After years of private and non-private maneuvering, Illinois lastly is near reeling in an enormous electrical automobile battery producer.

A vital step got here Tuesday when, in response to native officers, the Kankakee County Board accredited a property tax abatement wanted to lure a battery maker to a 160-acre web site in Manteno, a village about 50 miles southwest of Chicago’s Loop.

Officers declined to call the corporate, however sources near the state of affairs imagine it to be Gotion, a Chinese language firm which additionally has introduced plans for a manufacturing facility in Michigan.

Manteno Mayor Tim Nugent stated his board and different native taxing our bodies accredited the abatement earlier this month, after being advised by the state and an organization agent that the power will create 2,600 jobs and contain greater than $2 billion in funding.

No closing determination has been made however, “I’m advised we’re on the brief checklist,” Nugent stated. “I’m hopeful.” 

Manteno is positioned slightly over an hour’s drive from Regular, the place Rivian has an electrical automobile plant and has been on the lookout for a battery maker to arrange store close by.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s workplace declined touch upon the venture, which is roofed by non-disclosure agreements. However sources near the matter stated state and native officers have put a complete incentive package deal price a whole lot of tens of millions of {dollars} on the desk. Most of that may come from a $400 million “deal-closing fund” that state lawmakers have made accessible to Pritzker.

The Manteno web site now could be largely vacant, however features a warehouse previously the defunct Okay-Mart retail chain used for distribution. Underneath the phrases of the abatement deal, property taxes on the land would double to $2 million a yr as soon as the location is in operation however then be frozen for 30 years.

It’s not clear whether or not the Illinois facility would substitute or complement Gotion’s proposed Michigan manufacturing facility. Gotion introduced plans final fall to construct a $2.4 billion battery plant north of Massive Rapids after the state of Michigan provided an incentive package deal valued at $715 million. The venture has generated controversy due to questions concerning the firm’s ties to the Chinese language authorities. 

John Pletz contributed.