ROCHELLE — The long-awaited mystery company that is filling the former Nippon Sharyo buildings at 1600 Ritchie Court in Rochelle is Zekelman Industries, the largest steel pipe and tube manufacturer in North America, a City of Rochelle press release said Friday.

Operations will commence in Rochelle this fall and the development is expected to create between 100 and 150 jobs locally, the release said. The city expects the project to foster further industrial and commercial development in the community.

"The City of Rochelle is pleased to welcome Zekelman Industries to our community," Rochelle Mayor John Bearrows said in the press release. “The city was only able to attract this type of development because of our ongoing investment in our utility infrastructure."  

In the past, Zekelman Industries has been said to be making a capital investment of over $130 million in the facility and its jobs will pay an average of $52,000 per year before benefits.

The Lee-Ogle Enterprise zone was amended by the Rochelle City Council and other area members to attract Zekelman Industries by adding 10 years of 50 percent abatement, creating a category for companies that make an investment of $100 million or more plus adding at least 125 new jobs and a pay rate of $50,000 or more before benefits and maintaining 95 percent employees. There are a total of 12 years of abatement for Zekelman Industries’ west building. The east building won’t be abated at all. 

The city also reached a development agreement with Zekelman Industries. 

City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh has said previously that the city has invested a “significant” amount in attracting Zekelman Industries in terms of incentive dollars and staff hours. Infrastructure like the current substation project going on next to the Zekelman Industries site has also been put into place. 

“This announcement was made possible through the efforts of the mayor, city council, and city staff over almost two years,” Fiegenschuh said in the Friday press release. “This project demonstrates that Rochelle is an economic engine for the region and that our community is an attractive location for families.”

City officials signed non-disclosure agreements about Zekelman Industries and were previously unable to reveal the identity of the company. It has been referred to as “Project Jackpot” by city staff and around the community.

Zekelman Industries is currently completing the redevelopment of the two buildings on its site, the press release said. When complete, the facility will be “state-of-the-art” in pipe and tube-making technology.