Pekin is rooted within a large and growing central Illinois industrial sector. The Pekin-Peoria Metropolitan Service Area, with a population of nearly 380,000, is home to a number of industries. One of our area’s largest employers is Caterpillar, Inc. Several of their local facilities are located near Pekin.
INDUSTRIAL/MANUFACTURING
Pekin has a solid base of industrial and manufacturing jobs of its own. In fact, 19% of Pekin residents are employed in the manufacturing industry.
One of our largest industrial employers in Pekin is Pacific Ethanol – a leading producer of ethanol and a fully integrated producer of ingredients and distillery products. Other large industrial employers in Pekin include Tazewell Machine Works, Excel Foundry and Machine and NRG Energy.
RIVERWAY BUSINESS PARK: LIGHT INDUSTRY
Situated on the south side of Pekin, Riverway Business Park is home to several light industrial manufacturers including Hanna Steel, Elecsys, Excalibur Seasoning, PAL Health Technology, EnviroSafe Refrigerants, Wheelworx and Winpak.
Other businesses located in the Riverway Business Park include Amerhart, the south campus of Illinois Central College and the FCI Pekin – a medium/minimum-security federal correctional facility.
PRODUCTION & FABRICATION
A number of tool, pattern, machining and fabrication shops are also based in the Pekin area. Other products originating in our area include industrial gases, agricultural chemicals and fertilizers, paperboard, aluminum castings, field seed and hybrid corn.