Blackwater sets its sights on Carroll Co

[maddezmom]

MOUNT CARROLL - For some, it is a company shrouded in mystery that has made national headlines for its involvement in conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. But for others, services provided by global giant Blackwater USA are vital to keep the nation secure and train a new generation of police and counter-terrorism specialists and security guards.

Still others might not even know who North Carolina-based Blackwater is. Not for long. The company is planning to establish a roughly 80-acre training site in a region where major economic development and interest from national companies has been scarce in recent years.

Yet news of the Blackwater move to northwest Illinois seemed a closely guarded secret until the firm issued a basic press release last week, one that still left many questions unanswered. Even some living near the site had never heard of Blackwater before the announcement.

Mount Carroll Mayor Carl Bates said he “didn't know enough about it to support it one way or the other.”

On Friday, however, Blackwater officials had more information to offer about the genesis of the new facility, dubbed Blackwater USA North.

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