Governor Quinn Celebrates Valentine's Day by Announcing Growth at Mars' Chicago Chocolate Factory and Visiting Children at Shriners Hospital

CHICAGO – February 14, 2012. To celebrate Valentine’s Day, Governor Pat Quinn visited the Mars, Inc. Chicago candy factory to announce the company’s recent growth in Illinois and tour the facility, which has added 65 new jobs over the past two years. Governor Quinn saw the new line where employees help produce Mars’ world-famous products like 3 Musketeers, Mars Bars, Milky Way and Snickers.

“I want to thank Mars for their continued commitment to growing and creating jobs in Illinois,” Governor Quinn said. “Right here in Illinois, Mars is manufacturing Snickers, Milky Way and 3 Musketeers and it is only fitting that we celebrate this Valentine’s Day with Mars.”

Mars recently invested $48 million in its Chicago-based factory, including $25 million for the new Line 7, which created 30 of the 65 jobs created over the past two years. The factory has been in full production since 1929 and employs about 250 associates and manufactures about 25 million candy bars a day. This recent investment extends the company’s commitment to another 20 years of growth in Illinois, leading up to the plant's 100th anniversary.

After the tour, Governor Quinn visited the nearby Shriners Hospital for Children, which is one of busiest hospitals in the Shriners network. The hospital treats children with orthopedic and neuromusculoskeletal conditions. Patients can also receive treatment for spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate. Shriners Hospitals for Children provide specialty healthcare for children around the country, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.