CRYSTAL LAKE – Curran Contracting Co. plans to keep its headquarters in Crystal Lake, but the company has sold of some of its asphalt plants and shifted its focus to operations in Texas.
The company, a subsidiary of Crystal Lake-based Curran Group Inc., sold off several asphalt plants last year and has removed almost all of the equipment, machinery and buildings from its once-busy facility at 7502 S. Main St., adjacent to the city-owned Three Oaks Recreation Area.
The company, which maintains asphalt plants in McHenry and DeKalb, has moved some of its people and equipment to Texas, said Curran Group Inc. Co-President Tim Curran. Texas, he said, has more work, less regulation and better economic conditions than Illinois.
"We're working where we can make money," Curran said.
Curran Group Inc. moved into its new headquarters at 286 Memorial Court in Crystal Lake in 2009. The company has been cleaning up the Main Street property with the intention of selling it. During the Great Recession, there was little motivation to try to sell the site, but the company's goal is to eventually sell it, Curran said.
The property has potential for future development, said James Richter, planning and economic development manager for the city of Crystal Lake. He said the city already has received inquiries about the site.
Curran Contracting has a long history in McHenry County and has worked on many local road projects.
The Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce named Curran Group Inc. its Robert O. Covey Business of the Year in 2013. Curran Group was selected for the chamber's top award for its many years of community service and its careful efforts to prepare for the future.
The Curran family business was started as a small coal and ice delivery service. It has grown into a company with nearly 2,000 employees in the United States.