Illinois Business Developments

Illinois as the biggest market in the Midwest and the home of more than 22,000 corporate headquarters, a thriving startup scene and over 1.2 million small-scale businesses, offers the infrastructure that businesses need to be successful in the modern business. From the world-class infrastructure that connects businesses with their customers and suppliers to highly skilled workers in various fields and a thriving manufacturing base - Illinois excels in a variety of areas like advanced and clean agricultural technology, energy, and life sciences and transportation logistics.

Illinois has seen a huge expansion of foreign investments in recent years. Countries like Britain, Japan, Germany and China were among the top countries investing in Illinois; by 2023 this sum was greater than USD $13.2 billion across manufacturing, agribusiness and other sectors in Illinois alone.

In 2014, over $1 billion in incentives has been granted under Illinois' Reimagining Energy and Vehicles program to companies providing electric vehicles and green energy production. The program was announced last month. DCEO also provided PsiQuantum Manufacturing with an incentive package of more than $200 million for their brand new modern manufacturing facility in East Alton.

Governor JB Pritzker was joined by representatives from Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Network and local officials today in Chicago to launch CZ Biohub Chicago - a innovative research hub that is that is at the forefront of cutting-edge scientific research. This initiative will bring together University of Chicago, Urbana-Champaign State University (UIUC) and Northwestern University researchers to study human tissue development as well to develop innovative therapeutics.

Governor JB Pritzker and Flender Corporation recently announced they are expanding their current factory in Elgin that will result in 50 full-time employees while maintaining the existing 140 full-time employees.

The Illinois Small Business Development Center located at Southern Illinois University is funded by a co-operative arrangement between U.S. Small Business Administration, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Southern Illinois University. The Center provides entrepreneurs in the area with support for the creation or expansion of their businesses through services such as free workshops on business planning, one-on-one counseling sessions with experienced Business Advisors and access funding opportunities.

State leaders in Indiana are encouraging employers to offer higher wages and benefits as a way of keeping child care employees in the United States as they face a shortage of employment. This follows the closure of a child care facility in Bronzeville where it was difficult to retain staff.

Illinois Department of Labor also launched an online tool designed to educate small businesses on employment laws. Employers can search by keyword or browse through categories on this website, as well as connect with state agencies and yrp press release, www.speedrun.com, other resources.

Illinois Business Development Authority (IBDA) is taking action to increase awareness about Illinois tax incentives to expanding businesses by hosting a webinar this week on the subject. The webinar was recorded and will become archived and posted on their site.