Cimco first tenant at I-88 Distribution Center

ROCK FALLS – Cimco Recycling is the first tenant at the I-88 Distribution Center, the former Stanley Black & Decker building at 41 U.S. Route 30.

Cimco's local operations have been based at 13509 Galt Road in Sterling since 2006; the recycler also leases property at 3101 W. Fourth St. on the city's west end. It has no plans to discontinue operations at either site.

The recycler, which buys a variety of scrap materials, including metals, paper, plastic and electronic waste, also operates in Loves Park, Ottawa, Milan, Carbondale, Marion and Milwaukee.

Each Cimco location has its own owner and manager. Loves Park doubles as its corporate headquarters.

Space at the 640,000-square-foot building east of Rock Falls became available after Robinson Investments Ltd., based in Bellefontaine, Ohio, bought it for $3.8 million in late September.

Robinson also acquired 124 acres of land that can be developed near the interstate.

The building had been vacant since 2011, when Stanley Black & Decker announced that the plants in Sterling and Rock Falls would be closed. Stanley Works bought the National Manufacturing plant in 2005, and the decision to close the plants came in the aftermath of its merger with Black & Decker in 2010.

Robinson Investments does commercial and residential real estate development, specializing in warehousing and logistics. The company has dozens of Midwest clients, including Procter & Gamble, Ford and General Dynamics.

A spokesman at the company said proposals are out for additional tenants at the distribution center, but nothing has been finalized.