I-39 Distribution Corridor a Logistics Dream Come True
Big news just seems to follow the Interstate 39 distribution corridor. In 2010, it was 3M’s 650,000-square-foot warehouse expansion in DeKalb. This April, Nippon Sharyo began construction of a 465,000-square-foot railcar manufacturing plant in Rochelle.
The area near I-39 spans 10,000 square miles across central Illinois into Wisconsin. Interstates 43, 55, 74, 80, 88, 90 and 94 — more than in any other 100-mile swath of Interstate — crisscross the nation’s fastest-growing distribution area, providing excellent transportation routes for hauling raw materials and finished goods. Primary rail nodes radiate outward from the Illinois communities of Ottawa, Rochelle and Peru. Freight rumbles along on rails and highways or gets processed at the UPS sorting hub at Chicago Rockford International Airport.
Industrial, office and mixed-use business parks populate the I-39 corridor. Approximately 8 million square feet of new commercial development and leasing activity have occurred in recent years. Distribution centers for Lowe’s, 3M, Wal-Mart, Staples and Target sprang up because of the low-cost available land, abundant labor and business-friendly mindset.
And the area has room to grow, according to the I-39 Logistics Corridor Association, a group of municipalities and commercial real estate firms. In 2009 and 2010, brokers completed 57 deals on 1.7 million square feet of leased space and 1.6 million square feet of new construction worth over $1.4 billion. Click to download the I-39 Logistics Corridor “Targeted Industry Analysis.”
With opportunities like these come challenges for local enterprises that are involved in or serve the distribution segment. Staffing, business systems and software must be in place to keep pace with customer expectations. DataCraft stands ready to assist with system reviews, software evaluation and expert advice to position your company to capitalize on the potential.
