This summer, the Mueller Company will invest nearly $8 million to modernize the foundry on East Garfield Street. The modernization will increase the productivity and efficiency of the Decatur operation and will result in the retention of 500 production, assembly and support jobs.

“We are pleased to announce this investment in our company. This project will help improve our facilities, increase our manufacturing capacity, and train new workers to continue to meet the growing demands of our industry while at the same time staying competitive within that market,” said Dan Curry, Vice President of Finance for Mueller. “The investment we are announcing today has been in the discussion phase for over two years, and the staff of the EDC has been with us every step of the way, lending technical assistance and opening doors for us at the state and local level. Without their help on an ongoing and confidential basis, it would have been difficult for this project to have reached a successful conclusion”.

As a part of the Opportunity Returns Program, the State of Illinois will assist with the project by providing Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) tax credits for the retained jobs.

Decatur Mayor Paul Osborne was upbeat about the announcement. "The announcement that Mueller Co. will be investing $8 million dollars over the next year to modernize its Decatur plant is great news for the community. The retention of 500 jobs will definitely add to the forward movement of the city's economic comeback. Mueller has always been a strong partner in the Decatur community and I'm very pleased that commitment continues.” Osborne added, “The city appreciates the efforts of the Economic Development Corporation, in working with the State of Illinois to provide additional assistance to the Mueller Company which will benefit the entire region. It's another great example of the teamwork involved in creating positive results for our community."

Craig Coil, President of the EDC, said “We are pleased that Mueller has made the decision to reinvest in its Decatur facility. The Mueller Company has been a major contributor to the economic vitality of our area for years and with today’s announcement they have reaffirmed their commitment to our region. Mueller’s announcement continues a trend of successful business expansion and location projects in the Decatur area and illustrates the potential results when local government, state and private sector representatives work together toward a common goal. Our existing business base is the backbone of our community and we are always working to assist them in any way possible”

Coil added, “I would also like to thank Governor Rod Blagojevich and the staff of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) for their support, not only with the Mueller project, but for all of the financial assistance they have provided to our local businesses over the past two years. We consider them a valuable partner in Decatur’s progress.”

The Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County is a nonprofit public-private partnership responsible for non-retail business attraction, expansion and retention efforts in Decatur and Macon County. In the last two years alone, the EDC has worked with state and local partners to access more than $22 million in assistance to local employers. The EDC has also facilitated projects which have resulted in the creation and/or retention of nearly 2,000 jobs and private sector capital investments of more than $40 million. These efforts have resulted in the Decatur MSA seeing one of the largest one year decreases in unemployment rates of any metro area in the state.