With offices across the nation, United Asset Coverage Inc., had plenty of options when it decided its fast-growing business needed more space for its corporate headquarters.

United Asset Coverage considered cities from the West Coast to the Midwest, according to company spokesperson Stephanie Laesch. But the Chicago-based company chose to stay in Illinois, moving to an existing building along the I-88 corridor in the Chicago suburb of Naperville.

"We have offices in 41 cities so it would have been easy to go anywhere," said Laesch. "But we've had great success with our headquarters in Illinois. And it's nice to stay where you are and where you're familiar. In addition, we received some nice incentives from the state."

Programs impact United Asset's bottom line

Among the programs that Illinois uses to attract and retain companies such as United Asset, a leading provider of integrated telecommunications and data networking maintenance services, are the Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) program and the Industrial Training Program (ITP).

The EDGE program is a targeted tax-incentive program that provides tax credits for businesses that create new jobs and make capital investments within the state. The program also helps level the playing field between Illinois and its neighboring Midwestern states when competing for the location of large job-creation projects.

The tax credits are calculated from the personal income tax collected on salaries paid to employees in the new jobs created, which may be taken as a non-refundable tax credit against corporate income taxes for up to 10 years.

Eagle Wings chooses Olney for new facility

Eagle Wings Industries Inc., will invest approximately $8.5 million to open a new manufacturing facility in Olney, located about 160 miles southeast of Springfield, near the Illinois-Indiana border. The company will create at least 50 new jobs and will occupy the former Marwi bicycle plant.

"It was a combination of state incentives, the actual building that was available and the labor market in the area," said Greg Regnier, vice president of Eagle Wings. "The state has a number of programs to offer and we were able to take advantage of several of them."

International Paper to stay in Shelbyville

In March, International Paper's Foodservice Business completed an expansion project at its Shelbyville facility, southeast of Springfield, that not only will create 40 new jobs, but also will retain nearly 200 positions.

More than 1,000 employees work at the Shelbyville facility producing paper and plastic cups, food containers and chicken and popcorn buckets for fast-food chains such as McDonald's, Wendy's, and Taco Bell.

Dan Perkins is a freelance writer from St. Louis, Mo.