South Suburbs Food Processing Innovation Center

Food and beverage manufacturing and packaging is a major opportunity for inclusive cluster-based development in the Chicagoland region (see RW Ventures’ Chicagoland FOOD report). Cook County’s South Suburbs are home to many food processing companies, giving the area an opportunity to build on those firms’ activity and expand the current industry presence (see SSEGI Phase I Report). A leading concept has emerged to establish the Southland as a hub for innovative food processing and support the growth of high-growth small food companies and established mid-sized companies: the Food Processing Innovation Center. This concept paper summarizes the proposed facility, including the market opportunity it seizes to target support to particular food companies, its physical structure and the expected associated business services that will serve food companies across the Southland.