Civil Municipal Magazine - Nov 2023

Modern Mokena is business-friendly Mokena is home to five major industry sectors: manufacturing, healthcare, retail, accommodation and food service, and education. Large employers include Altorfer CAT, a local Caterpillar equipment dealer; Provisur Technologies, a manufacturer of food processing machines; Gordon Electric, a full-line wholesale electrical distributor; and ABC Supply Co., a roofing and building materials supply store. According to Assistant Village Administrator Greg Anderson, Mokena’s growth has largely been due to its strategic location for business development. “I think our transportation infrastructure is very advantageous to the village,” he notes. “We’re located along Interstate 80, which is a major cross-country interstate, with 130,000 vehicles traveling east and west daily. We also have two major state routes with prime commercial development opportunities – Route 45/LaGrange, and Route 30. We also have two Metra train stations that have trains going directly to Chicago’s LaSalle Street Station. As far as airports, we’re 25 miles from Midway and 45 miles from O’Hare.” There is another aspect about Mokena’s location that makes it an attractive place to set up shop: it borders Cook County to the east, but it is located in Will County, which offers lower tax rates than its neighbor. “We’ve had numerous businesses that have come across the border, with no additional incentives other than going from Cook County to Will County,” explains Village Administrator John Tomasoski. “Essentially, it’s like being in the same location.” But Mokena doesn’t get by just on its unique geography alone. “We have a very pro-business attitude,” says Anderson. “We have a development process that’s led by our Village Board, and implemented by Village staff, where we provide feedback and guidance throughout the entire development process to petitioners who come in. We offer a conceptual review with the Village Board before projects go to planning and zoning; we then have a committee that focuses on the MOKENA , I LL INOIS