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* Sen. Andy Manar has worked out a deal with ADM on its tax break request…
Under the new version, both the 100 headquarters jobs and the 100 tech jobs would have to be created for ADM to get its tax incentives. They would be in Chicago.
Beyond that, the company would have to relocate at least 100 full-time positions from out of state to Illinois — specifically to “an Illinois municipality that is a county seat and has as population” of 50,000 to 100,000: Decatur. And ADM in Decatur would have to hire at least 100 new full-time workers a year for at least five years. Those could be either replacement or net new jobs.
Mr. Manar said his goal is to ensure that jobs now in Decatur do not slowly trickle up to a Chicago headquarters and are, at a minimum, replaced.
The additional Decatur jobs would be eligible for EDGE credits under the bill. Mr. Manar said he does not yet know how much that would get the company, but believes it would be well under the $1.2 million per year for the headquarters jobs since they’d pay less.
Thoughts?
…Adding… Manar press release…
State Senator Andy Manar (D–Bunker Hill) today filed legislation that will help create hundreds of new jobs across the state, including Decatur, and keep ADM headquarters in Illinois.
ADM announced in September its intentions to relocate its world headquarters and sought state incentives to keep it in Illinois. Manar opposed the initial bill filed in the House citing its failure to provide adequate assurances that investments would be made and jobs would be created to offset the loss of jobs and economic activity in Decatur created by the move.
Working with ADM executives and local officials in Decatur, Manar crafted a bill that will allow ADM to keep its headquarters, along with 100 corporate headquarter jobs, here in Illinois. In addition, ADM will move 100 jobs from other states to Decatur and, over the next five years, is committed to adding or filling 100 full-time positions annually in Decatur.
“I’ve been in office less than a year, but it is abundantly clear that Illinois faces major challenges,” Manar said. “Illinois’ unemployment rate is 9.2 percent – two points higher than the national average. Decatur’s unemployment rate is even higher, which is why we have to begin addressing chronic unemployment that has plagued certain areas of the state by investing our resources where it will have the greatest impact.”
“Throughout this process, I have said that keeping ADM in Illinois was a priority but not at the expense of taxpayers and jobs,” Manar continued. “The bill I have introduced will allow ADM to continue their long and valued partnership with Illinois, while growing and creating much-needed jobs here.”
Manar’s legislation also creates a job task force to create even more downstate jobs by promoting ADM’s new Midwest Inland Port intermodal facility. Taking advantage of three class one railroads that intersect in Decatur, a coalition of public sector officials and private business leaders will work to maximize and improve our transportation infrastructure, which will lead to long-term economic growth for Decatur and Downstate Illinois.
To ensure taxpayers are protected, strict accountability measures have been included in the proposal. If job creation and investment provisions are not met, ADM will return incentive funds to the taxpayers.
“I appreciate ADM’s willingness to listen and work with both myself and local elected officials to create this important job creation legislation,” Manar concluded. “Our state still has a tough hill to climb and faces many challenges that demand our disciplined attention, but this bill is a step in the right direction – solidifying ADM’s current and future presence in Illinois while helping create jobs in a balanced way throughout the state.”
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 1:52 pm
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Works for me. I’m not a big fan of these deals, but this is pretty small potatoes.
If it means 200 HQ jobs in Chicago and another 600 over the years in Decatur, salud.
Sure will make Manar look like a hero, if the numbers add up in the end.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 2:05 pm
I doubt if ADM would want that much complication and future commitment for that amount of money. It would be good for Illinois if they did accept it. ADM committing to bringing it out of state jobs would depend on the economy picking up.
Comment by DuPage Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 2:08 pm
This is what leadership looks like.
Instead of mindlessly rolling over and giving ADM anything they want or cynically rejecting want ADM wants for short term political gain, you have an elected officially that seems to trying to create a good deal for all involved. Thank you Senator Manar… I only wish you were my State Senator.
Comment by Leadership... finally. Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 2:09 pm
Good job Senator Manar. This is a win-win scenario that benefits a struggling local economy with high unemployment. Leadership indeed.
Comment by unspun Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 2:32 pm
I hope it works as planned.
From a corporate perspective, I would view this deal standing alone, as not worth the hassle. Not when other states don’t require such chicken—t to get the same or better benefits.
My assumption is that ADM has plenty of reasons to stay in Illinois regardless of how much a local politician might try micromanage it.
State level goals are more appropriate for such state monies. If local tax money is a significant part of the deal, then of course local goals could be required.
Comment by walkinfool Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 2:40 pm
Quid pro quo. You get your tax break but you have to bring jobs to the state.
I’m good with it.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 2:50 pm
I didn’t vote for him, but Andy Manar is impressive.
Comment by LincolnLounger Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 2:53 pm
ADM taking heat in Australia over some takeover, monopoly, price fixing, and the Informant. Illinois may be small potatoes.
Comment by x ace Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 2:54 pm
Lemons into lemonade, that area needs the help - kudos
Comment by Anon Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 2:58 pm
sounds like someone who attacks problems-good for him
Comment by steve schnorf Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 2:59 pm
So, ADM gets to move its high paying professional IT and headquarters jobs out of Decatur, and replace them with plant positions? Exactly how does that help the IT staff that is currently in Decatur that doesn’t want to move, and has no like position at another firm in Decatur to go to?
Comment by mythoughtis Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 2:59 pm
===Exactly how does that help the IT staff that is currently in Decatur that doesn’t want to move===
First I heard that we ought to be helping absolutely anybody and everybody who is impacted by this.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 3:03 pm
Manar is my senator, and for the second time in recent memory he has made me proud to have voted for him (he has stood by state retirees in fighting for only constitutional fixes on the underfunded pension mess his predecessors left for him). This is a good proposal for both Decatur and ADM( helping them get some government help to stay in Illinois to placate their stockholders , even if minor compared to what Quinn pushed through for CBOE and Sears in recent years, with little benefit to the taxpayers of the state). Nice to see a politician doing his job ,with the local taxpayers being the beneficiaries of his labor.
Comment by Roadiepig Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 3:07 pm
Speaking of Sears, keep your eye on them, the endgame may be here. Looks like their hedgie owner is chopping them up and cashing out.
They’re selling some of their most profitable stores, trying to sell Land’s End and Sears Auto, and letting their top brands be sold at other stores.
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20131029-708434.html
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303643304579109023202738550
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 3:14 pm
=== Looks like their hedgie owner is chopping them up and cashing out.===
They’re also closing some stores, including a big one in the Champaign market. Back in the day, I went to that store to buy Rolling Stones tickets at Ticketmaster. It was the only way to do it then. The clerk was so freaking slow, taking one order at a time, that the concert sold out by the time I neared the front of the line. Actually, I wasn’t even that close to the front.
Anyway, not good for the C-U workers. But I haven’t shopped at Sears since I bought a lawn mower in 2005, I think.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 3:36 pm
Well done Manar.
Comment by Ahoy! Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 3:37 pm
Saw him do this stuff in Macoupin County for years. He’s a problem solver. Glad to see he hasn’t lost his touch.
Comment by Macoupin Man Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 3:37 pm
Actually, I think it was Ticketron back then, not TicketMaster.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 3:37 pm
It is clear that Senator Manar is a great person/statesman. To that end, I’m sure he did not craft the entire package by himself. How about a little credit for Decatur state Rep. Sue Scherer?
Comment by 217forthewin Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 3:49 pm
While I distrust corporate welfare and never believed ADM would leave the state, it is good to see some effort from the legislature at forcing ADM to commit to some specific job growth. Of course I’m cynical enough to think that ADM will be able to weasel out of their commitments somehow if need be.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 3:58 pm
I applaud Senator Manar for threading this needle. For too long companies have had the upper hand in these holdups … er deals.
Comment by Sir Reel Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 3:59 pm
===It is clear that Senator Manar is a great person/statesman. To that end, I’m sure he did not craft the entire package by himself. How about a little credit for Decatur state Rep. Sue Scherer?===
Sue “space cadet” Scherer deserves about as much credit as my left big toe in hashing out this proposal.
Comment by In orbit Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 4:16 pm
Rich, when my kids first started coming along 20 years ago, we bought everything at the Sears at Harlem and North: furniture, clothes, shoes, coats, appliances, car batteries, etc.
Service was always sketchy, but they were one-stop shopping with easy credit.
They never adapted to the new players and got caught in a retail no-man’s land. They don’t do anything particularly well. Selection, price or service. It’s only a matter of time…
That’s going to be some valuable real estate out on the Jane Addams.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 4:30 pm
The governor said he would veto an ADM deal without pension reform, yet Sen. Manar produces a proposal anyway. Is Quinn’s opinion irrelevant? Or is pension reform around the corner? Just wondering.
Comment by MIghty M. Mouse Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 5:00 pm
I believe ADM has agreed to this with Manar, so there shouldn’t be any fear of the package being too complicated for them. Good job Manar.
Comment by mcb Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 5:07 pm
==Thoughts?==
These kinds of deals usually sound good, but how does the media or the economic development agencies actually keep track of these promises?
Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 6:33 pm
- mythoughtis - Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 2:59 Exactly how does that help the IT staff that is currently in Decatur that doesn’t want to move, and has no like position at another firm in Decatur to go to?-
-just to clarify- the high level IT people presently working out of the Decatur headquarters are NOT moving to the new headquarters . The IT people who will be added there will be new hires for worldwide customer support . Possibly someone near the top of IT might opt to go to the new Global hq, but the remainder will still be doing their same job duties in the same building they presently do so. They have already told their Decatur IT employees this information. All I can say….
Comment by Roadiepig Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 8:09 pm
Sears is a sad remnant of its former company. I worked at that store in C-U while I was in college and it was brand-new. Have to admit, I bought my clothes elsewhere, but Sears had absolute franchise brands that have been sold or whizzed away. People came out to buy Kenmore appliances and Die-Hard batteries, and no “craftsman” had to be ashamed of
a box full of Craftsman tools. Now, there is nothing in that store you can’t find somewhere else.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 8:31 pm
Gotta hand it to my Senator, he’s got guts and brains. He’s no “freshman”.
Comment by Larry of Springfield Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 9:01 pm
AA, Rich, if you ever get a chance, pick up the book “Chicago: City of the Century.” The “American Experience” series on PBS was based on it.
Among many great stories on the rise of Chicago, Illinois, and the Midwest, the Sears and Wards stories blow your mind in how instrumental they were in building the country.
Folks out west would ship their grain and livestock by rail to Chicago for shipment to points all over the compass, then use the money the money to buy goods from the Midwest and East.
Sears catalog actually had plans, lumber, hardware and tools for whole towns along the railroad.
Timber from Wisconsin and Michigan cut in Chicago, nails and tools made in Illinois, shipped on rail out to the Plains.
Amazing stuff.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Oct 31, 13 @ 11:00 pm