Innovative Healthcare Company Will Employ 250 in West Loop Neighborhood; Move Comes as Chicago is Named Nation’s Top Metro for Corporate Relocation for Fifth Straight Year

Mayor Rahm Emanuel today joined Aspen Dental Management to announce the company is locating a new headquarters in Chicago that will employ approximately 250 people. The announcement comes as Site Selection Magazine has named Chicago as the top metro area in the nation for corporate relocation and investment for the fifth consecutive year.

“The reasons Chicago has led the nation in corporate investment for five consecutive years are the same reasons Aspen Dental Management build a future here,” Mayor Emanuel said. “Chicago’s talent, transportation, transparency, technology and training give companies of any size the tools they need to thrive. And when companies thrive in Chicago it creates jobs that reach every part of the city.”

Founded in Syracuse, NY by current CEO, Bob Fontana, ADMI offers a patient-centric model of healthcare through its Aspen Dental and Five Star Urgent care brands so that healthcare professionals can focus on giving care rather than administrative tasks.

“We’re incredibly excited about putting down roots in Chicago’s West Loop,” Fontana said. “As we consider our future business growth, company culture and recruitment efforts, we see Chicago and its central location as key to realizing those opportunities. In turn, we have much to offer the Chicago community and are eager to build relationships and become an integral player in Chicago’s vibrant business community. This ‘home base’ in the Midwest will allow us to truly embrace our nationwide footprint.”

Support provided by ADMI includes services and recommendations related to finding the right locations, leasing, acquiring equipment, accounting and marketing. Today ADMI supports more than 660 Aspen Dental-branded practices in 36 states, with another 70 locations planned this year; as well as 14 Five Star Urgent Care locations with 15 more scheduled to open in 2018.

“Companies such as Aspen Dental choose Chicago because they know Chicago is the place where they can truly thrive,” Andrea Zopp, President and CEO of WBC said. “As confirmed yet again by Site Selection – everything from our world-class talent, global access and affordability to our diverse array of neighborhoods and a vibrant downtown core makes Chicago an ideal home for businesses seeking to grow and expand.”

In 2017, WBC tracked a record 351 business expansions and relocations in the Chicago metro. These projects accounted for $2.2 billion in investment and nearly 14,000 new jobs. Major corporate relocations and expansions last year included EXP, CRRC, Flex-N-Gate, Trustwave, iam bank and Peapod.

“Seventy-seven distinct city neighborhoods in various phases of realizing their potential, 275 municipalities and seven counties comprising the new Chicago Regional Growth Corporation, 10 viable candidate sites for Amazon HQ2 or any other corporate campus, impressive transit-oriented, mixed-use redevelopment and — perhaps best of all — housing stock that people can actually afford,” Adam Bruns, managing editor of Site Selection said. “Put all of that together and you see why companies and the people who work for them continue to find Chicagoland a place with options.”

A key source for the corporate relocation community, Site Selection magazine focuses on new corporate facility projects with significant impact, such as headquarters, manufacturing plants, R&D and logistics sites. In order to be considered, new facilities and expansions must meet at least one of three Site Selection criteria: (a) capital investment of at least $1 million, (b) create at least 20 new jobs or (c) add at least 20,000 square feet of new floor area.  Site Selection is published by Conway Inc., which is headquartered in Atlanta, GA.