winning bid, then, perhaps, some portion of the Amazon headquarters could spill here. If nothing else, county residents could gain access to those jobs.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 1:09 pm
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They should enlist the services of Kankakee resident, George Ryan, who, as Governor, helped bring Boeing HQ to Illinois. /snark
Comment by Anon Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 1:27 pm
–Our RFP thinks outside the box–
Yes, it does, because it’s outside of the minimum qualifications. If there was a statistical term for less than zero, that would be Kankakee’s chance at landing Amazon.
Comment by Ahoy! Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 1:34 pm
This, like every other small area’s shot in the dark, exists solely for elected officials (up for reelection) to demonstrate to voters “vote for me. I believe in business recruitment!” I will give Kankakee County credit in that they are submitting an actual plan and not sending 21 foot cacti or some dumb gimmick. A plan can be used for future recruitment efforts. Gimmicks probably can’t get recovered from the landfill.
Comment by Nuke the Whales Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 1:45 pm
Good on them for trying and getting some good PR in the process. Probably not going to get Amazon, but heck, if they can lure an ADM plant, or maybe a regional distribution center, Lord knows they could use the jobs.
Is Roper still in business? Maybe Roper will come back home.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 1:45 pm
Good on them for trying. While I agree it’s a very long shot, keep in mind that the bid is for the County, not the City; and Kankakee County isn’t that far from Chicago and IF the 3rd airport was ever built, the County would be in its backyard.
Comment by We'll See Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 2:13 pm
I’d like to see some river camp along the Illinois River submit a proposal to lure Amazon to their village. “What we lack in transportation and infrastructure and cultural amenities we make up for with lots of good fishin’ and huntin’ and cold Natty Lite! Come on down and we’ll show you around!” Rauner could make an appearance,dressed up in his fishin’ duds for the occasion.
Comment by Illinois 1818-2018 RIP Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 2:14 pm
Illinois doesn’t have a chance of landing HQ2. this whole contest is a way for Bezos to find out how low state and local governments will go to beg for jobs. once that bar is set it’ll become the minimum requirement for the next round of Dance For The Rich Guy’s Amusement.
Comment by Homer J. Quinn Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 2:18 pm
Would have been more feasible to go after the Toyota plant than this but as others said-it gets Lindsey’s picture out before the next R-D battle in that district in ‘18.
Comment by OurMagician Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 2:33 pm
Cities and counties on the fringe of the metropolitan area need to get a grip on reality. Even though Amazon is open to suburban locations, it’s NOT looking to locate on the outer edge of a metro area. SMH
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 2:36 pm
So, it appears nobody has stepped forward to challenge Parkhurst. The plan doesn’t appear to be complete garbage. It appears that they also had permission to state that all “State Incentives” given to Chi or STL will be given in Kankakee. Kankakee only has upside in this. If Kankakee moves to the 2nd round and Chicago doesn’t, that would be a huge win.
Comment by Not A Happy Camper Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 2:41 pm
Maybe Amazon will manufacture all the ranges etc. That were made there and just buy the City.
Comment by bear3 Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 4:03 pm
HQ, maybe not so much, but the county is poised as a pretty good distribution point. Monee, a few miles north along I-57, got the Amazon MDW7 fulfillment center.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 4:17 pm
This is pretty typical of the political and economic development leadership in Kankakee County. The prevailing strategy seems to be wish for the manufacturing of 40+ years ago to come back (it isn’t), do nothing to throw the county’s hat in the ring for feasible projects, e.g. Amazon warehouses, logistics, and so on, and then submit unrealistically crazy proposals like this. I’m sure Amazon is clamoring to locate in a shrinking county whose higher education attainment severely lags the state and national averages. Maybe Kankakee’s “urban amenities” will be enough to convince Bezos though.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 4:21 pm
Down Here at the “Tiny Tap ” we’re more worried about the Sox ( and even Cubs tonight ) than Amazon , eh ?
Comment by x ace Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 6:21 pm
On the news this morning (Thurs.) talking about this, and Illinois wasn’t even mentioned as being in the running.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Oct 19, 17 @ 11:37 am