State incentives are designed to lift the boats of all workers in Illinois.
As director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Kristin Richards oversees DCEO’s mission to create a positive economic climate to attract job creators, support Illinois’ skilled workforce and bolster communities to provide opportunities for all Illinoisans.
A native of Belleville and a current resident of Chicago, Richards offers her take on a variety of state economic development initiatives in the following interview.
How does the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program help develop workforce talent statewide?
KRISTIN RICHARDS: All of DCEO’s training programs, including Illinois Works, have a sharp focus on equity — designed to build the pipeline in high-demand industries and eliminate barriers to entry for historically underrepresented communities. The Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program provides training opportunities, expands the talent pipeline and boosts diversity in the construction industry and building trades. Illinois Works is just one example of a state-led initiative that reinforces our belief that pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships can lead to career opportunities. Since the program’s inception, Illinois Works has awarded a total of $75 million serving over 4,000 residents.
Through a variety of pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs throughout the state, DCEO is opening the doors to opportunities to join the state’s world-class workforce. Illinois employers offer apprenticeships in a diverse array of fields including health care, manufacturing, information technology, construction, hospitality and more. Illinois boasts nearly 21,000 active registered apprentices, with about 1,700 employers participating in more than 450 programs. As important, in every region of the state dedicated workforce professionals are in place to set up tailored apprenticeship programs for employers. These workforce professionals, known as Apprenticeship Specialists, are in place to meet employers’ needs, and can be accessed through ApprenticeshipIllinois.com.
ApprenticeshipIllinois.com also contains access to information about funding opportunities that may offset apprenticeship program costs. For example, employers can qualify for the Illinois Apprenticeship Education Expense Tax Credit, worth up to $3,500 per apprentice annually, with an additional $1,500 for eligible underserved populations, to help offset training costs and incentivize workforce development.
Did Illinois adopt any major new incentives legislation in the past year?
RICHARDS: Yes. Here are some of the key bills we passed:
- $500 million in funding for historic site readiness initiatives (Surplus to Success and DCEO Site Readiness Initiative): The Governor’s site readiness initiative, which includes the Surplus to Success program, represents the most significant investment in State history to make more sites across Illinois ready for business. This includes remediation of state-owned sites as well as efforts to market and recruit out-of-state businesses to call Illinois home. These projects are readying sites for new capital investment and job creation to solidify Illinois’ reputation as an economic powerhouse that provides companies with access to the infrastructure they need to succeed.
- Advancing Innovating Manufacturing for Illinois Tax Credit (AIM Illinois): AIM Illinois is a new incentive program that supports manufacturers – particularly small and medium-sized companies – who are making significant capital investments. The program provides tax incentives to companies making large facility and equipment investments in Illinois – making the state more competitive to win and retain capital-intensive business.
- Enhancing Key Incentive Programs: There were several improvements to DCEO’s incentive programs based on industry feedback, including EDGE and REV Illinois. EDGE is expanded to provide additional incentives to companies investing $100 million or more, and REV has been expanded to include additional EV supply chain industries. This will make Illinois even more competitive in its efforts to attract and retain businesses.
- Capital Investment Programs: In addition to the site readiness capital initiatives, the FY26 budget funds several capital programs that invest in our workforce such as manufacturing training academies ($24M); incentive programs that keep Illinois competitive like the Enterprise Fund ($50M) and Prime Sites Capital Grant Program ($75M); and funding for the Made in Illinois program ($1.5M) which supports small and mid-sized manufacturers.
How is REV Illinois working?
RICHARDS: The Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois (REV Illinois) offers the most competitive clean energy incentives in the country. This first-in-class incentive program continues to improve year after year to address industry needs and increase its effectiveness at attracting businesses considering Illinois.
REV Illinois offers competitive incentives to expand in or relocate to Illinois for companies that manufacture or are engaged in the research and development of electric vehicles or aircraft, associated battery, charging infrastructure and recycling products, as well as renewables including solar, hydrogen, wind, energy storage and green steel manufacturing. Program benefits can last 20 to 30 years, and include provisions to retain income tax withholding, exemptions on utilities taxes, tax credits, training credits, grants and equipment/capital cost exemptions. Local jurisdictions can also provide property tax abatement for the life of the agreement.
“During 2024, the number of jobs retained by EDGE and REV — the state’s most active incentive programs — more than quadrupled, from approximately 3,000 to 12,800, with 4,100 new jobs created by the programs.”
— Kristin Richards, Director, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Guided by Illinois’ Economic Growth Plan, the REV Illinois program supports a targeted industry for the state — clean energy production and advanced manufacturing — which continues to expand because of strong state leadership and a commitment to fostering innovation, sustainability and long-term economic competitiveness. Illinois is committed to supporting companies that invest in our communities while contributing to our vibrant clean energy ecosystem. Tying the reduction in carbon emissions to large investments in the clean energy sector represents a generational opportunity for Illinois.
During 2024, the number of jobs retained by EDGE and REV Illinois — the state’s most active incentive programs — more than quadrupled, from approximately 3,000 to 12,800, with 4,100 new jobs created by the programs. By comparison, prior to the pandemic in 2019, company investments from EDGE totaled $348 million, new jobs totaled approximately 1,700, and REV Illinois did not yet exist. REV Illinois investments more than doubled from $2 billion in 2023 to $4 billion in 2024.
Major agreements from 2024 include EV manufacturer Rivian investing $1.5 billion in Central Illinois to produce its highly anticipated R2 model, Avina Clean Hydrogen’s $820 million sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) investment in Southwest Illinois, Wiegel Tool Works, Inc.’s Wood Dale headquarters expansion to grow production for EV and renewable energy markets, EV manufacturer Ymer Technology opening its U.S. headquarters in Buffalo Grove, EV battery material supplier Bedrock Materials locating its research and development headquarters in Chicago, and EV component manufacturer Wieland Rolled Products North America investing $500 million — reinforcing its long-term commitment to six facilities across the state and the future of advanced manufacturing in Illinois.
REV Illinois agreements have continued to make waves in 2025, including Rivian solidifying its commitment to Illinois with a $120 million investment in a supplier park in Normal, electric bus company Damera opening its first U.S. assembly plant in Illinois, next-generation battery technology company Pure Lithium Corporation relocating its company operations to Illinois, and global automotive seating supplier Adient establishing its facility in Normal.
How is the Illinois New Stores in Food Deserts Program working?
RICHARDS: Through the Illinois Grocery Initiative, the State of Illinois has made progress in our continued effort to combat food insecurity. We’re changing lives and livelihoods by making it easier to put fresh food on the table. The grantees will make a significant impact on their communities, ensuring residents have access to quality and affordable food while also strengthening their local economies.
The New Stores in Food Deserts Program awards are supporting the establishment of new grocery stores in food deserts. This funding is supporting construction and renovation costs for new stores, as well as many first-year operations costs, such as employee wages, utility costs and initial inventory of food. DCEO provided approximately $6.9 million through Round I of the Illinois Grocery Initiative New Stores Grants and recently awarded $9.6 million through Round II.
The Equipment Upgrades Grant Program backs energy-efficient equipment upgrades for existing stores, with priority given to those located in food insecure communities across the state. This program is designed to strengthen existing grocery stores and preserve access to fresh food in food-insecure communities, in an effort to stop the formation of new food deserts. After providing $1 million through Round I of the Illinois Grocery Initiative Equipment Upgrades Grant Program, DCEO opened Round II in January 2025.
What are your agency’s top priorities for the next 12 months?
RICHARDS: Guided by Illinois’ Economic Growth Plan, DCEO will continue to work toward economic goals that will have a lasting effect for Illinois families and communities. Our plan is guided by four overarching economic development goals:
- Focus on high-growth sectors and continue overall business climate improvements.
- Advance comprehensive economic development efforts for business growth and attraction.
- Promote equitable growth by empowering workers, entrepreneurs and communities.
- Build out the new clean energy economy.
Illinois has the fifth largest economy in the U.S. What keeps it that way?
RICHARDS: Illinois has a $1 trillion economy that small businesses in every corner of the state are part of building — one of only five states to reach this milestone. Illinois is proud to be at the forefront of industry, innovation and investment — from clean energy and tech, to manufacturing, logistics, biosciences and countless other sectors.
Our transportation and location in the “Middle of Everything” are unmatched. Our infrastructure is unparalleled, our workforce is among the best in the Midwest and beyond, and our business prospect pipeline is deeper than ever. In 2025, our incentives are stronger, and we’re better positioned to attract large-scale investments. Illinois has established itself as a premier destination to locate and grow a business. And we are just getting started.
