Crown Point Businesses Ship Products Around the World
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Crown Point’s business connections reach far beyond this pastoral community. With shipments of everything from muffins and cookies to steel manufacturing equipment‚ companies here realize that location is the key ingredient in this town’s recipe for success.
Easy access to interstates‚ rail lines and an international port makes Crown Point an ideal spot for businesses – without the congestion and inconveniences of a big city.
“ We’re one of the fringe communities within 40 miles of Chicago that has the best of both worlds‚” says Gayle Van Sessen‚ executive director of the Greater Crown Point Chamber of Commerce.
“ We have the opportunity to get in the car and drive an hour [to] the best museums and restaurants ... and yet when you drive back home again … you’re in a small‚ very safe community.”
This “best of both worlds” appeal encouraged Dawn Food Products to open its baked goods manufacturing plant in Crown Point 13 years ago. Since then‚ the volume of muffins‚ Danish pastries‚ cookies and cinnamon rolls has grown to 80 truckloads each week‚ making the plant one of the area’s largest employers. The plant ships its products to grocery stores‚ convenience stores and eateries across the United States‚ as well as to Canada‚ South America and Europe.
Crown Point’s skilled workforce and the Chamber’s support have enabled the manufacturing plant to grow‚ says Mary Jo Schultz‚ the company’s vice president of food regulatory affairs.
“ We’ve had great community support‚” she says. “There’s a large region to draw new Dawn people from ... and‚ of course‚ there’s the availability of the interstate.”
The manufacturing plant is among eight operated by Dawn Food Products across the country. The family-owned company also operates plants in Canada‚ Mexico and the United Kingdom and has 18 distribution centers across the United States.
And Dawn Food Products isn’t the only Crown Point company reaching an international market. Vesuvius USA produces equipment used by steel manufacturers for repairs and insulation‚ among other things. The plant opened in 1969 under a different name and has seen its production more than double to 17‚000 tons. The plant now employs 28 workers‚ according to manager Jim Gates.
“ We sell products as far as South America‚ Aruba‚ Mexico and Canada‚” Gates says.
The plant is among 75 Vesuvius manufacturing plants‚ distribution centers and offices worldwide‚ including China‚ Poland and Czechoslovakia. Van Sessen emphasizes that Crown Point’s location is what continues to bring international businesses‚ such as Vesuvius‚ to this small community.
“ It’s a location that is well-suited for businesses‚ with access to the transportation they need to get their products out quickly‚” she says. “We think we have it all.”
Story by Amy Green
