Government panel backs Rivian expansion plans

Posted on November 4, 2021
The factory in Normal currently has an annual production capacity of 150,000 vehicles, according to Rivian. (Photo courtesy: Blake Haas/WJBC)

By Heart of Illinois ABC

NORMAL – Rivian is a step closer to making its biggest expansion yet at the factory in northwest Normal.

The town’s planning commission on Thursday unanimously supported Rivian’s amended site plan for building a 623,000 square foot addition, to be located on the west side of the current electric vehicle plant.

The town government has approved several smaller building additions since the summer of 2020. The latest addition would boost the total size of Rivian’s facility in Normal to about 3.9 million square feet, town staffers said.

A Rivian spokesperson released a statement about its expansion plans.

“Rivian’s focus on continued vertical integration requires more production space inside the plant,” said Kenya Friend-Daniel, Rivian’s senior manager in corporate communications.

“This expansion is a planned increase of our footprint in Normal as we continue to invest in the facility and ramp up production,” Friend-Daniel also said.

The Normal Town Council will vote on Rivian’s expansion plans November 15.

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…