With tiny yellow Caterpillar excavators, dump trucks and front end loaders sitting on city council desks dais Tuesday night, the City of Naperville sent a message to Caterpillar: We want you.

"We want them to know we're open for business," Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico said. "We'd certainly love to talk to them."

Caterpillar, an international construction machinery and engine company, announced last week that it would be moving its headquarters and 300 administration jobs from Peoria to the Chicago area. Several municipalities, including Chicago and Rosemont, have been trying to attract the company since the announcement.

Chirico said he hopes the toy construction trucks and black baseball cap with the Cat logo on it send a welcoming message to Caterpillar.

"It's playful," Chirico said. "We would like them to know Naperville is a lovely community."

Naperville, Caterpillar Erin Hegarty / Naperville Sun Yellow Caterpillar construction trucks sit in front of Naperville City Council members during Tuesday night's council meeting. Mayor Steve Chirico said the City of Naperville wants Caterpillar to know it would welcome the company's headquarters in the city. Yellow Caterpillar construction trucks sit in front of Naperville City Council members during Tuesday night's council meeting. Mayor Steve Chirico said the City of Naperville wants Caterpillar to know it would welcome the company's headquarters in the city. (Erin Hegarty / Naperville Sun)

While the city hasn't officially reached out to Caterpillar yet, Naperville is putting together a welcome packet outlining the city's amenities, housing stock and information on the schools, Chirico said.

Whether the city would offer incentives to lure Caterpillar to Naperville is unclear.

"We don't usually lead with incentives," Chirico said. "Naperville amenities are a great incentive."

The city also plans to roll out a social media campaign to attract the company. "We want to let Caterpillar know, 'We heard you, and now we want you to hear us,'" City of Naperville spokeswoman Linda LaCloche said.

Caterpillar announced on Jan. 31 that it hopes to secure office space in the Chicago area before the end of the year. The company was clear about its desire to be close to O'Hare International Airport, which may make a suburban location more appealing than downtown Chicago.

Also making their interest known this week was the Choose DuPage Economic Development Alliance.

Naperville, Caterpillar Erin Hegarty / Naperville Sun Toy construction trucks and a black Caterpillar baseball hat adorn the city council chamber Tuesday night. Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico said he wants the machinery and construction manufacturing company to know the city is “open for business.” Toy construction trucks and a black Caterpillar baseball hat adorn the city council chamber Tuesday night. Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico said he wants the machinery and construction manufacturing company to know the city is “open for business.” (Erin Hegarty / Naperville Sun)

"The marquee value is very, very valuable," said John Carpenter, CEO of the alliance.

DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin already has sent a letter to Caterpillar CEO James Umpleby touting his west suburban area and stressing a willingness to work with Cat's relocation team.

Although no tax breaks or deals are mentioned, Cronin's letter stresses DuPage's business base and that the ongoing Western Access O'Hare Project will provide "convenient, hassle-free access" to the airport.

ehegarty@tribpub.com

The Chicago Tribune contributed to this report.

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