The park represents the latest evolution in industrialdevelopment for the automotive industry, says Jim Padilla, VPglobal manufacturing at Ford. "This project [will]…addresscompeting trends toward globalization and local demands for moreflexibility to meet customer needs." Locating suppliers right nextto the Torrance Avenue plant will increase the operation'sefficiency, he said.

"We are highly optimistic that our negotiations with Ford Landwill be successful," says Ronda Mork, VP external affairs atCenterPoint Properties, which is also in the midst of a $1-billionredevelopment of the Joliet Arsenal site southwest of Chicago. "Weare in the process of finalizing lease agreements with Fordsuppliers and with the City of Chicago on TIF financing."

More than $400 million of investments over the next severalyears will come from Ford, its suppliers and CenterPoint, accordingto Ford. This includes more than $80 million by Ford Land andCenterPoint for the development of the supplier park.