Monee Village Board Approves Tax Increment Financing Agreement for Voortman Steel Facility

Monee Village Board of Trustees Meeting | March 11, 2026

Article Summary: The Monee Village Board of Trustees unanimously approved a redevelopment agreement for Voortman USA Corp., pledging 80% of eligible Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds to reimburse the developer for infrastructure costs, while securing a $351,000 donation for a new community park.

Voortman Redevelopment Agreement Key Points:

• The village will reimburse 80% of TIF-eligible project costs, up to approximately $5.6 million, funded entirely by incremental property taxes generated by the site with zero interest.

• Village Attorney Lawrence R. Gryczewski clarified that the $7.9 million eligible cost figure listed on the agenda was a typo, stating the actual eligible costs are roughly $6.9 million.

• Upon receiving an occupancy permit, Voortman will donate $351,000 to the village to offset the cost of building a community park near Ridgeland Avenue, which will be named after the company.

• The developer is constructing a manufacturing facility off Ridgeland Avenue, expected to be completed by June 2026.

MONEE, Ill. — The Monee Village Board of Trustees on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, finalized a major redevelopment agreement with Voortman USA Corp., granting the manufacturer significant tax increment financing (TIF) incentives in exchange for local infrastructure improvements and a substantial community park donation.

Village Attorney Lawrence R. Gryczewski presented the agreement to the board, noting that Voortman is currently constructing a facility off Ridgeland Avenue that should be completed by June of this year. While the draft Redevelopment Agreement in the agenda packet described the project as a 411,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, Gryczewski stated during the meeting that the facility will be “roughly 120,000 square foot.”

Gryczewski also corrected a typo listed on the meeting’s public agenda. While the agenda stated the developer requested 80% of $7.9 million in TIF-eligible costs, Gryczewski clarified the actual eligible costs sit at $6.9 million.

“The village is offering 80% of those TIF costs, which is about $5.6 million, as collateral for that payment,” Gryczewski explained. “The village would pledge 80% of the tax increment to pay that obligation to Voortman. There is no interest on this money.”

The attorney emphasized that the reimbursement is not a general obligation of the village. The payments will be made strictly from the Special Tax Increment Allocation Fund (STAF), generated by the increased property taxes of the newly developed site. Once the developer is reimbursed or the TIF expires, the village’s obligation ends.

According to the granular details of the Redevelopment Agreement provided in the agenda packet, the village secured a direct community benefit as part of the negotiations. Upon the issuance of the occupancy permit, Voortman is required to submit $351,000 to the village. The funds will be used to help offset the cost of building a new community park near Ridgeland Avenue. In recognition of the donation, the village has agreed to name the site “Voortman Industries, Inc. Park” for as long as the developer maintains a presence in Monee.

The board approved the redevelopment agreement unanimously. Gryczewski noted that a formal TIF note, establishing the payment schedule—which the village requested be processed annually in January—will be brought before the board for final approval at the next meeting.