During a special announcement on Thursday, January 3, Governor Jim Doyle, Village President John Steinbrink Sr., and Kenosha County Executive Allan Kehl welcomed Uline to Wisconsin. Uline, a shipping supply company currently headquartered in Waukegan, Illinois, will spend approximately $100 million to relocate its corporate headquarters to Pleasant Prairie and build a new distribution facility here. The company has plans to move 650 of its current Illinois employees to the new Pleasant Prairie location and to hire an additional 350 employees.

Uline will receive a financial assistance package from the State of Wisconsin worth over $6 million. Because the location is designated as an Enterprise Zone, the company can earn up to $1.7 million annually in refundable income tax credits by creating jobs paying more than $30,000 per year. Uline can also receive $1.5 million for training purposes. Governor Doyle announced that the State will provide a $1 million Transportation Economic Assistance Grant to Uline, and KABA (Kenosha Area Business Alliance) will provide them a $2 million forgivable loan.

During words of welcome at the announcement in Pleasant Prairie, Village President John Steinbrink Sr., made reference to the strong ties the company already has with Wisconsin. Liz and Dick Uihlein, co-founders of the company, have family ties in Wisconsin and own a home and restaurant in northern Wisconsin. The Uihleins founded the company in the basement of their home in 1980. Uline currently employs 2,300 people across North America. "We extend our warmest welcome to Uline," commented John Steinbrink Sr. "Their presence here will not only have a positive impact on the Village of Pleasant Prairie but on the entire State of Wisconsin."

The company plans to build a 200,000 square foot corporate headquarters and a one million square foot distribution center at the Pleasant Prairie location. Uline anticipates that construction will begin by the fall of 2008. During the announcement, Liz Uihlein, co-founder and President of Uline, acknowledged Abbott for their role in her company's selection of Pleasant Prairie as the location for their new corporate headquarters.

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