Kankakee Times

CSL Behring, owner of the largest manufacturing plant in Kankakee County, needs more room.

The Australia-based plasma-derived medicines manufacturer recently purchased a neighboring 74-acre property, according to a report from the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County.

"This is an exciting time in the growth of CSL Behring," Tricia Stewart, a senior vice president and general manager of CSL's Bourbonnais site, said, according to press release. "With this purchase, the Kankakee manufacturing site is poised for future expansion, enabling us to deliver on our promise of providing life-saving biotherapies to our patients.

CSL Behring employs 1,200 workers in the county. The property it has purchased is the former site of Bunge Edible Oil and brings CSL’s total property in the area to 138 acres. The property features utilities, office space, warehouse sites and parking, as well as a manufacturing site that CSL will demolish.

"We all have to cheer this," Tim Nugent, executive director of the alliance, said, according to the press release. This is a huge corporation investing considerable money in our area. This shows that Kankakee County is a great place to be. Now we have to get our education level to match these jobs so our people can fill these jobs.''