Illinois is a state known for many things. It is perhaps best known for its flagship city of Chicago. In addition, international passengers surveyed by Business Traveler magazine recently dubbed the Windy City's O'Hare Airport the "Best Airport in North America."

When it comes to business, Illinois ranked fourth as the headquarters to 36 of the nation's largest companies on the 2002 Fortune 500 list.

And with its impressive array of incentives, tax credits, financing programs and work force assistance options, it should come as little surprise that companies - as large as Boeing, which is moving its corporate headquarters to Chicago, and as small as Elliott Aviation - find Illinois an ideal location to establish and maintain operations.

Incentives Add Up to Advantages

So what did aircraft giant Boeing's headquarters project have in common with smaller company Elliott Aviation?

Both companies were eligible for tax credits through the Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) program. EDGE provides tax credits to qualifying businesses that make a capital investment of at least $5 million and create a minimum of 25 new jobs.

Regardless of the size of a project, EDGE incentives equal good news for companies in growth mode.

Elliott Aviation, which has a 65-year history in Moline, announced earlier this year that it would construct a new 48,000 square foot facility, which would result in about 25 new jobs.

The company's facility will be one of only a handful of new aircraft paint and completions centers in the country.

Elliott Aviation was also eligible for work force training grants through the Industrial Training Program (ITP), and is benefiting from an Enterprise Zone location.

Quality Labor

Expanding and relocating companies frequently cite Illinois' work force as being a major business advantage. Such was the case for ServiceMaster, which decided in late June to keep its national corporate headquarters in Downers Grove, a suburb of Chicago, and in fact, expand it.

"We have an outstanding team here in Illinois and continue to be impressed with the quality of the workers available across the state," said Jonathan Ward, chairman and CEO of ServiceMaster. "We're especially pleased that Illinois supports ServiceMaster's continuing commitment to help our people grow through training and development."

ServiceMaster plans to add 25 new jobs and retain all of its headquarters employees.

More than 11.5 million residential and commercial customers are served by the company, which offers lawn care and landscape maintenance; termite and pest control; plumbing, heating and air conditioning; cleaning; furniture repair; and home warranty services.

ServiceMaster provides its services through a network of more than 5,400 company-owned and franchised service centers and business units, which operate under such recognizable names as Terminix, ChemLawn and Merry Maids.

A World-Class Business Address

While Illinois offers an ideal location for distribution-minded companies, it is also a lucrative business address for companies that do business worldwide.

Chicago is certainly one of the premier business addresses for companies seeking a presence in the Midwest.

It was big news in June when Alcoa Inc., the world's leading producer of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina, selected Illinois for a new strategic presence and an expansion of production operations.

The company, which has extensive operations throughout the state, selected Chicago as the site to regroup its headquarters for Alcoa Mill Products, Alcoa Engineered Products and Alcoa Closure Systems International.

"We chose for our executive offices to be here because of the large presence of our customers in the Midwest, and we can easily get to customers on either coast," said Paul D. Thomas, Alcoa vice president and president, Alcoa Mill Products.

Chicago also met the company's locational needs in a variety of other ways.

"Chicago has clearly emerged as an important global commerce center," said Sandra Beach Lin, president of Alcoa CSI. "This location meets our requirements for global connectivity, job talent availability, world-class services and resources. It is perfect for facilitating our continued growth."

Facts & Contacts / Illinois

DEMOGRAPHY AND ECONOMY

Population: 12.4 million

Capital: Springfield

Three Largest Cities: Chicago, 2.89 million; Rockford, 150,115;

Aurora, 142,990

GSP: $474 billion

Per Capita Income: $31,856

Percentage of Private Manufacturing Labor Force Organized: 20.3%

Right to Work State: No

Unemployment Rate: 6.3% (May '02)

Average Hourly Manufacturing Wage: $15.45

Population Age 25 and Over With Bachelor's Degree or More: Chicago, 25.5%; Rockford, 19.8%; Aurora, 29.9%

Corporate Income Tax Rate: 7.3%

Primary Industries: Agriculture, heavy industry, business services and financial services

Targeted Industries: Electronic and telecommunication equipment, manufacturing and biomedical product manufacturing

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

Worker Training Programs: Industrial Training Program; Job Training and Economic Development (JTED); Technology School to Work Program; Enterprise Zones: 93 Foreign Trade Zones: 6; Chicago, Granite City, Peoria, Lawrence County, Rockford and the Quad Cities

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

Pam McDonough, Director, Illinois Dept. of Commerce and Community Affairs, 620 E. Adams, Springfield, IL 62701, (217) 782-7500, (217) 782-7500, fax (217) 557-9064,

Web: www.commerce.state.il.us