For the past 70 years, Motorola has found Illinois such a good place to do business that it has built a 24,000-member work force in the state. In July, the high-technology company announced its plan to add 1,000 more Illinois workers to its payroll.

Motorola will build a new 300,000 square foot distribution and technical support center in Elgin. It is anticipated that the facility will be up and running next spring.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA) helped make Motorola's plan a reality by designating the company a High Impact Business. This allows Motorola to receive investment and sales tax credits and an exemption on the state utility tax for 20 years.

No glass ceiling for Owens Corning and IKO

The DCCA also helped attract Owens Corning and IKO, which, in a joint venture, will build the world's largest glass fiber mat manufacturing facility in Danville, in eastern Illinois. Owens and IKO will produce glass fiber mats for residential roofs at the $50 million facility. Production will begin in June 2001.

DCCA will provide Owens Corning and IKO with a $60,000 ITP grant for job training, and EDGE tax credits. The city of Danville will be offered a $500,000 Community Development Assistance Program grant to help build a road, rail spur, and sewer line to the plant site.

In Danville, Quaker Oats announced an expansion to its existing campus. The company is investing $40 million and will hire 100 new workers to expand its facility, which produces ready-to-eat cereals and snacks.

The DCCA provided job training assistance for new and existing workers. Also, Quaker is eligible for enterprise zone and EDGE tax credits.

— Ann Morris