Mike's Hard Lemonade is opening a West Loop office, which Gov. Pat Quinn said will create 80 jobs in the city. View Full Caption Mike's Hard Lemonade

WEST LOOP — The hard lems will be flowing freely after Mike’s Hard Lemonade opens its new U.S. headquarters at Jackson Boulevard and Jefferson Street.

Employees already have begun the move from Seattle into the Chicago office, which will create 80 jobs, according to Gov. Pat Quinn’s office.

Mike’s will be tapping directly into Chicago talent to fill those slots, according to a statement released by Phil Rosse, Mike’s Hard Lemonade executive vice president.

“Chicago is an epicenter for the consumer packaged goods industry, with the brightest talent currently working in the region or entering the job market after graduation from one of the state’s top-ranked universities,” Rosse said.

“Being in Chicago also brings us closer to the customer, supplier and co-packer organizations we work with to create our products and deliver them to consumers.”

Mike’s Hard Lemonade is in line to get $1.8 million in state tax credits, but only if it commits to creating jobs and investing in the community, Quinn spokeswoman Sandra Jones said.

Quinn’s office did not confirm how many of the jobs at the new headquarters would go to local workers.

The company also is eligible for a $25,000 Employer Training Investment Program grant to help develop the skills of its workers, Jones said.