NIU’s Department of Development and University Relations updated its map of the Interstate-88 Illinois Research and Development Corridor.

The map, titled “55 Miles of Opportunity,” identifies more than 40 business firms from Oak Brook to DeKalb which are located along the interstate.

Tom Montiegel, vice president for development and university relations, said the department decided to make the map to ensure NIU clearly would be identified on a map and to identify the firms along the interstate.

“We wanted to point out our proximity to the corridor. We made an effort to identify the firms and then surveyed the companies about their locations. The firms were helpful,” he said.

Seven new firms were added to the revised map, including Toyota USA, Aurora; Richardson Electronics Ltd., La Fox; George J. Ball Inc., West Chicago; Prime Computer Inc., Oak Brook Terrace; The Morton Arboretum Research Center, Lisle; Packard Instrument Co. Inc., Downers Grove; and Interlake Inc., Oak Brook.

“We believe the NIU map was the first comprehensive effort to document the significant cluster of firms along the corridor that are involved in advanced technology research or that employ advanced technological processes,” Montiegel said.

The department is planning a similar map for Interstate 90, he said.