Illinois: New Era of Sunshine Pushes Clouds Aside -- Site Selection magazine, March 2000

Illinois: New Era
of Sunshine Pushes
Clouds Aside (cover)

New Tools to Help
Companies Compete

Chicago's
Robust Rebirth

Suburban Chicago's
High-Tech Flair

MCI WorldCom
Connects With Rockford

Quaker Oats Stays,
Expands in Danville

Southwestern Illinois:
Distribution Destination

Carbondale and the
Route 13 Corridor

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A S I T E S E L E C T I O N S P E C I A L F E A T U R E F R O M M A R C H 2 0 0 0

Companies have found Illinois a profitable location since it emerged as a key industry and transportation hub in the 19th century. Today the state's manufacturing
and logistics advantages still hold sway, but Illinois is also a contender for
the high-tech investments that will increasingly dominate
business expansion in the new millennium.

"Look all around. There's nothing but
blue skies. Look straight ahead.
Nothing but blue skies." -- Johnny Nash, 1972

If Illinois and Chicago chose a theme song to highlight their current position in the site-selection top 40, it might well be the '70s chart-topper I Can See Clearly Now.

Why? State and local economic development officials are fairly bursting with optimism, enthusiasm and excitement about where they are now and where they're headed. Bad feelings about the past? They've disappeared. And obstacles to progress are being pushed aside one after another.

"As far as I am concerned, the state of Illinois is the best it's been in years in terms of economic development," exclaims George W. Lofton, Chicago-based director of economic development for electric utility Commonwealth Edison Co. "These are great times."

There are several reasons for Illinois' rise. First, the state's chief economic development officer, Gov. George Ryan, is himself a businessman and an unabashed supporter of working in partnership with companies for mutual progress. He's ratcheted up the pro-business advocacy coming out of the Illinois governor's office, and it's made a huge difference.

Gov. George Ryan "Our governor is purely an economic development governor," Lofton says. "He has led the charge, starting first with his re-crafting of the Dept. of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA, at www.commerce.state.il.us). His naming of Pam McDonough as the new director was his best move. She has done an enormous job of refocusing the organization and regionalizing its efforts to fit the needs of this state."

Gov. Ryan is "extremely supportive" of economic development, adds Mary Burkholder, DCCA deputy director for business development. "He really wants to see Illinois out front."

Above right: Leading the Charge: Gov. George Ryan has made business attraction and retention a top priority of his administration. "He really wants to see Illinois out front," says one economic development official.

Not only does the state now have its top executive fully engaged in support of its aggressive economic development objectives, Ryan has pushed for -- and won -- the kinds of major incentives and business support programs that Illinois has lacked for years. As a result, the state is much more competitive.

What's more, Gov. Ryan has an excellent working relationship with another very important Illinois politician, one who spends most of his time at city hall in Chicago. With the Windy City and surrounding areas accounting for the majority of Illinois' population and business activity, it's not hard to see why it's crucial that Gov. Ryan and Mayor Richard Daley -- a man who has a tremendous energy and passion for his city and its growth and development -- see eye to eye on business matters. Happily, for both existing companies and firms interested in setting up shop in one of America's premier cities, they do.

Mayor Richard Daley "There is a great collaboration between Mayor Daley and Gov. Ryan," confirms DCCA Director Pam McDonough. "That is very critical to our whole sales pitch, and the outside world is figuring out that it's a tremendous asset for us. I'm in daily contact with the mayor's office. We have a very good relationship with their people and are interacting on a lot of different levels."

The change in leadership at the top, the resulting shift in philosophy and the renewed collaboration between Springfield and Chicago have produced a new era for business expansion in Illinois. Case in point: The state attracted some 872 new and expanded corporate facilities last year, finishing No. 6 in Site Selection's annual state-by-state tally of new and expanded facilities (see feature on pg. 230). And Chicago took the No. 2 ranking among metro areas, recording an amazing 646 major investments.

Above left: Getting things done: Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's years of leadership and hard work in making the Windy City a better place to live and do business are now paying off with a barage of new corporate facility investments.

"We've got a tremendous amount of activity, more than anybody's seen in a long time," reports McDonough. "It's due to a shift in philosophy with Gov. Ryan, and his programs have been very helpful."

What does all this mean for expanding companies that haven't investigated the Land of Lincoln in a while? Well, to pull another dusty LP off the shelf, this time from '60s sensation The Temptations, it's time for site-seeking companies to get ready. Get ready to experience a we-want-your-business attitude, backed up with real business climate changes that translate into more dollars on your bottom line. Get ready to experience the new Illinois.

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