Cook Medical Brings New Beginning to Canton: New Jobs

CANTON, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today Cook Medical, in a continuing effort to support local communities, announced new jobs with the development of Cook Canton, a new medical device manufacturing plant to be located at the former International Harvester plant in Canton, Ill.

In collaboration with the city of Canton and mayor Kevin Meade, Cook Medical plans to invest in excess of $5 million, in a 45,000-square-foot facility in the fall of 2009.

Bill Cook, founder of Cook Medical, was raised in Canton, Ill., and still remains close to many in the area.

“During economic times such as these, it’s important to remember your roots,” Cook said. “Canton, like many other cities, has hit a rough patch and I know we can help.”

With the 1983 closing of the historic International Harvester plant, Canton’s unemployment rates rose to over 17 percent. In 1997, a fire eliminated the remains of the building and devastated the community.

“It’s been a pleasure working with mayor Meade, his administration and the state of Illinois,” said Scott Eells, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Cook Medical. “The community has embraced Cook and made it easy to become a partner in the economic development of Canton. That level of support and commitment is why we want to give back to Mr. Cook’s hometown.”

Cook Medical, headquartered in Bloomington, Ind., plans to hire 50 to 75 employees once the building is complete. Employment will steadily increase to approximately 300 jobs over the next few years. Job candidates must apply through the Workforce Investment Board/Career Link and Spoon River College and complete a testing and screening process. Recruitment for positions will begin by June of 2009.

Funds have been requested from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in the form of a $750,000 Community Development Assistance Program grant and a $1.1 million Illinois Department of Transportation Grant for infrastructure improvements in the areas surrounding the new construction.

About Cook Medical:

Cook Medical was one of the first companies to help popularize interventional medicine, pioneering many of the devices now commonly used worldwide to perform minimally invasive medical procedures. Today, the company integrates minimally invasive medical device design, biopharma, gene and cell therapy, and biotech to enhance patient safety and improve clinical outcomes in the fields of aortic intervention; interventional cardiology; critical care medicine; gastroenterology; radiology, peripheral vascular, bone access and oncology; surgery and soft tissue repair; urology; and assisted reproductive technology, gynecology and high-risk obstetrics. Founded in 1963 and operated as a family-held private corporation, Cook is a past winner of the prestigious Medical Device Manufacturer of the Year Award from Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry magazine. For more information, visit www.cookmedical.com.

Contact:

Cook Medical Marsha Dawes, 812-339-2235, ext. 2750 Public Relations Associate 812-320-6903 (cell) marsha.dawes@cookmedical.com or CFC, Inc. Jim Murphy, 812-320-0053 President jmurphy@cfcincorporated.com

Source: Cook Medical

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