* Way back in October of 2011, the Indiana Business Journal did a story on the Hoosier State’s attempts at poaching businesses from Illinois. The story included this number…

So far this year, 16 Illinois businesses have said they plan to consolidate or locate operations in Indiana, creating a projected 1,564 jobs in the state, according to the Indiana Economic Development Corp. That includes four consolidations or relocations in central Indiana that are projected to yield as many as 424 jobs. [Emphasis added.]

Back then, Indiana officials were crowing constantly about their attempts to woo businesses and jobs from Illinois…

Within three days of Illinois’ decision to raise personal and corporate income taxes, the Indiana Economic Development Corp. received 30 unsolicited e-mails from companies interested in exploring business opportunities in Indiana. One of the e-mails, said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Mitch Roob, lamented: “The new marketing slogan for Illinois must be: ‘Come for the higher taxes, stay for the corruption.’”

Also from back then…

Daniels told WLS Radio’s The Don and Roma Show, that while Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants a casino to stop Chicagoans from gambling in Hammond, Indiana, Emanuel should have other concerns.

“What he ought to worry more about is the stampede of businesses leaving Illinois. You know your traffic gal Wendy left out one traffic hazard, you stand near the state line now you might get hit by a moving van,” Daniels said Thursday.

“We are talking and signing up businesses left and right…”

* But Indiana has a new commerce secretary these days, and he’s being a bit more diplomatic about his state’s activities…

Indiana Commerce Secretary Dan Hasler, a former executive at the pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and an Illinois native, said Indiana never had a goal for the number of businesses it wanted to poach.

“I think it’s about what we expected,” Hasler said of the 1,563 jobs and $294.1 million in investments that firms with Illinois connections plan to make in Indiana. “The situation for a business operating in Illinois and Indiana is so dramatically different. [Emphasis added.]

“I was just with a group of site selectors this morning. I said, ‘You know what, everyone wants Illinois to do better.’ We are better served by a strong Midwest than just a strong Indiana.

“I can guarantee you most people in China don’t know about Indiana. But they have heard about the Midwest, the breadbasket, the heartland of America, Chicago, that’s what we need strong, and we will all benefit from that. But some of our neighboring states need to get their game on.”

And check out the numbers highlighted in the first and last excerpts. In October of last year, Indiana officials claimed their state had poached 1,564 jobs from Illinois. Several months later, their number is one job less than that: 1,563.

Kinda makes you wonder whether Indiana’s poaching effort has stalled, or their numbers can’t be believed.

*** UPDATE *** Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is also taking a far more conciliatory approach these days…

Mr. Walker sought to downplay recent friction with Mr. Quinn, which arose after the two governors battled over who would be home to specific companies and plants.

“I’m not here to poach businesses,” Mr. Walker said. In fact, “it’s in our best interests to have a strong Illinois and particularly Chicago.”

The reason is that Chicago’s international stature helps lure companies to the region that otherwise never would have considered locating in Wisconsin, Mr. Walker said. If they come to Chicago, they may expand north of the border.

Will wonders never cease?