The latest round of grant funding from Northern Illinois Community Initiatives will help disadvantaged business owners, including those in the logistics sector.  NICI, the nonprofit founded by natural gas distributor Nicor Gas, announced “three Impact Grant awards worth $100,000 each to nonprofit organizations serving Rockford, Harvey, south and west suburban Cook County and Will County. The grants, created to provide bridge funding for economic and workforce development, and community revitalization programs, builds upon NICI’s mission to attract investment, mobilize partners, and connect vital resources to underserved communities in Nicor Gas’ service areas.”  Read more…

More logistic jobs will be coming to Maine as Governor Janet Mills announced “nearly $20 million in grant awards through her Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan to help Maine farmers and food processors address infrastructure needs to expand in-state production and processing.”  These funds will help farmers “increase the supply of Maine-grown food, meet growing demand, create and sustain jobs in one of Maine’s iconic heritage industries.” Read more…

Pet Supplies Plus, a leading,  full-service pet retail company,  plans to establish a new distribution center in Orangeburg County with a $53 million investment that will create 275 new jobs, including “highly desirable logistic jobs.” Created in 1988, “Pet Supplies Plus, a subsidiary of Franchise Group, Inc., is one of the largest pet retail franchises in the United States, offering customers a wide assortment of natural pet foods, goods and services.  Located in 40 states, Pet Supplies Plus has more than 630 stores, the majority of which are independently owned and operated by franchisees.” Read more…