Southern Illinois has long been defined by grit, industry, and a deep sense of place. But today, a new story is unfolding—one rooted in innovation, powered by renewable energy, and strengthened by advanced manufacturing. That story caught the attention of Business Facilities Magazine, which features Southern Illinois in its March/April 2026 issue for the region’s rapidly accelerating manufacturing boom powered by clean energy.
What’s happening across the region isn’t a flash‑in‑the‑pan moment. It’s the result of deliberate investment, forward‑looking leadership, and global companies choosing Southern Illinois not simply for what it has been, but for what it is becoming.
Where Renewable Energy Meets the Factory Floor
The spotlight shines brightly on three manufacturers that are reshaping the region’s economic landscape: Manner Polymers, Prysmian, and Continental.
In Mt. Vernon, Texas‑based Manner Polymers has built the first fully solar‑powered PVC compounding plant in the industry—a $54 million, 108,000‑square‑foot facility driven by a 15‑acre solar field that adds 80 million pounds of production capacity and more than 30 new jobs in its first phase.
Not far away, global cabling leader Prysmian continues its six‑decade legacy in Du Quoin with a new 100,000‑square‑foot expansion supported by a solar farm that now provides roughly half of the plant’s energy. Its $63.8 million investment adds 80 new jobs and positions the facility to support booming sectors—from EV infrastructure to renewable power generation.
And in Mt. Vernon, Continental Tire, a regional anchor for more than 50 years, recently achieved ISCC PLUS certification, the first of its U.S. facilities to do so. The recognition signifies transparent use of renewable and recycled raw materials, showing how long‑established manufacturers can evolve boldly while staying deeply rooted in the communities they serve.
Statewide Initiatives Accelerating Regional Growth
Illinois’ Reimagining Energy and Vehicles (REV) program is helping fuel this regional momentum, offering one of the nation’s most competitive incentive platforms for clean‑energy and advanced manufacturing projects. Nearly 30 companies across the state have leveraged REV to expand or modernize their operations, positioning Illinois, and Southern Illinois especially, as a standout example of how strategic policy can drive clean‑powered industrial growth.
A Blueprint Others Can Follow
“These companies aren’t just succeeding here,” says Deb Barnett, Executive Director of Southern Illinois Now. “They’re setting a replicable standard. Their integration of advanced manufacturing with renewable energy creates a practical blueprint that other firms can look to, learn from, and confidently emulate.”
Indeed, the story featured in Business Facilities Magazine is more than a profile—it’s an invitation. An invitation to companies seeking resilient supply chains, to innovators developing the next generation of clean technologies, and to communities nationwide looking for a model of how manufacturing regions can transform without losing their identity.
Proud to Share Our Story on a National Stage
Southern Illinois Now is honored to see the region’s progress recognized by Business Facilities Magazine. The feature affirms what those in the region already know: Southern Illinois is reclaiming its role as a leader—not by returning to what once was, but by forging what comes next.
We invite readers, partners, and future investors to explore the full story and join us as Southern Illinois continues to rise as a hub for cleaner, smarter, globally competitive manufacturing.