Navistar International Corporation’s plans to consolidate operations in Lisle, IL, have reportedly run aground due to local opposition to the move.
Officials from the engine and truck manufacturing giant informed village leaders they were pulling the company’s proposal to move to the former Alcatel-Lucent building at 2600 Warrenville Road.
“There is a small group that doesn’t want us in Lisle for whatever reason and misrepresenting Navistar and many of our supporters,” Navistar Chairman Dan Ustian wrote to Lisle Mayor Joe Broda. “As this is jeopardizing our image and that of many innocent people who have advocated for us, we will no longer be participating. At this point we feel it’s best if we step back and revisit the other locations we previously explored.”
Neighbors initially fought the proposal initially because of environmental concerns, and Navistar submitted a revised plan. But recently opponents have been attacking the company’s claims that the new headquarters will bring hundreds of new jobs to the area.
The news has given hope to officials in Fort Wayne, where Navistar’s plans to consolidate operations could cost the community more than 1,000 jobs. After hearing the news, Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry issued this statement:
“When it comes to Navistar, our message has been consistent from day one: There is no better place to design the next generation of highly efficient, heavy-duty trucks than here in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I want Navistar and its great employees to remain here for generations to come. Working with the Alliance and our local economic development partners, we’re doing everything that we can to make that happen.”
DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom vowed to try and change Navistar’s mind, and unloaded on those whose actions led to today’s announcement by the company.
“It is a sad day for DuPage County and its citizens that misinformation and paranoia have won the day and ended Navistar’s proposed move to the vacant Lucent Technologies building in Lisle…Over the past nine months, we have worked hard with all interested parties in seeing this important project move forward, only to now have it ended by a misinformed minority seeking only their own self-preservation. Their unfortunate stall tactics have cost our region 2,000 new jobs and millions of dollars that would be invested directly into our local economy. Sadly, the jobs that an overwhelming majority of DuPage County residents wanted to see move here will now go elsewhere.”
Likewise, Naperville Area Chamber President John Schmitt said the Chamber would go down fighting to keep Navistar in the community, and lamented the business-unfriendly turn the state of Illinois has taken recently.
Our goal is to ensure that DuPage County and Illinois does not receive a permanent black eye from this experience. Illinois is now ranked the 46th worst state for business, having lost 29 spots since 2005 by trade magazine, Chief Executive. We must do better.
