As Kankakee, Ill., rebuilds from a recent EF‑3 tornado, AHF Products is supporting employees and helping the community recover.
A facility manufacturing Armstrong Flooring® product has been a part of the Kankakee community for more than 75 years and has been long recognized as one of the nation’s primary producers of VCT. In 2022, AHF Products acquired the plant as part of its purchase of Armstrong Flooring, Inc. assets, continuing the site’s legacy of U.S. manufacturing and maintaining its role as a major local employer. Today, AHF is the only domestic manufacturer of VCT.
From the earliest days after the storm, AHF’s HR and plant leadership teams have been working closely with employees to ensure their safety and provide immediate support. While all employees remained safe, many experienced significant personal losses, including major home and vehicle damage.
“I’m grateful that all of our employees remained safe, but the impact on their lives was significant,” said AHF CEO Brent Emore. “Our teams have stayed close to every employee to make sure no one is navigating this alone. The resilience they’ve shown, supporting each other, keeping operations moving, and helping their neighbors, says everything about who they are.”
To meet both immediate and long‑term needs, AHF is implementing a comprehensive relief plan which includes assisting the affected employee with flooring; supporting the broader community with a donation to the United Way Emergency Response Fund, in the name of its Kankakee employees; and helping local residents rebuild. AHF is extending its Friends & Family flooring discount to all Kankakee residents impacted by the storm, opening access to every product the company manufactures, from LVT to hardwood.
“Our employees and neighbors in Kankakee have shown tremendous resilience,” said Emore. “We supported our team from the moment the storm passed, and we remain committed to standing with them—and with the entire community—as rebuilding continues.”
AHF is helping the Kankakee Valley Theatre Association (KVTA) repair its facility, which sustained damage in the minutes before the tornado touched down. A severe hailstorm punctured more than 200 holes in the roof. The air‑conditioning unit was torn from the building, outdoor storage units holding props and set pieces were carried nearly a mile away, and the theater’s sign, canopy, and siding were destroyed.
A rehearsal had been scheduled for that evening, but the director made a last‑minute decision to cancel.
“Seeing the damage and knowing we would have been inside if rehearsal hadn’t been canceled was chilling,” said Courtney Stephens, KVTA President. “And compared to our neighbors—whose buildings were demolished—we were lucky.”
The roof was repaired quickly, but other work continues as contractors and materials become available. Several theater members also lost homes or vehicles, and the tornado struck during the week of a major youth production. Local schools, churches, and arts organizations stepped in to provide temporary performance and rehearsal spaces, helping the theater continue its programming despite the disruption.
KVTA’s current flooring—likely Armstrong Flooring VCT installed more than 70 years ago—has endured decades of heavy use from rehearsals, children’s camps, set storage, and constant chair removal and replacement. The storm damage made replacement urgent. The new black VCT flooring will improve the viewing experience by reducing light reflection from the existing white floors.
“As a not‑for‑profit, this wasn’t practical before the storm,” Stephens said. “We are incredibly grateful to AHF for this donation and for helping us continue providing beautiful art in a beautiful space.”
About AHF Products
AHF Products is a leading hard surface flooring manufacturer in the USA with a family of trusted brands serving the residential and commercial hardwood, porcelain tile, and vinyl flooring markets. With decades of experience in award-winning flooring design, product development, manufacturing, and service, AHF creates quality flooring to last for generations through inspiring designs, innovation, and a deep commitment to outstanding customer service. Its residential flooring brands include Bruce®, Armstrong Flooring®, Hartco®, Robbins®, Crossville®, LM Flooring®, Capella®, HomerWood®, Hearthwood®, Raintree®, Autograph®, Emily Morrow Home® and tmbr®. Commercial brands include AHF Contract™, Armstrong Flooring, Crossville, and Parterre®. Headquartered in Mountville, Penn., with manufacturing operations across the United States and in Cambodia, AHF Products employs approximately 3,000 dedicated team members.
