* Site Selection Magazine…
Two familiar faces appear on the cover of this issue, recognizing the states that won 2022’s corporate facilities race and their chief executives. Governors Laura Kelly of Kansas and Greg Abbott of Texas were last year’s winners of the Governor’s Cups, the former for total qualified capital investment projects per capita and the latter for total qualified projects. Site Selection’s Conway Projects Database tracks projects that meet one or more of these criteria: a minimum investment of $1 million, creation of 20 or more new jobs or 20,000 square feet or more of new construction.
Kansas claims the 2022 Cup for total projects per capita with 138 deals – one less than last year’s 139. Kansas is consistent, but more importantly, it’s making all the right moves to land key projects like Panasonic Energy’s $4 billion facility that broke ground in November 2022 in De Soto and Integra Technologies’ $1.8 billion large-scale semiconductor facility in Wichita that was announced earlier this year (and will count towards Kansas’ 2023 project numbers).
Kentucky ranks second in projects per capita with 212, up from ninth place last year when it was credited with winning 199 projects. Ohio places third with 479 deals; it was fourth last year with 507. Rounding out the top five are fourth-place finisher Illinois with 487, up from seventh last year with 480, and South Dakota in fifth place with 33 projects. It placed second in the 2021 facilities race with 41.
As for total qualified projects, Texas claims its 11th consecutive Governor’s Cup and is the only state to surpass the 1,000-project mark with 1,028, down from 1,123 last year. That’s more than twice the number of projects of second-place Illinois’ 487; it placed third last year with 480. The third-place finisher is Ohio with 479 (it was second last year with 507), followed by California with 375 (also fourth last year with 301) and Georgia with 312 (up from seventh place last year with 275).
The top five states recognized for the total number of qualified projects in 2022 attracted more than 2,600 deals. The top five states for per capita projects won more than 1,300. Some of those represent investments in the billions of dollars and involve bipartisan work on the part of state legislators to enact measures that make their locations competitive for these projects and create thousands of new jobs in communities large and small.
* And…
Places You Can Trust
If winning back-to-back championships establishes dynasties, what do you call it when you win 10 years in a row?
In Chicagoland, they hand the ball to the ref and they act like they’ve been there before. Because they have.
The 2022 data on corporate facility investment nationwide indeed tell a familiar tale: The multi-state Chicago metro area is No. 1 (with 448 projects) and the next three metro areas in the rankings also repeat their rankings from last year: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington is No. 2 (426 projects); Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land is No. 3 (255 projects) and New York-Newark-New Jersey is No. 4 (246 projects). The biggest upward mover in the Top 10 is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, California, with 150 projects, just ahead of repeat No. 6 metro Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Georgia.
In the per capita category, this year’s rankings are topped by No. 1 Austin-Round Rock and No. 2 DFW in Texas, followed by three multi-state metro areas in a row: No. 3 Cincinnati, No. 4 Chicagoland and No. 5 Louisville/Jefferson County, which moves up from No. 7 last year.
All emphasis added.
* From the governor…
“Illinois is open for business and leading the way as one of the top 10 states for corporate investment, with Chicago named the number one metro for the 10th year in a row,” said Governor Pritzker. “Thanks to our nation-leading infrastructure revitalization, talented workforce, and growing economy, Illinois is the best place to do business.” […]
This follows a recent report from Moody’s stating, “Illinois has been one of the Midwest’s stronger performers during the past year. Led by the Chicago metro division, job growth has outpaced that of the Midwest and brought the pandemic jobs recovery in line with the region’s. Most major private-sector industries are moving in the right direction.”
The State of Illinois has created an environment where companies can thrive through unprecedented investments in our infrastructure and our workforce, while also developing cutting edge programs that bring economic growth and jobs to the state. Illinois recently launched a $400 million invest in Illinois fund to attract large businesses and stay competitive with other states, expanded incentives for the clean energy industry, and made it easier for companies to apply for EDGE – the state’s primary incentive program.
The state also announced $40 million in grants to supercharge the development of megasites - large, developed sites ready for occupancy for manufacturers, distribution centers, industrial centers, and more. These grants will increase the number of investment-ready sites in Illinois and increase the state’s competitiveness for large-scale projects.
Companies that located or expanded throughout Illinois in 2022 include:
• CyrusOne Data Center - $250 million facility located in Aurora
• Ferrero – Bloomington manufacturing facility; $214.4 million investment and 200 jobs
• GAF Commercial Roofing – Peru manufacturing plant; $80 million investment and 70 jobs
• LG Chem/ADM – two new joint ventures in Decatur; 125 jobs
• Ollie’s Bargain Outlet – Princeton distribution center; $68 million investment and 145 jobs
• Prime Data Centers – New $1 billion data center in Elk Grove Village
• T/CCI – Decatur retooling for EV component manufacturing; $20 million investment and 50 jobs
• Tyson Foods – Caseyville manufacturing facility expansion, $180 million investment and 400 jobs
Similarly, the State of Illinois – which was recently named the top state in the Midwest for Workforce development by Site Selection - has made unprecedented investments in training programs and workforce facilities, including Manufacturing Training Academies, Illinois Works pre-apprenticeship programs, and nearly $180 million annually for clean energy jobs training and community support efforts under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA).
…Adding… GOP Sen. Seth Lewis…
In its recent rankings of state-by-state corporate expansion and relocation projects, Site Selection Magazine has announced the State of Illinois had the second most qualified capital investment projects in the nation in 2022, and the fourth most projects per capita. Additionally, Chicago saw the most projects in metropolitan areas. Upon learning of the rankings, State Senator Seth Lewis (R-Bartlett) issued the following statement:
“The Legislature’s historic and bipartisan investment in infrastructure has provided a framework for new investment in Illinois. These rankings are encouraging, and I hope it is a sign of even better things to come. I look forward to collaborative policy discussions on how we can continue to make gains in capital investment in Illinois.
“Illinois has so much to offer. We have a talented and highly-educated workforce, and Illinois is home to an extensive transportation system that includes far-reaching highway routes, vast waterways, and a widespread rail system. Illinois is also the home of dozens of Fortune 500 companies. Just think of the greatness that could be achieved if we adopted more business-friendly policies that fully support job creation and economic development.
“These rankings provide a glimmer of hope. If we can work together on policies that unleash the entrepreneurial spirit, the economic possibilities are limitless.”
- MisterJayEm - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 11:36 am:
“Buh… buh… but HELLHOLE‼”
– MrJM
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 11:39 am:
Where are the spelunkers for misery to say this is bad?
Oh yeah. They’re grifting now on “education” and “test scores”
That’s on me. My bad.
- Anyone Remember - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 11:56 am:
Chicagoland.
Quick, check on Tillman, Proft, IPI, Center Square, the Eastern Bloc.
- Rudy’s teeth - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 12:01 pm:
Wonder if Darren Bailey will take a gander at the facts and figures outlining business expansion in Illinois.
Are there too many words and complex ideas present in the article to overwhelm Bailey’s ability to comprehend?
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 12:08 pm:
So much for Griffin’s bogus anti-Chicago grievances.
Education, workforce talent, investment, infrastructure to move people and products, culture and food, diversity—all things Chicago has had for a long time. Kudos to Illinois and Chicago for strong showings.
- Just Me 2 - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 12:40 pm:
I’d like to see Site Selection magazine rate by population. A big number for a big state can still be small.
Illinois has a lot of great things going for it: centralized location, diverse workforce, access to higher education, good transportation, access to freshwater for food & manufacturing, stable energy grid, and did I mention centralized location? Just imagine what we could be if we also had a good business climate and didn’t offend employers with all our taxes, regulation, and political dysfunction.
- Baloneymous - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 12:46 pm:
===Just imagine===
Chicago was the #1 metro 10 years in a row. What is higher than #1?
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 12:47 pm:
==Just imagine what we could be ==
Some people just absolutely, positively refuse to accept good news. There’s always a “yeah, but” for some of you people.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 12:50 pm:
===Just imagine what we could be ===
No.
That’s for #2 thru… all the rest.
It’s number one.
Striving to be better every day or things of that platitude are to keep sharp… nothing to imagine, Chicagoland, measurably, is the best. Today.
- don the legend - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 12:58 pm:
Is it me or is Florida missing from these rankings?
- Jerry - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 12:59 pm:
Chicago does have a source of fresh water. It makes a difference.
- Just Me 2 - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 1:07 pm:
Baloneymous - there is more than being #1, there is also the difference between #1 and #2. We might be #1 for all the other reasons I just listed.
Site Selection also didn’t do a story on businesses that left. I wonder what that might look like.
- sulla - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 1:08 pm:
Not to dump cold water on this, but Illinois’ appearance every year in the Conway rankings is VERY carefully stage-managed by the state. DCEO/Intersect spend a lot of time hounding local EDOs to report every single eligible project to Conway so that we always appear high in the rankings. It’s kind of like a “complete count” census initiative and very smart on the part of Illinois to undertake.
This ranking is good news and something we should market externally - don’t get me wrong. I’ll take whatever good news we can get. But Illinois’ perennial appearance on the list owes a lot to diligent data tracking and reporting. And I assuredly don’t want this single data point to undermine much-needed statewide efforts to make our state more competitive. See my comment yesterday on the Belvidere story for additional context.
- Baloneymous - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 1:10 pm:
There is more than being #1,…
Go tell that to Texas.
- Baloneymous - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 1:12 pm:
===Site Selection also didn’t do a story on businesses that left.===
Just businesses that left Illinois? Why in the world would Site Selection do that? Dude just take the #1 and #2 wins and call it a day. This is great news for our state.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 1:13 pm:
===also didn’t do a story on businesses that left. I wonder what that might look like.===
Goalposts… moved.
That’s like a “Wirepoints Pitchbot” funny.
“Sure, Illinois and Chicagoland is #1 in site selection, once again, but if you look at #2, Chicagoland and Illinois still have a long way to go”
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 1:16 pm:
===Not to dump cold water on this, but===
“Wirepoints Pitchbot”
“The good news about Illinois and Chicagoland being #1 in site selection, but, it’s only a snapshot of this year and being #1 the past 10 years, things could change next year”
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 1:17 pm:
==Site Selection also didn’t do a story on businesses that left.==
There’s more of that “yeah, but” attitude from you serial naysayers.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 1:35 pm:
===I’d like to see Site Selection magazine rate by population===
You clearly did not read the post before commenting or you have reading comprehension issues.
They did rank by population, or do you just not understand the term “per capita”?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 1:46 pm:
===VERY carefully stage-managed by EVERY economic development agency in EVERY state.
Fixed it for you.
- Proud Sucker - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 1:53 pm:
Sorry, 1:46 was me.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 2:01 pm:
Illinois is better positioned now to be a leading 21st century state, in the protection of rights of the historically disadvantaged including women’s rights. That’s a modern day business model. Other states are heading back to the old South.
- Baloneymous - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 2:04 pm:
Illinois’ appearance every year in the Conway rankings…
Texas, Dallas and Houston also appear in the Conway/Site Selection rankings every year. I’m not sure what you’re trying to say other than you had to add the Belvidere loss to punch down on this positive story.
Also, Texas’ “single data point” (i.e. their #1 ranking) doesn’t undermine their much-needed efforts to not arrest women who try to order reproductive medicine from another state or their gun worshipping culture, their energy issues and power crises, future weather-related issues and food/water shortages, book banning and so on. Illinois can always do better with our tax structure and business climate. But don’t tell me that Texas is sitting pretty at #1 either.
- Just Me 2 - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 2:25 pm:
If we’re number one in site selection, but also number one in departures, then I’m not impressed.
Furthermore to quote: That’s more than twice the number of projects of second-place Illinois’ 487;
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 2:31 pm:
===If we’re number one in site selection, but also number one in departures, then I’m not impressed. ===
And who said we were?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 2:35 pm:
===That’s more than twice the number of projects of second-place Illinois’ 487===
IPI Pitchbot
“Illinois can rank #1 all it wants, but compared to #2 it’s still far behind”
- Baloneymous - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 2:42 pm:
Does IPI hand out Applebee’s gift cards to the person with the most negative posts on a positive Illinois and Chicago story?
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 3:36 pm:
==then I’m not impressed==
You and your ilk will never be impressed. You have one interest and one interest only and that is to fulfill your life’s mission to constantly bellyache about everything. I’m done with people like you. Leave if you don’t like it.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Mar 1, 23 @ 6:41 pm:
“The Legislature’s historic and bipartisan investment in infrastructure has provided a framework for new investment in Illinois.”
Excellent statement by GOP Sen. Lewis. Republicans deserve credit for the big federal and state infrastructure laws. Chicago will get many jobs from the casino, should it finally be built. Those are positive things, not spelunking.
- DTown Resident - Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 7:42 am:
For those of you whining about Illinois and business climate. Look who is number one per capita . It is Kansas. Now Look how Kansas had coprorate divestment and negative growth during the Brownback years of Governor when they put in the tax cuts and structure all you naysayers want in place here. It was a fiscal disaster for the state and resulted in corporations reducing their footprint there. It won’t help here either and would be a hinderance and not the help the IPI bills it as…unless we find lots of Oil like Texas or Alaska.