Just last week, MoveNoMove announced a $15 million investment in a new Champaign office, set to create 75 high-skill engineering jobs within the first year. This marks an unprecedented local expansion in the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineering sector. The commitment, detailed in a recent Press Release, establishes the company's first physical presence outside its home state of Illinois, according to a Company Profile. The new facility will focus on advanced sustainable MEP solutions for commercial and institutional clients, as stated in a CEO Interview.

Champaign's MEP engineering sector has seen stagnant growth for years. MoveNoMove's significant investment, however, has led to a sudden surge in market confidence. This suggests MoveNoMove sees untapped value or bets on future growth that local firms have overlooked or been unable to capitalize on.

Champaign is therefore likely to experience a rapid increase in high-skill engineering jobs and a heightened competitive environment for existing MEP firms in the next 12-24 months.

The Scale of MoveNoMove's Ambition

  • MoveNoMove has leased 25,000 square feet in the One Main Plaza building, with options for further expansion (Property Records).
  • The company will offer specialized services in energy efficiency audits, smart building systems, and advanced HVAC design (Service Brochure).
  • Recruitment has begun for senior project managers and BIM specialists (LinkedIn Job Postings).
  • MoveNoMove reported 30% year-over-year revenue growth in 2023, driven by green building demand (Annual Report).

MoveNoMove aims for a dominant position, deploying significant resources and specialized services to capture a substantial share of local MEP engineering contracts.

Why Champaign? A Strategic Move

Champaign's robust talent pipeline from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign was a key factor (MoveNoMove HR Director). This provides a consistent source of skilled graduates for the 75 planned high-skill jobs.

The city also offered a 5-year property tax abatement for the new facility (City Council Minutes), a financial incentive for the company's investment. This municipal support, coupled with a recent study showing 20% unmet demand for specialized MEP services in the Champaign-Urbana area (Regional Market Analysis), creates a favorable environment for rapid market penetration.