Heartland Dental Care Expands Corporate Office in Effingham, Illinois

Dr. Rick Workman, CEO of Heartland Dental Care at groundbreaking ceremony

The Heartland Dental Care corporate office expansion mirrors their growth throughout the country.

Heartland Dental Care in Effingham may be doubling the size of its facility, creating 80 new full-time jobs over the next two years and retaining approximately 200 more, but it’s the city’s entrepreneurial spirit that helped keep the rapidly-growing company’s roots in Effingham.

    “You folks here in Effingham, I cannot express how honored I am for you to be a part of Heartland,” said Dr. Rick Workman, founder and chief executive officer of the company.

    Workman spoke to a crowd of approximately 50 people at the company’s groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday, where he talked more about Heartland’s $7.7 billion project that’s estimated for completion in June 2013.

    The building size will double to the west, going from its current square footage of 40,000 feet to 80,000 feet. After the two-year mark, approximately 100 more jobs could be created. Another expansion has been mentioned, but no plans have yet been brought to light.

    “It’s hard to imagine 32 years ago that we’d be doing this today,” Workman said, whose company employs approximately 4,000 workers nationwide.

Heartland Dental Care has certainly grown over the years.

But, increasing scrutiny by federal regulators in Medicaid reimbursements (Heartland manages many dental offices in the Midwest where Medicaid reimbursements have been generous) and pressure on state budgets, makes one wonder if the growth can continue. Heartland's growth plan apparently involves management in more dental markets in many more states - where state dental practice acts allow.

Undoubtedly, financial incentives from the State of Illinois and the City of Effingham have played a role in the expansion.

With this expansion, HDC continues to strengthen its commitment to the state of Illinois and city of Effingham. The construction, estimated to be completed by June 2013, will allow Heartland Dental Care to add up to 175 new local jobs over the next few years. In addition, with the number of out of town guests that visit the home office each year continuing to rise, commerce for local hotels, restaurants and other local businesses will increase. With the increased space and the return of the HDC Institute, HDC projects more than 7,000 local hotel rooms being booked by HDC guests each year.

"My administration is committed to putting the people of Southern Illinois to work in good-paying jobs, and companies like Heartland Dental Care are helping us do just that," Governor Quinn said. "Heartland Dental Care's expansion will create jobs in the Effingham area and help grow the economy."

Heartland Dental Care has over 4,000 employees nationwide. The company is eligible for Economic Development for a Growing Economy tax credits, which are based on job creation, and an Employer Training Incentive Program grant to help increase the skills of its workforce. The company will also benefit from being located in an Enterprise Zone. The state's business investment package, administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), is valued at approximately $3.4 million over 10 years and is contingent on the company meeting its investment and job numbers.

Here is an embedded video of the groundbreaking ceremony: