CHAMPAIGN – Champaign County is one of four finalists for a chemical-processing plant that would employ 205 and involve a $250 million investment.

Representatives of the company, which has not been publicly identified, have made three visits to the community, and a site decision is expected by early March, according to Erik Kotewa, deputy director of the Champaign County Economic Development Corp.

The latest visit came Tuesday, when several of the company's top executives visited the proposed site in Champaign's Apollo Industrial Subdivision, Kotewa said.

They stayed for about an hour and a half, discussing matters with Warren Ribley, director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and other state officials, Kotewa said.

Kotewa said the company appears to be down to four sites, mainly in the Midwest and East. He said he believes – but has not been explicitly told – that Champaign County ranks in the top two.

When asked what the company seems to find attractive about Champaign County, Kotewa said: "They're very confident in the ability to execute a project here with the land owner and the availability of utilities, given the level of success others have had in the area. They're happy with the location and the proximity to rail."

Kotewa said the project is "extremely fast-track."

The economic development group got the lead in early December from the state commerce department. A site consultant visited in early January and returned with the client Jan. 20.

That project is one of 14 projects the economic development group is monitoring. Several have been dormant, but one showing life is a food-processing company looking for 30,000 to 75,000 square feet, with the potential to expand to 100,000 square feet.

That project, which came to light three weeks ago as the result of a lead from the state commerce department, would create 37 full-time jobs.