LOSING FOXCONN SHOULD BE
A WAKEUP CALL FOR ILLINOIS 

 
Illinois must pull together a bipartisan consensus on economic development strategy in Illinois. At a minimum, legislators in Springfield should move immediately to pass a new version of EDGE.  It has widespread bipartisan support, but the legislation is currently being held hostage to the education funding debate.  It shouldn't be. A new EDGE program will help create jobs and the economy, helping tax revenues and schools. Read full article here

ENERGY COUNCIL OFFERS COMMENTS
TO ICC NEXTGRID INITIATIVE

The Energy Council submitted comments to the Illinois Commerce Commission in response to its resolution announcing the NextGrid Initiative. NextGrid will be an 18-month study to look at options to support a regulatory environment that adapts to an evolving energy landscape. To quote the ICC, "The study, will explore topics such as methods to leverage Illinois' restructured energy market, investment in smart grid technology, and the significant expansion of renewables and energy efficiency resulting from recently passed Future Energy Jobs Act."   

The call for comments asked for recommendations for a third-party facilitator of the study and suggestions for topic discussion. The Chamber's comments focus on keeping energy costs competitive, ensuring market-based solutions, and being adaptable to changing technologies in the energy sector.  This is the first step in the study and the Chamber will remain engaged in the study to advocate for competitive energy markets that promote the lowest costs possible to energy consumers. Read entire letter here
  

IBC ATTENDS AGRIBUSINESS SUMMIT IN NYC

The International Business Council executive director, Laura Ortega, traveled to New York City with some members to attend the 3rd annual Agribusiness Summit at the United Nation's Headquarters. The event took place on July 24 and 25 under the auspices of the Malawi Permanent Representation and served as an opportunity to discuss with qualify experts and stakeholders Africa's agriculture potential through transformation and innovation. The conference emphasized the need for investments in the development of modern sustainable agriculture and value chains to end hunger, achieve food security and access to world markets, as well as concrete ways to enhance roles and partnerships approaches between the United States and African countries in the areas of agribusiness and investment.

RURAL BUSINESS CHALLENGES

On July 13, the International Business Council, in partnership with the Whiteside County Economic Development Department and the Sauk Valley Community College, hosted a series of "sound off" meetings to hear from small and midsize enterprises in the region about the obstacles they face every day running their business in rural America.

The challenges and opportunities of running a small business in rural America are unique and often do not benefit from the programs aimed at metro locations. We need to hear from rural businesses, their CEOs and economic development organizations to properly evaluate the state of rural entrepreneurship and find effective solutions to unlock rural economic growth as geography and opportunity favors dense, urban, well-connected and highly globalized locations with direct access to talent, capital and innovation. In photo above, Gary Camarano, Econ. Dev. Dir. & Enterprise Zone Admin. of Whiteside County points out the beautiful scenery that with proper investments in infrastructure, transportation and connectivity could attract tourism and ignite economic development, revenue and jobs for the region.