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Southland manufacturer receives state funding thanks to Hastings

State Senator Michael E. Hastings announced an Oak Forest manufacturer has been selected to participate in and receive state funding through the Made in Illinois Grant Program.

“To keep up with big business, small-scale local manufacturers need support to help them thrive and achieve their goals,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort).

“Fighting for small and mid-sized businesses in the 19^th District keeps people working and strengthens our local economy.”

Illinois State Senator Michael Hastings. Photo courtesy of the Illinois State Senate

The Made in Illinois Grant Program provides matching grants of up to $50,000 to help small and mid-sized manufacturers invest in strategic projects that fuel innovation, increase productivity and enhance competitiveness.

In 2025, the program awarded $1.35 million to 29 manufacturers employing a combined 1,120 individuals supporting projects that represent a total investment of over $38.3 million statewide.

In Hastings’ district, E. Formella & Sons, Inc., located in Oak Forest, was selected as a recipient of the 2025 Made in Illinois Grant Program.

“E. Formella & Sons, Inc. is very appreciative of the grant awarded. We are a fourth generation family owned business who is known for the giardiniera & muffuletta, shelf stable items,” said Kathy Formella, owner of E. Formella & Sons, Inc.

“The money from the grant will be used to increase production capacity purchasing new equipment for these new offerings which is necessary to compete with larger brands while maintaining a superior quality. We will be able to compete in broader markets, reduce waste, enhance food safety and produce a clean product with no preservatives.”

Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), and the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) today announced the recipients of the 2025 Made in Illinois Grant Program. This year, 29 small and mid-sized manufacturers across Illinois are receiving a combined $1.35 million in capital grant funding to drive innovation, efficiency, and growth in the state’s vital manufacturing sector. The program is part of Illinois’ broader commitment to support the state’s manufacturers while bolstering the manufacturing ecosystem.

“Illinois is a globally-recognized manufacturing hub and the Made in Illinois Program is designed to support the small and mid-size manufacturers that make up a crucial part of our economy,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This grant program helps companies access resources to become more competitive, enhance economic development, attract capital, and bring jobs to communities across the state. I look forward to seeing how these manufacturers utilize the program to advance innovation in their field.”

“Illinois has always been a leader in manufacturing, with small and mid-sized companies playing a vital role in driving innovation and growth across our state,” said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. “The Made in Illinois Program reflects our dedication to empowering local manufacturers with the resources they need to thrive.”

The Made in Illinois Grant Program, administered by IMEC with funding from DCEO, provides matching grants of up to $50,000 to help small and mid-sized manufacturers invest in strategic projects that fuel innovation, increase productivity, and enhance competitiveness. In 2025, the program awarded $1.35 million to 29 manufacturers employing a combined 1,120 individuals supporting projects that represent a total investment of over $38.3 million statewide.

“The Made in Illinois Grant Program continues to reflect our commitment to helping Illinois manufacturers innovate, grow, and compete,” said David Boulay, Ph.D., President of IMEC. “By supporting strategic investments, we’re enabling these businesses to strengthen operations, create jobs, and contribute to a more resilient manufacturing economy statewide.”

2025 Grant Recipients

Company	City	# of Employees
Allnex	East St. Louis	72
Apparel Redefined	Crestwood	53
Atomic Industrial Machine, Inc.	Elk Grove Village	13
Aztec Plastic Company	Chicago	13
Bridgewater Studio	Chicago	62
Calumet Brass Foundry, Inc.	Dolton	12
CCK Automations	Jacksonville	95
E. Formella & Sons, Inc./Simply Salsa	Oak Forest	42
ELC Industries Corp	Aurora	22
Elite RF LLC	Hanover Park	15
Gasket & Seal Fabricators	Sauget	15
GEO. J. Rothan Co.	Peoria	14
Grind Lap Services	Addison	29
Imperial Punch	Rockford	27
J6 Polymers LLC	Genoa	14
Kelco Industries	Woodstock	100
Lemfco	Galena	21
Maplewood Brewery & Distillery	Chicago	21
MDi-co	Gilberts	31
Meyer Tool & Manufacturing	Oak Lawn	30
Mid-State Tank Co., Inc.	Sullivan	125
Mothers Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes	Elk Grove Village	23
OceanComm Inc	Chicago	6
Slidematic LLC	Chicago	40
Steel Grip Inc.	Danville	125
Tec Coffee & Foods, Inc.	Chicago	57
Tri C Company	Eureka	14
Zarc International, Inc.	Minonk	9
Zigler’s Machine & Metal Works, LLC	Dixon	20

“The Made in Illinois Grant allows us to finally have the option of upgrading our technology from 3 Axis to 5 Axis machines. Most importantly, it positions us to be a stronger, Illinois based, supply chain leader, as we will be able to purchase machinery to open our bottleneck and increase production capacity” said Andrew Wielgus, COO of Aztec Plastic Company. Aztec serves the aerospace, defense, space, and agriculture industries from its headquarters in Chicago.

Recipients of the Made in Illinois grants are building upon the state’s global reputation as a leader in the manufacturing industry. Guided by Illinois’ Economic Growth Plan, the State is laying the foundation for long-term success by focusing on key growth industries including manufacturing. Illinois’ top-ranked infrastructure, access to supply chains, world-class workforce and research and development ecosystem make it a premier destination to locate and grow manufacturing companies.

The Made in Illinois program was launched in 2024. With today’s announcement, the program has provided a total of $3,085,008 in capital grant funding to 69 small and mid-sized manufacturers in Illinois. To learn more about how the program supports manufacturers across Illinois, and to see a full list of recipients, visit: www.imec.org/madeinillinois.

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Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

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Southland manufacturer receives state funding thanks to Hastings

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