< Previous8 I N T E R S E C T IL L I N O I SON L I N E ED I T I ONTAKE THIS GUIDE WITH YOUENJOYRead the digital edition on your tablet and phone. Click on links for even more information.SHAREShare the magazine on social media with your friends and community.LINKSFeature the magazine on your blog, website or newsletters with a link or one of our easy-to-use tools. siteselection.com/cc/illinoisThe publishers believe that the information contained in this publication is accurate. However, the in formation is not war ranted, and neither Conway, nor Intersect Illinois, assumes any liability or responsibility for actual, consequential or incidental damages re sulting from inaccurate or erroneous information. PHONE: (770) 446-6996 • FAX: (770) 263-8825 • TOLL FREE: (800) 554-5686 email: editor@conway.com web: siteselection.com/cc/illinoisIntersect Illinois is published annually by Conway, 6625 The Corners Parkway, Suite 200, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 USA. PRINTED IN USA. ©2018 Conway President & Publisher ADAM JONES-KELLEY Executive Vice President RONALD J. STARNER VP of Publications & Editor in Chief MARK AREND Managing Editor of Custom Content SAVANNAH KING Managing Editor ADAM BRUNS Senior Editor GARY DAUGHTERS Art Director SCOTT LARSEN Production Manager BOB GRAVLEE Lead Designers SEAN SCANTLAND, RICHARD NENOFF, NEGIN MOMTAZ Jr. Graphic Designer JONATHAN THERRELL Vice President of Sales CHARLES FITZGIBBON Vice President of Corporate Development PAUL TARRANTS Regional Director Custom Content KRISTIN PICKETT Marketing Manager STEPHANY GASPARD Circulation Manager JULIE CLARKE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY TE AM Webmaster BEN YAWN Database Administration Manager DANIEL BOYER10 I N T E R S E C T IL L I N O I SB U S I N E S S C L I M A T E O V E R V I E WMany factors go into Illinois’ position of global leadership.It’s not a stretch to say that the business world intersects in Illinois.When you have the planet’s th-largest economy and the nation’s fth-largest GDP, as Illinois does, the rest of the world takes notice. at’s why , foreign-owned companies choose to set up shop in Illinois, and why a majority of the Fortune do business in the state.Anchored by a civilian labor force of . million and the best transportation infrastructure found anywhere in the Americas, Illinois competes for jobs and industry on a global scale.“Chicago is the crossroads of the world in terms of rail tra c,” says Tim Feemster, managing principal of Dallas-based Foremost Quality Logistics. “All the class one railroads are in Illinois. ey extend to Canada and Mexico and both coasts. by R O N S TA R N E RThe Crossroads of Commercelargest GDP, as Illinois does, the rest of the Chicago is the crossroads of the world in terms of rail tra c.” — Tim Feemster, Managing Principal of Foremost Quality LogisticsThe Crossroads of Commerce12 I N T E R S E C T IL L I N OI SBoth intermodal and manifest rail are there. O’Hare and Midway international airports are huge. And truck transportation is big. Any way you want to transport people and goods, Illinois has it.”The proof of Illinois’ interconnectedness with the world lies in the performance:• Site Selection magazine ranked Illinois the No. 3 state in the U.S. in overall corporate facility project performance in 2017.• Illinois is the largest exporting state in the Midwest and fifth-largest in the U.S.• Chicago is the No. 1 metro area for corporate facility investment, according to Site Selection.Chicago Midway International AirportPhoto courtesy of Midway Airport14 I N T E R S E C T IL L I N OI SIllinois is the 2nd-largest producer of computer science grads, awarding almost of the nation’s computer science degrees.10%• Fortune companies base their headquarters in Illinois.• Illinois is the second-largest producer of computer science graduates, awarding nearly percent of the nation’s computer science degrees.• e University of Illinois system graduates more engineers than MIT, Cal-Tech and Stanford combined.• Illinois boasts the second-largest transportation system in the country and third-largest interstate highway system in the U.S.• Illinois ranks rst in the nation in number of domestic banks and bank holding companies.• Illinois is home to the largest derivatives exchanges worldwide.• Illinois is the second-largest food-processing cluster in America.Illinois leads the nation in electricity generated from NUCLEAR POWER.• Illinois ranks No. 1 in the nation in food-related patents.• Illinois leads the nation in electricity generated from nuclear power.• Chicago offers the most non-stop overseas flights in the U.S.• Chicago is the third-largest intermodal container/trailer port in the world, trailing only Singapore and Hong Kong.Illinois also boasts the industrial space to support this level of commerce. “Chicago ranks No. 3 in industrial development in the U.S., behind only Los Angeles and New York-New Jersey,” says Feemster. “Its physical location and infrastructure make it a very powerful force. The main intermodal hubs for Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF are in Joliet, Illinois. Plus, the ports on the Mississippi River handle grain and aggregates for export.”Because of this infrastructure, there is no shortage of new industrial space coming online constantly, adds Feemster. “Millions of square feet of new space are coming online every month,” he says. “All major markets in and around Chicago have millions of square feet of spec space under construction right now. And when you look at truck traffic, you can see why metro Chicago will be a major economic force for decades to come.”An example is Will County, home to the largest inland port in the U.S. More than 3 million containers flow through the Will County inland port annually, totaling some $622 billion in freight value. “That’s 87 percent of gross state product and 3.5 percent of total U.S. GDP,” says Feemster. “Interstate 80 is the heaviest truck traffic corridor for freight movement in the whole country, and it goes right through Will County.”Interstates 94, 55 and 70 also bisect Illinois, ensuring that much of the nation’s commerce — at some point in its movement — travels through Illinois.As you can see, they don’t call it “Intersect Illinois” for nothing. 16 I N T E R S E C T IL L I N O I Shen Gov. Bruce Rauner took o ce in January , he did so on a platform of cutting red tape and improving the overall Illinois business climate.More than three and a half years later, he continues to deliver on those promises. In a recent interview, the Governor discussed his top priorities and what he is doing to make Illinois even more competitive for jobs and industry.What are your state’s three most important assets when it comes to recruiting companies?GOV. RAUNER: Our superior transportation network, our well-educated and skilled workforce, and our global connections set Illinois apart. What have been the most impactful business climate reforms that you have enacted since you became Governor?RAUNER: Our goal was to roll out the welcome mat to companies across the world and make it clear that Illinois was open for business. Our e orts to reduce burdensome red tape, to streamline business services and to attract innovation have all combined to create a more I N T ER V I E W W I T H G O V ER N O R R A UN ERby R O N S TA R N E RWThe Business Advocate in ChiefFor Gov. Rauner, improving the business climate is job one in the state capital.robust and growing economy. We also began to lead with our assets instead of just incentives. While incentives are certainly part of the equation, few states can come close to Illinois’ vast resources and assets. Our assets continue to be our best marketing tools and the factors that set us apart.What work still needs to be done to further enhance your state’s attractiveness to industry?RAUNER: Illinois is a great place to do business. We continue to attract great companies here but more work needs to be done, particularly when it comes to reducing property taxes and burdensome regulations that sti e business growth.Why do so many companies continue to move their corporate headquarters to Chicago?RAUNER: Chicago is a world-class city in the heart of the U.S. It serves as a primary connector for the east and west coasts and is a prime spot for international companies looking to expand rapidly. Additionally, Chicago o ers one of the most educated populations in the country with a diverse and innovative economy. What is your state’s best-kept secret?RAUNER: We have the hardest working people in the country. Our workforce is second to none. Access to a high-quality workforce is a top concern for companies, and Illinois’ well-educated, hardworking and loyal workforce has long been a draw for businesses around the world. And we’re continuously working to improve our education system and our workforce development strategies to help Illinoisans remain at the top of their game. What are your state’s three most important assets when it comes to recruiting companies?GOV. RAUNER:transportation network, our well-educated and skilled workforce, and our global connections set Illinois apart. What have been the most impactful business climate reforms that you have enacted since you became Governor?I N T E R S E C T I L L I N O I S 17What is the global brand identity of Illinois? What would you like it to be?RAUNER: I have had the privilege to lead three international trade missions as Governor — not using taxpayers’ dollars — and am happy to report that Illinois has seen a tremendous increase in our appeal abroad. The word is getting out about our workforce, our strategic location, our quality of life, and our robust culture of innovation. We still have a lot of work to do, but I am encouraged by the change in perception I have heard on the ground. How do you get involved personally in persuading business executives to invest in your state?RAUNER: As mentioned, we have traveled the globe at personal expense to meet with companies looking to invest and expand in Illinois. We have set the precedent that Illinois will work with companies of all sizes to make our state home for their next project. I’m exceptionally proud of the projects we have announced under my administration, and we will continue to recruit businesses every day to invest within our great state. “Our efforts to reduce burdensome red tape, to streamline business services and to attract innovation have all combined to create a more robust and growing economy.” — Gov. Bruce RaunerNext >