Opinion: The CN project is an investment in the region’s future
As the owner of one of the largest privately held businesses in Will County, I’ve spent my career building a company and investing in a region I proudly call home. That’s why I believe it’s important to see the proposed CN logistics hub project for what it truly is: a major opportunity for our region to shape its own future.
There’s been a lot of discussion about what this project could mean for Channahon, Minooka and the surrounding area. I want to cut through the noise and speak plainly as someone who knows what it takes to keep a business afloat, to meet payroll, and to plan for the future in an uncertain economy. What CN is proposing with their logistics hub represents exactly the kind of long-term investment our area needs to remain competitive, attract jobs, and grow our tax base in a way that benefits everyone.
This is not a corporate handout. CN isn’t asking for tax breaks or special treatment. They’re investing their own capital in a project on land they’ve owned since 2019. Once complete, it’s projected to generate $20.9 million in annual property tax revenue, most of which would go directly to our schools, roads, and essential public services.
That’s the kind of private investment any community should welcome.
And then there’s the job creation. The project is expected to bring 600 construction jobs in the immediate term and 6,500 permanent jobs once fully operational. These are local, good-paying jobs for working families who want to earn a living close to home. In towns like ours, that matters.
Some may claim this is being rushed or pushed through. In reality, our local officials have done exactly what we should want from our government. Since CN submitted its plans in early 2023, Mayor Missey Schumacher and the village of Channahon have brought in traffic consultants, coordinated with neighboring communities, and secured a $400,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation to support infrastructure planning. That’s real leadership, and it should give us confidence that this project is being approached with transparency, seriousness, and care.
It’s also important to separate fact from fiction. While CN’s intermodal facility falls under federal jurisdiction, the logistics park component will go through the local zoning and approval process, including public hearings and votes. That means we, the residents of Channahon and Minooka, still have a voice. But we should use that voice to shape the project, not shut it down out of fear.
Every growing community faces a choice: lean into opportunity or let it pass by. I choose progress. I choose jobs that let working families stay close to home. I choose stronger schools, safer roads, and a healthier tax base. Most of all, I choose to be part of a region that plans for the future instead of reacting to it.
This isn’t just an infrastructure project. It’s a chance to build something that lasts. I hope we have the foresight to make the most of it.
Artem Zakharov is the owner of AZ Hard Rock, a leading limestone quarry in Bolingbrook, Illinois, and sits on the Board of Directors for the Will County Center for Economic Development.