UPDATED: Caterpillar moving corporate offices to Chicago

Posted on January 31, 2017
Caterpillar
Caterpillar’s new HQ will have about 300 workers. (Photo courtesy Facebook/Caterpillar)

By Adam Studzinski

PEORIA – Caterpillar announced Tuesday morning it’s moving its corporate headquarters from Peoria to Chicago, but the company is saying Peoria remains its hometown.

Corporate spokeswoman Rachel Potts said when the transition is final about 300 people will work out of the new office. However, she explained the vast majority of employees in Peoria will not be moving.

“We have several functions and facilities that this won’t impact as far as day-to-day operations,” said Potts. “A factory that makes tractors in East Peoria, a foundry in Mapleton, a demonstration center in Edwards, a visitors center that’s right here in downtown Peoria.”

Potts said Caterpillar currently has about 12,000 workers throughout Central Illinois. She added the company has been enduring some of the toughest times in its history and the company needs to get close to a global transportation hub.

The decision also means Caterpillar is not moving forward with a previously announced new facility in downtown Peoria.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

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