Knox County Has Long Been Feeding The World
This is Where Ag Producers and Transportation Networks Meet
Knox County, Illinois is home to some of the world’s most productive cropland, with 355,450 acres (of the 27 million total acres in Illinois). That means two important things to our low-BOD food processing companies. First, our area is a reliable source for ag inputs …and second, many of the 410,000 workers who live within an hour’s drive grew up on the farm and around agriculture.
355,450 acres of cropland
89 percent of Illinois cropland is prime farmland
3rd among US states for prime acreage
40+ million households within 600 miles
Local & Nearby Food Operations
Innovative Production USA, Western's Smokehouse, Smithfield, Brodie Meats, Kitchen Cooked Potato Chips
Extensive Transportation
Knox County has transportation connections larger cities would envy. Truck transport benefits from fast access to three interstates and several U.S. and state highways, allowing critical shipments to reach Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Des Moines in less than half a day. Rail users will appreciate that we’re the meeting place of seven BNSF mainlines, hosting 100 trains each day, along with shortline service. The nearby Heart of Illinois Regional Port and several Consolidated Barge and Grain locations round out the options.
Additional Information
Contact: Ken Springer ken@knoxpartnership.com
Well-prepared Workforce
Local workers benefit from a rich educational infrastructure focused on employer expectations. More than half have earned some college credit and 28 percent hold at least an associate degree. The Galesburg Area Vocational Center, a career and technical education center serving nearly 300 high school students, offers workforce-centered programs. Carl Sandburg College, a community college with nearly 2,000 students, provides continuing education, customized training, and agriculture-focused programs in fields such as animal science, plant science, soil science, horticulture, agricultural resources, agribusiness, and many others. Their dual-credit classes allow students to transfer to University of Illinois’s College of Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences program.
More Great Reasons
Local food processing companies also benefit from Ameren’s extensive power resources, affordable rates, and partnership approach with customers and communities. The Galesburg Sanitary District’s 160 miles of existing sewer line provide average excess capacity of 21 million gallons a day. The system accommodates up to 200 mg/liter of biological oxygen demand (BOD) and up to 250 mg/liter of fats, oils, grease (FOG), suitable for food processing, and works with businesses to deploy pre-treatment. Your company’s workers will appreciate superior medical resources throughout Knox County from OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg and Graham Medical Group’s new Galesburg clinic.