Silliker 'Certainly Not Abandoning' Chicago Heights Property

While the Silliker, Inc. lab is leaving Chicago Heights, the food-testing giant released a statement Wednesday pledging to be a good neighbor.

Some residents are expressed concern that in the wake of the lab's move to Crete, the facility might be left unsecured and attract metal thieves.
They told Patch they were also concerned that chemicals might be left behind.

Spokesman John Williams Jr. directly addressed those concerns in the following statement released to Patch.

As one of Chicago Heights' oldest businesses with over 45 years of continuous operations, Silliker is proud of its record of providing jobs to area residents, working with community leaders, and cultivating strong relationships with civic groups. 

Although we are expanding to our newest laboratory location in Crete, we are certainly not abandoning our property in Chicago Heights, especially as it is owned by Silliker. 

We have operated the Chicago Heights laboratory in compliance with all state and federal EPA regulations, and will continue to abide by all applicable legal requirements and guidelines.

For the foreseeable future, the Chicago Heights building will be used as an auxiliary facility with a private firm providing security for the site.

All chemical agents used by Silliker to ensure food safety and public health will be relocated to the new Crete facility.

Being a good neighbor has always been of the utmost importance to Silliker, and although we are expanding to provide more jobs and further our public health mission, we will continue to uphold our long standing historic relationship with the Chicago Heights community as a commercial partner and real estate owner.

Best regards,

John Williams Jr. 
Sr. Communications Specialist