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Chamber CEO raises hopes of landing Toyota plant

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Illinois

The head of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce says the state has a real shot at luring a huge new Toyota plant here, believe it or not.

In an interview, chamber President and CEO Todd Maisch confirmed talk that the automaker, in partnership with another Japanese car manufacturer, Mazda, has “really zeroed in” on a site in Rochelle, which is near Rockford in northwest Illinois. And the odds of winning are significantly greater than they were with Foxconn, which considered Illinois for a massive new electronics plant that appears to be headed to southern Wisconsin.

“The Toyota thing is much more real than Foxconn,” said Maisch, whose group is well connected with the Rauner administration, which has taken the lead in efforts to win the Toyota plant. “I believe we still are in play.”

Toyota and Mazda have said the plant would cost $1.6 billion and employ up to 4,000 workers. The companies are known to have been pitched other Illinois locations, including near Ford’s South Side Torrence Avenue factory, but the companies want at least 800 acres. “That means they need a greenfield location,” Maisch said, ruling out the South Side.

Gov. Bruce Rauner and Intersect Illinois, the state’s economic development organization, have said almost nothing about the Toyota hunt, not wanting to risk offending the often secretive automaker. But Rauner recently disclosed that he’ll soon be headed to Asia, specifically to China and Japan, which would give him a chance to make a personal pitch to top company officials.

Remember how Gov. Pat Quinn used the dramatic annoucement of the Ford plant expansion during horrible economic times to defeat Dan Hynes in the Democratic primary? If Rauner can land that Toyota plant, he’ll finally have something positive and concrete to show for his term in office. Go get it, dude.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 1:21 pm

Comments

Hope we land the plant, but don’t count on Rauner help. The man doesn’t know how to build things. Only tear them down.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 1:26 pm
About time that he acts as an advocate for Illinois, instead of talking it down all the time.

Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 1:26 pm
What’s “Madigan” in Japanese

Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 1:29 pm
I really hope this happens for the state of Illinois and I hope the UAW and other labor organizations fight like hell to unionize the workers. Now is the time to rebuild the labor movement.

Comment by Franklin Delano Bluth Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 1:33 pm
Has Maisch put Ken Dunkin on the job?

If I recall, Maisch thought Dunk was so critical to the Chamber’s agenda that they bankrolled a TV spot for him.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 1:37 pm
I understand both companies are awaiting details on Madigans Work Comp reforms.

Comment by blue dog dem Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 1:41 pm
Wishful thinking they will build the plant in IL. OH and KY are the only states in the running. So they say in private.

Comment by Rocky Rosi Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 1:44 pm
Don’t hold your breadth on this one. Certainly would be great to get it. Rauner is more likely to bring this in than Quinn or Blags though.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 1:45 pm
Good luck….GovJunk appears on vetoin’ the reforms passed by GA. Impact of 2011 reforms still growing
That and free land probably enough

Comment by Annonin' Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 1:45 pm
“What’s “Madigan” in Japanese”

Your Supreme and Most Glorious and Regal Majesty, long may you live, King Madigan.

Comment by Huh? Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 1:48 pm
Why would they come to Illinois where labor and workers compensation rates are so much higher than in neighboring states? Not against organized labor per se, but it’s pretty clear that foreign car companies only build new plants in right to work states.

Comment by phocion Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 1:48 pm
” Rauner is more likely to bring this in than Quinn or Blags though.”

Great insight. Considering neither one is the governor you may have a point

Comment by Rogue Roni Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 1:52 pm
I hope we get it, but at what cost?

And how much credibility does the Guv have, when he is pitching these deals personaly. It’s one thing to say the state is a mess, but I know how to fix it and get things done. But given how little he has been able to deliver, and given what a mess his office and administration has been, will anyone have confidence in what he can actually accomplish? I mean the guy can’t even hire staff competently.

Comment by Henry Francis Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 1:55 pm
Perhaps Rauner could get his procurement office to commit to ordering Toyotas to be made by this factory when they need staff or Illinois state police vehicles. That could sweeten the deal.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 1:59 pm
This business of extorting higher and higher concessions from competing states has to be outlawed, the only winners are foreign shareholders. I don’t think it’s impossible to tie the level of investment here to the amount of tariffs. This is simply a racket.

Comment by igotgotgotgotnotime Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 1:59 pm
Not against organized labor per se, but it’s pretty clear that foreign car companies only build new plants in right to work states.

Exactly. Don’t hold your breadth. Wonder why Illinois is still losing manufacturing jobs as our neighbors are seeing gains.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 2:00 pm
“only winners are foreign shareholders”

The nativist talk is ridiculous. I own Toyota shares and I was born in the US. And who cares where a shareholder lives?

Comment by Ron Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 2:02 pm
@1:29 pm

Mad Ginsu?

Comment by Hieronymus Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 2:08 pm
==but it’s pretty clear that foreign car companies only build new plants in right to work states.==

Honda built a plant in Marysville, OH in 1982. Subaru opened their Lafayette, IN plant before Indiana became RTW.

Comment by City Zen Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 2:24 pm
Why would you come to Illinois? I don’t know, how about:

Major airports
Roads that allow you to ship your goods
Rivers that lead to the ocean and overseas
Trained workforce
Rail system that is in the middle of US, to ship
Other car manufacturers have done it.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 2:29 pm
Toyota already has plants in Georgetown, KY and Princeton, IN. Since Toyota also has a stake in Subaru, you could include Lafayette, IN in that mix.

Perhaps a factory along the I64/I70 corridors in Illinois would make sense logistically. Effingham/Mt Vernon in play?

Comment by City Zen Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 2:32 pm
The appropriate Japanese title for Madigan is Shogun.

Comment by Ginhouse Tommy Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 3:14 pm
Would be lovely if the gov was focused on making friends in the business community to invest in Illinois rather than focusing on and ranting about his enemies.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 3:39 pm
Hey Todd & Lucci -

Will that plant be in the Rochelle TIF district?

Askin’ for a friend.

Comment by Thomas Paine Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 4:04 pm
I’m surprised Toyota wouldn’t want to propose its plant for the Marion area. There’s a large automotive parts manufacturer in Marion who primarily makes parts for Toyota.

Comment by Un1onYes Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 4:44 pm
The governor said term limits and fair legislative maps were things companies had to have to come to Illinois. How could this bit of potentially good economic news even be possible?

Comment by ToughGuy Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 5:16 pm
What about the USA Today automotive “expert” Nathan Bomey who said last week that Illinois was not being considered?

Toyota wants what Toyota wants. An educated workforce, infrastructure, a central location and room to expand.

I’m generally against corporate incentives but this has real potential unlike Foxconn.

Comment by Chicago 20 Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 7:08 pm
Rauner will tank the deal. Bringing economic gains to IL runs counter to his ultimate goal of forcing IL into bankruptcy.

Comment by cailleach Thursday, Aug 24, 17 @ 8:29 pm
- “If Rauner can land that Toyota plant, he’ll finally have something positive and concrete to show for his term in office.”

Conversely if Rauner fails it will be the final straw.

Comment by Chicago 20 Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 6:19 am