Kenosha Area Business Alliance

06/19/2026

Waukegan, Illinois-based steel fabrication company Waukegan Steel, LLC plans move its headquarters 13 miles north to the Village of Pleasant Prairie.

The company, known for its steel fabrication work throughout the Midwest, including work on the renovation and expansion of Chicago’s Soldier Field, cited growth and the expansion of its manufacturing footprint as reasons for its planned relocation.

The company is planning to occupy 118,000 SF in a 205,000 SF building located at 8500 116th St. The company plans to add a new main office onto the existing office space at the building, a production office area, paint storage control rooms, a 7,000 SF retractable spray booth, three additional drive in dock doors and six new windows in the precast wall panels on the exterior of the building.

The company, founded in 1929 and acquired by Chicago-based National Material L.P. in 2012, plans to add 10 additional full-time employees to its current staff of 70 full-time employees.

Read more: https://www.kaba.org/news-item/waukegan-steel-to-move-headquarters-from-illinois-to-pleasant-prairie/

06/18/2026

The Kenosha YMCA recently received a $50,000 contribution from Eli Lilly and Company to support The YMCA Teen Innovation & Workforce Development Initiative. The investment will help expand opportunities for local teens through innovation, STEM education, leadership development, academic support, technology access, and workforce-readiness programming.

“Lilly’s contribution, enables us to take the next important step in expanding our teen programming and creating a more connected and intentional Teen Department that brings our teen programs together under one stronger framework," said Cindy Altergott, CEO of the Kenosha YMCA. "We are truly grateful for their support."

Read more:

The Kenosha YMCA received a $50,000 contribution from Eli Lilly and Company to support The YMCA Teen Innovation & Workforce Development Initiative, helping the Y deepen its impact on local teens through expanded innovation, leadership, academic support, technology access, and workforce-readiness pro...

06/17/2026

What does it take to become an employer of choice?

Last week, a fantastic crowd joined KABA's Business Lunch to hear from organizations that are doing exceptional work to attract, engage, and retain top talent in today's competitive workforce environment.

Elizabeth Hummitzsch and James Madlom of Mueller Communications shared how their people-first approach has helped create an award-winning workplace culture and earned the company recognition as one of Milwaukee's Best Places to Work.

The conversation continued with an outstanding panel moderated by Kimberly Kane of Kane Communications Group, featuring Rachel Byers (MTI Motion, LLC), Shelby Menely (Uline), and Kristan Pruett (Niagara Bottling).

Attendees gained valuable insights into employee engagement, company culture, professional development, benefits, leadership, and the strategies these organizations use to build high-performing teams.

A special thank you to our Gold Sponsors, OFFSITE and State Bank of The Lakes, for helping make this event possible.

Up next: Don't miss a rare opportunity to hear directly from Austan Goolsbee, President and CEO of the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank, on July 14. Register today: https://bit.ly/BL_0726

06/16/2026

KABA is excited to announce that it has been awarded funding through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Talent Recruitment Grant (TRG) Program to support a new initiative focused on attracting out-of-state workers and their families to the Kenosha Area.

The funding is part of a statewide $5 million investment announced by Governor Tony Evers and WEDC to help communities address workforce shortages through innovative talent attraction and recruitment strategies.

KABA will leverage a $240,000 WEDC Talent Recruitment Grant to expand its Life Balanced Kenosha County initiative and launch a targeted campaign aimed at attracting talented workers and their families from outside Wisconsin.

The effort will combine digital marketing, employer partnerships, relocation incentives, and community ambassador programs to showcase Kenosha County’s exceptional career opportunities, quality of life, and strategic location.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4ewyczD

06/15/2026

A summer internship isn’t just about putting in the work! It also involves having fun experiences in the community where you’re working.

REGISTRATION CLOSES FRIDAY! Sign up your interns for this fun and engaging event!

We’d like to welcome you to the Kenosha-Racine area as you embark on summer in southeast Wisconsin. This event is designed to help connect local interns and new hires to each other – and with the a variety of community amenities offered in our region.

The details: Thursday, June 25 | 4:00-6:00 p.m. | Petrifying Springs Biergarten

Learn more: bit.ly/2026_Intern_Mixer

06/12/2026

Welcome new KABA investor: SunPeak!

SunPeak is a Madison-based commercial solar energy and storage provider serving businesses of all sizes. As a self-performing contractor, SunPeak handles every phase of a project in-house, from engineering and design through installation and long-term support. They've installed hundreds of systems across more than a dozen states, with extensive experience throughout Wisconsin and the Kenosha area.

Learn more at https://sunpeakpower.com.

06/11/2026

Congrats are in order! Last month, the KTEC Schools of Innovation High School Class of 2026 took the next step into a wide range of high-demand careers. Through hands-on learning, industry partnerships, and college credit opportunities, KTEC seniors are entering the workforce and higher education with a strong foundation for success.

Graduates from the Class of 2026 are pursuing career pathways in:

> Advanced Manufacturing
> Computer Programming
> Construction Trades
> Cosmetology
> Dental Assisting
> Diesel Equipment Mechanics
> Engineering
> Firefighter/EMT
> Law
> Nursing
> Welding

Read more: https://www.ktecschools.org/2026/05/01/ktec-schools-of-innovation-celebrates-class-of-2026-signing-day/

06/10/2026

Congratulations to SiteOne Landscape Supply! The wholesale landscape supplier officially opened their newest distribution center in the Village of Pleasant Prairie last week - cutting the ribbon on a 417,384 SF expansion into Kenosha County.

Speaking at the celebration was SiteOne CEO Doug Black, Executive VP of Supply Chain, Operational Excellence, and IT Shawn Delfausse; Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman, and Pleasant Prairie president David Klimisch.

“SiteOne Landscape Supply’s grand opening in Pleasant Prairie is another exciting example of nationally recognized companies choosing Kenosha County for growth and investment, said KABA president Nicole Ryf. "The company’s decision to establish operations in LakeView Corporate Park reflects the strategic advantages our community offers, including location, workforce, infrastructure, and strong local partnerships.”

Based in Atlanta, SiteOne Landscape Supply is the nation’s largest wholesale distributor of landscape supplies.

06/09/2026

Employers of any size operating in Wisconsin are encouraged to apply for the new Wisconsin Training for Resilient Advanced Industry Needs (WisTRAIN) grant program through the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development to prepare for the workforce of the future. Apply by July 13 for consideration in the initial round. This funding aims to build worker skills in advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence (AI) through innovative, employer-led training solutions.

A total of $6.6 million is available to equip Wisconsin’s workforce with the skills necessary to meet rapidly evolving needs. Employers statewide that engage in advanced manufacturing and AI applications used in numerous sectors are eligible to apply for funding to skill-up their workforce in areas including data analytics, cybersecurity, predictive maintenance, and robotics.

Learn more: https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/wistrain/

06/08/2026

Special event with Chicago Fed President, Flexport bringing 300 jobs to Pleasant Prairie...read all this and more in the June KABA Update: https://bit.ly/KABA_Update_0626