Chicago Construction News staff writer
Cronus Chemicals LLC is set to construct a $2 billion fertilizer production facility in Tuscola, Illinois, with support from the state’s Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) program. The project is expected to create 130 new full-time jobs in Central Illinois and strengthen the state’s manufacturing and agricultural sectors.
The new facility will produce 950,000 short tons of ammonia annually, helping meet U.S. demand and reducing reliance on imported nitrogen products. The plant will incorporate carbon capture and storage technology to trap and store up to 90% of carbon dioxide emissions. Locally produced fertilizers will be supplied to Midwestern farmers.
Construction of the facility is anticipated to generate additional economic activity, supporting jobs in the region during both the building and operational phases. The project represents a significant return of ammonia production to Douglas County, which had not hosted such production for several decades.
The announcement coincides with the 2025 Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois, where agricultural and manufacturing leaders gather to highlight innovation and investment in rural America.
The EDGE program will provide tax incentives to support the investment, which is part of a broader trend of companies committing to significant development in Illinois communities. In 2024 alone, EDGE-participating companies invested more than $650 million across the state.
Illinois ranks No. 1 in soybeans, pumpkins, and horseradish, No. 2 in corn, No. 4 in hogs, and No. 10 in wheat. The state has more than 71,000 farms producing over $26 billion in agricultural products annually, and exports $13.7 billion in agricultural goods, including $3 billion to Mexico, $2 billion to Canada, and $1.5 billion to China.
