Governor Pat Quinn and Walgreens are teaming up for a new initiative that they expect will create hundreds of jobs in Illinois.
The Deerfield-based drugstore chain will invest $75 million over three years to retrofit several corporate offices throughout the city as part of the "Invest Illinois Initiative," which will create 500 corporate jobs, Quinn and Walgreens CEO and President Greg Wasson announced Friday.
“We are proud of our Illinois heritage,” explained Wasson in a statement. “Just as our stores and pharmacies are health and daily living anchors for the communities we serve, we as a company are now recommitted to serving as an economic anchor for northeastern Illinois. A state and workforce that has served us so well for more than a century will now see our footprint grow even larger.”
The expected new corporate jobs will be centered around Walgreens' pharmacy, health and wellness services and its growing online presence. Walgreens expects the expansion will mean adding non-corporate store-level positions on top of the 500 corporate jobs.
Quinn said Friday the creation of jobs in health care will help fuel the struggling economy.
"Walgreens has deep roots in Illinois and is an important part of the region's flourishing health care hub. This expansion will create good paying jobs, attract additional investment to the area and help fuel our economy," he said.
Walgreens has 7,907 drugstores across the United States and Puerto Rico, with 592 drugstores in the state of Illinois. The company serves nearly 6 million customers a day.
