Fabric Images expansion reaps incentives

The city of Elgin, Ill., struggles with 10.6 percent unemployment, and is determined to create incentives for employers who hire local talent. Fabric Images Inc., based in Elgin, a manufacturer of lightweight digitally printed fabrics for retail, museums and trade shows, will expand into a 155,000-square-foot facility, and received a grant of up to $87,000 and other incentives to add new employees to its payroll. For every new job paying $30,000 a year that the company creates, it will receive $500; if an Elgin resident is hired, the bonus jumps to $1,000. Jobs paying $40,000 or more will gain the company $1,000-1,500, depending upon whether an Elgin resident is hired. The expansion should bring 100 new jobs into the area.