A series of major new developments in the Village of Pleasant Prairie have local officials upbeat about the community’s future.
Dave Klimisch, Pleasant Prairie Village President said the ongoing industrial, business and housing growth is helping to support the village’s tax base and provide additional jobs.
“In Pleasant Prairie, the typical homeowner pays only 50% of the tax base because half of it is paid for by our businesses…” Klimisch told the Kenosha News. “It creates low taxes and allows for high services.”
“Our population swells from about 25,000 to 50,000 people during the workday, and that requires all sorts of planning and budgeting,” Klimisch said, detailing a host of ongoing developments.
Industrial growth
Waukegan Steel is set to move into Pleasant Prairie’s Lakeview Corporate Park in September. The steel company, which was established in in 1928 has product in Soldier Field, the Willis Tower and the Chicago Transit System.
The company will bring 70 jobs into Pleasant Prairie with the potential to expand by up to 20 percent in its new 100,000 square foot manufacturing facility.
The project, which was approved by the Plan Commission, has the full support of the Village Board, Klimisch said. “Companies choose Pleasant Prairie because we are strong partners, planners and we are predictable,” he said.
Klimisch noted that Smurfit WestRock completed a redevelopment project in 2025 on the former We Energies coal-fired power plant site including a $140 million facility, revitalizing the area and creating hundreds of new jobs.
Both Uline and Eli Lilly have nearly completed projects to bring additional jobs to the village. Eli Lilly is currently finishing its planned Kenosha County facility and aims to employ 600 people.
Eli Lilly’s $3 billion expansion in Kenosha County, first announced in December 2024, is the company’s largest U.S. manufacturing investment outside of its home state of Indiana.
Uline’s fourth building headquarters is also wrapping up construction. Plans include a 366,000-square-foot office building at 9900 128th Ave. in the Prairie Highlands Corporate Park. The new facility will complement Uline’s current headquarters and warehouse locations and could house up to 1,300 employees.
Balcan Innovations has also made significant upgrades to its manufacturing facility in Pleasant Prairie, including the construction of a rail spur to increase the amount of product coming into its facility.
GXO Logistics, a logistics shipping company also plans to operate out of Pleasant Prarie. Zilber Property Group recently purchased a $10 million warehouse in the village that was previously occupied by EMCO Chemical Distributors. Klimisch said the building was previously an underused asset, but that the village was able to work with the Kenosha Area Business Alliance to find a good user for the space.
Read more in the Kenosha News.