COEUR d'ALENE - Coeur d'Alene Mines Corp. is officially leaving Coeur d'Alene to establish its corporate headquarters in downtown Chicago.

In fact, the company - which has called Coeur d'Alene home since 1985 - held a press conference Wednesday with Chicago Mayor and former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

Coeur will close down shop for good in Coeur d'Alene at the end of September, when the move to Chicago will be completed.

The company - which touts itself as the largest U.S.-based primary silver producer, and is a growing gold producer - disclosed in December it was considering the move.

The company has 65 employees at the corporate office in Coeur d'Alene, but only about 20 have decided to make the move.

"Everybody in the corporate office was offered the opportunity to relocate with the company," said Stefany Bales, a spokeswoman for the company.

The company, which employs nearly 2,000 people worldwide, will hire at least 60 employees at its Chicago headquarters by the end of 2014.

She said the company hasn't determined what it will do with the headquarters building at 505 Front Ave. in downtown Coeur d'Alene.

Additionally, Coeur now intends to change its name to Coeur Mining in mid-May following its annual meeting.

Bales said, "Coeur has a long relationship with the Coeur d'Alene community and the state of Idaho and appreciates the support we've had for many, many years."

She said the company is in the middle of a transformation, and being in Chicago at this time will make way for new perspectives and ideas.

"There was a massive effort from the (Idaho) governor's office to keep them in Coeur d'Alene," said Steve Griffitts, president of the Coeur d'Alene-based economic development group Jobs Plus. "We understand the impact of losing these jobs."

He said mining companies that serve international markets can do well in Idaho.

"Ground Force manufacturing (in Post Falls) is a great example," Griffitts said.

In a statement, Emanuel said, "Coeur needs a global city with a deep talent pool and access to international markets."

"Relocating our headquarters to Illinois will improve our access to key stakeholders and to our operations," said Mitchell J. Krebs, Coeur's president and CEO. "Chicago is a global, pro-business city, an international transportation hub, and provides access to a broad and deep talent pool."

Coeur has four precious metals mines in the Americas, including the Palmarejo silver-gold mine in Mexico, the San Bartolome silver mine in Bolivia, the Rochester silver-gold mine in Nevada, and the Kensington gold mine in Alaska.

The company also owns a non-operating interest in a mine in Australia, and conducts ongoing exploration activities in Mexico, Argentina, Nevada, Alaska and Bolivia.