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BELOIT, WI-Kerry America, a maker of flavorings and ingredients for food and beverage manufacturers, is building a $45 million new headquarters/R&D facility here. The company, a division of the Ireland-based Kerry Group, is building the 250,000-sf facility on 124 acres at the intersection of Interstates 90 and 43.

Once completed, the facility will consolidate four separate Kerry operations in the city onto one campus, while increasing the company's workforce from 300 employees to 500. The company received about $10.5 million in financial incentives from the city and the state to help finance the project.

Kerry officials were not available for comment. However, in a press statement, company executives said the area is perfect because it gives access to Madison, WI and Milwaukee, as well as Chicago. "This is proof-positive that the I-39/I-90 corridor can supply the workforce and quality-of-life demanded by leading, international corporate headquarters," said Eric Voyles, VP of national business development for the Rockford Area Economic Development Council.