SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — One of the world's largest specialty seating manufacturers is expanding its Chicago facility thanks to tax incentives from the Pritzker administration . The governor made the announcement Friday, as many companies worry about potential impacts of President Donald Trump's trade war .
Gov. JB Pritzker talks to reporters at the Freedman Seating Company facility in Chicago on February 7, 2025.
Freedman Seating Company makes roughly 2,000 seats per day for bus, rail, truck, specialty and commercial vehicles. The business plans to create 50 new full-time jobs and retain nearly 700 workers at the 100-year-old facility on the west side of the city. This comes as Freedman received an EDGE tax credit and committed to making a $4 million investment in Illinois.
"Freedman embodies so much of what makes Illinois great too — resilience, passion and innovation," Pritzker said. "Through all the challenges and the opportunities of the past century, this company and our state have made progress together, overcoming those challenges and taking advantage of those opportunities."
Pritzker said Illinois will always support businesses that create jobs and invest back into their communities. Sen. Lakesia Collins (D-Chicago) said it is an honor to work with a governor who understands the needs of the Austin community and the rest of Illinois.
"This is truly an investment," Collins said. "I mean, the expansion, the retaining of jobs and creating new jobs for families on the west side is so important. The essential work that you are doing to create the products that you produce from this company is so important to Illinoisans and Chicago."
Yet, Pritzker said he is concerned for the future of companies who heavily rely on trade with Mexico and Canada. The Democrat believes affordability and jobs will be victims of Trump's trade war.
"Canada and Mexico are Illinois' top trading partners," Pritzker said. "Let me be clear, that's a lot of business that creates jobs for people in our state. We want trade. We want to sell into those countries and we need the input products that come from those countries to make sure we can produce in a manufacturing setting like this one."
Companies in the state's EDGE program committed more than $650 million in investments for Illinois communities during 2024 alone.
CONTINUE READING
Gov. JB Pritzker talks to reporters at the Freedman Seating Company facility in Chicago on February 7, 2025.
Freedman Seating Company makes roughly 2,000 seats per day for bus, rail, truck, specialty and commercial vehicles. The business plans to create 50 new full-time jobs and retain nearly 700 workers at the 100-year-old facility on the west side of the city. This comes as Freedman received an EDGE tax credit and committed to making a $4 million investment in Illinois.
"Freedman embodies so much of what makes Illinois great too — resilience, passion and innovation," Pritzker said. "Through all the challenges and the opportunities of the past century, this company and our state have made progress together, overcoming those challenges and taking advantage of those opportunities."
Pritzker said Illinois will always support businesses that create jobs and invest back into their communities. Sen. Lakesia Collins (D-Chicago) said it is an honor to work with a governor who understands the needs of the Austin community and the rest of Illinois.
"This is truly an investment," Collins said. "I mean, the expansion, the retaining of jobs and creating new jobs for families on the west side is so important. The essential work that you are doing to create the products that you produce from this company is so important to Illinoisans and Chicago."
Yet, Pritzker said he is concerned for the future of companies who heavily rely on trade with Mexico and Canada. The Democrat believes affordability and jobs will be victims of Trump's trade war.
"Canada and Mexico are Illinois' top trading partners," Pritzker said. "Let me be clear, that's a lot of business that creates jobs for people in our state. We want trade. We want to sell into those countries and we need the input products that come from those countries to make sure we can produce in a manufacturing setting like this one."
Companies in the state's EDGE program committed more than $650 million in investments for Illinois communities during 2024 alone.
