Problem:
Navistar, Inc., became embroiled in a controversy over its proposal to establish a World Headquarters along the I-88 tech corridor in the Village of Lisle. Navistar needed a crisis communications and grassroots strategy to fight off an aggressive and organized opposition effort raising concerns ranging from the environment to diesel fuel explosions to local tax policy.Strategy:
Culloton Strategies immediately identified Navistar's natural allies in the community, business leaders, who would benefit from the increase in local hotel, restaurant and retail activity from Navistar's employees and customers; and local labor unions eager for the construction jobs created as the company refurbished the Alcatel-Lucent campus to meet its needs. CS launched the Jobs for Lisle Coalition, and recruited nearly 1,000 supporters through a website and meetings with Navistar executives and key community leaders in business, labor, education and government.Results:
Culloton Strategies leveraged the groundswell of public support and used our alliance with local labor unions to bring Governor Quinn and Attorney General Madigan to the table with Navistar and their opponents to broker a deal.On September 8, 2010 the Governor and Attorney General held a press conference with Navistar CEO Dan Ustian to announce that Navistar and 7,000 jobs would stay in Illinois. Navistar's World Headquarters will open in Lisle in March 2012.
