IKEA Property Inc. purchased the land from Occidental Chemical Corp. in November 2001 for $4.5 million. Located on 131 acres on Principio Road, the center will serve a bevy of new IKEA stores in the upcoming years. The Perryville facility is part of IKEA's massive expansion campaign--due to begin in 2003--that will create 50 more outlets in the country over the next decade.

Maryland Gov. Parris N. Glendening commends the effort, which is taking place at a formerly polluted industrial site. "The entire region benefits from having an international distribution center like IKEA locate in Cecil County," he says. "Best of all, by focusing our economic development in a Smart Growth area, we are bringing 350 new jobs to Maryland without sacrificing any of our precious farmland."