Target Industries

Jefferson County, Illinois: a great, central location with extensive resources for business

Jefferson County, Illinois offers an excellent environment for doing business, thanks to a central, well-connected location and a wide range of resources created to help companies grow and succeed.

We’re at the intersection of Interstates 57 and 64 (and a short drive from I-70), which means your company is within an eight-hour truck drive of more than 133 million consumers. Through our transload facility, businesses have access to BNSF, Canadian National, Evansville Western, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, and CSX. And Mt. Vernon Outland Airport (KMVN) accommodates aircraft as large as 757s with a 6,500×150-foot ILS-equipped runway.

In addition, that transportation network means more than 639,000 workers live within an hour of local companies. We keep the workforce pipeline strong with employer-focused high school and postsecondary programs in the areas that are most valuable to employers.

Our communities offer plenty of sites as large as 450 acres and existing buildings up to 50,000 square feet. No matter which site you choose, your company will appreciate remarkably affordable water, wastewater, electricity, natural gas, and broadband.

1 Distribution

Jefferson County, Illinois is a crossroads for both road and rail — and that’s just part of the reason we provide an ideal location for distribution and logistics facilities.

At the connection between Interstates 57 and 64, and a short drive from I-70, Jefferson County, Illinois provides fast access throughout the Midwest, South, the Plains, and the East., with more than 133 million consumers living within an eight-hour truck drive. That connectivity also places a labor force of more than 639,000 within an hour of our businesses.

We’re at the junction of three Class I rail lines, with the Milano Railway Logistics transload facility providing a local interchange and connections to BNSF, Canadian National, Evansville Western, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, and CSX. Milano also provides storage, trucking, a laydown yard, and logistics services, along with high-volume metal recycling. And when it comes to air cargo, Mt. Vernon Outland Airport (KMVN) accommodates aircraft as large as 757s with a 6,500×150-foot ILS-equipped runway.

Jefferson County’s workforce stays strong with employer-focused high school and postsecondary programs in fields such as robotics, diesel mechanics, facilities management, maintenance, construction, electricity, business, and accounting. Plus, the cost of doing business here is low, thanks in large part to remarkably affordable electricity, natural gas, and broadband.

2 Existing Industries

In some places, economic development is limited to attracting new businesses, but in Jefferson County, Illinois, we recognize the value of helping our current employers thrive and grow. Local companies are the backbone of our economy and we’re ready to help them with their needs.

We’re proud to work with outstanding corporate citizens like Continental Tire, the world’s fourth-largest tire manufacturer and employer of nearly 3,600 local residents. Walgreens, the nation’s second-largest pharmacy store chain, operates a major distribution facility here that employs 1,500 people. Mt. Vernon is the headquarters of National Railway Equipment Company, manufacturers of low-emission, low-noise locomotives, owner of the world’s largest privately owned locomotive fleet, and part of our area’s 130-year railroad manufacturing tradition.

We’re also honored to partner with healthcare providers SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital Center and Crossroads Community Hospital as they work to improve the well-being of Jefferson County residents and families throughout Southern Illinois.

If your Jefferson County business has goals or challenges for which you need our support, please give us a call. Whether you need new equipment, more workers, a larger building, or assistance with government incentives, we’ll put our expertise and resources to work for you.

3 Manufacturing

Since the late 1800s, Jefferson County, Illinois has been a place where skilled workers created products for the nation and world, and our communities continue to be a source for top-quality manufacturing.

Our county’s central location and excellent transportation connections make it easy for manufacturers to obtain raw materials and ship finished products. We’re at the intersection of Interstates 57 and 64 (and a short drive from I-70), placing more than 133 million consumers within an eight-hour truck drive. Through the local Milano Railway Logistics transload facility, manufacturers have access to BNSF, Canadian National, Evansville Western, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, and CSX. And Mt. Vernon Outland Airport (KMVN) accommodates aircraft as large as 757s with a 6,500×150-foot ILS-equipped runway.

That central location also explains how we have a labor force of more than 639,000 people within an hour of our businesses. We keep our manufacturing workforce and pipeline strong with employer-focused high school and postsecondary programs in subjects such as CNC machining, welding, robotics, engineering, CAD/drafting, electronics, maintenance, electricity, business, and accounting. Plus, the cost of manufacturing here is lower, thanks to remarkably affordable natural gas and electricity (with redundant service available).

4 Retail

Thanks to both our thriving communities and our central location at the meeting point of two Interstate highways, Jefferson County, Illinois is a natural location for a broad range of retail businesses.

Our location at the meeting of Interstates 57 and 64 (and just down the road from I-70) makes us an ideal site for hotels, restaurants, and facilities such as conference and event centers. It also presents opportunities for service stations, convenience stores, and other businesses serving the needs of truckers and tourists. In fact, our central location offers such convenience and easy access that companies such as Walgreens have chosen Jefferson County for key distribution centers.

With a strong employment base, local residents have money to spend — and the retail businesses serving their needs don’t have to worry about a shortage of available workers. Our county’s connectivity places a labor force of more than 639,000 within a one-hour drive.

The strength of our workforce is supported with employer-focused programs at both the high school and postsecondary level, with programs in culinary arts, consumer sciences, family sciences, business, accounting, and human resources.

5 Small Business

Whether you already operate a growing small business or are an entrepreneur pursuing a dream, you’ll find that Jefferson County, Illinois provides many powerful advantages. The Jefferson County Development Corporation has access to a wide variety of resources to support the needs of small and startup companies.

From training and other workforce resources, to assistance with finding the right funding programs, to help with site selection and knowledge of available locations, our team works as your partner. We can also offer access to a variety of small business education programs to sharpen your knowledge of areas such as accounting and human resources.

Our team can also connect you with other economic development resources, such as state and federal loan programs available through Champion Community Investments and a wealth of programs and other resources from the Illinois Small Business Development Center.

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6 Major Employers

Jefferson County’s largest non-governmental employers.

Continental Tire
- 3496 Employees
- Manufacturing
SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital
- 2138 Employees
- Healthcare
Walgreens Distribution Center
- 1484 Employees
- Regional Distribution
Walmart
- 380 Employees
- Retail
National Railway Equipment Company
- 376 Employees
- Manufacturing
Crossroads Community Hospital
- 290 Employees
- Healthcare
Spero
- 197 Employees
- Service
Kroger
- 130 Employees
- Retail
Peoples National Bank
- 102 Employees
- Banking
NAPA Distribution Center
- 90 Employees
- Distribution
Durham Bus Service
- 84 Employees
- Transportation
Orthopedic Center of Southern Illinois
- 78 Employees
- Medical Billing
Medline
- 77 Employees
- Healthcare
Magnum Steelworks
- 50 Employees
- Manufacturing
Mt. Vernon Neon Sign
- 38 Employees
- Manufacturing
Innotech
- 35 Employees
- Manufacturing