Company Moves Production of New Crossover from Japan to Normal; Keeps 1,200 Jobs in Illinois

NORMAL, Ill. - July 17, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today joined executives with Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) to launch production of the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport in the U.S. market. Mitsubishi has invested $45 million to retool its Normal, Ill. facility to begin production of the new Outlander Sport Crossover Utility Vehicle, which was previously produced in Japan. Mitsubishi's expansion in Illinois follows Chrysler's growth from 200 jobs in 2009 to more than 4,000 jobs this summer and Ford's addition of a third shift of workers in Chicago.

"Illinois' automobile industry has seen tremendous growth over the last few years," Governor Quinn said. "Mitsubishi Motors had a choice and they chose Illinois as the place to build their new Outlander Sport. That's because our state is a great place to invest and grow, and our workers are the best in the world."

The Outlander Sport is built upon the same highly flexible vehicle platform used for the Lancer compact car and Outlander SUV. In Feb. 2011, Mitsubishi announced that production of the new vehicle would be a part of the corporation's global strategy and would significantly increase production at the Normal facility. Sales of the Outlander Sport, which received "Top Safety Pick" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, are already up 13 percent compared to this time last year.

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Managing Director in charge of global production Tetsuro Aikawa noted that bringing production of the Outlander Sport to the Normal plant reinforces MMC's commitment to the U.S. market.

Mr. Aikawa estimated that about half of the Outlander Sports produced will be exported. "We will build vehicles here not just for the United States, but for many nations around the world," he said.  "This is the chance for employees at the Normal plant to prove that its quality and productivity are competitive in the global automobile market."

Last year, Governor Quinn announced a targeted investment package which bolstered Mitsubishi's expansion in Illinois and enabled the automaker to keep 1,200 jobs at its Normal plant. The state investment consists of Economic Development for a Growing Economy tax credits, which are based on job-creation, and Employer Training Investment Program job-training funds that will help enhance the skills of the company's workforce. Mitsubishi is also located in an Enterprise Zone.

Since January 2010, Illinois has added 136,000 private sector jobs and 40,700 manufacturing jobs.

For more information on why Illinois is the right place for any business, visit www.illinoisbiz.biz.

Conference to promote Illinois tourism, spotlight education and veterans issues

CHICAGO - July 17, 2012. Lt. Governor Sheila Simon will host the nation's lieutenant governors in Chicago this week as the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) convenes its 50th annual conference in Illinois.

Expected to generate over $600,000 in hotel, transportation, restaurant and tourism revenue, 30 lieutenant governors and their staffs will meet at the Drake Hotel on Wednesday through Friday to identify policies that can improve college completion rates, link veterans to employment, increase access to locally grown food and combat domestic violence, among other issues.

Simon, the NLGA's Midwest Region Chair, and Governor Pat Quinn will conduct the conference's opening ceremonies Wednesday morning.

"I value this opportunity to showcase Chicago and share innovative strategies to grow our state and nation," Lt. Governor Simon said.

Following Wednesday's opening remarks, Simon will introduce the conference's opening session on higher education. Jeff Mays, executive director of the Illinois Business Roundtable, and Dewayne Matthews, vice president of policy and strategy at the Lumina Foundation, will discuss higher education policies that can improve college certificate and degree completion rates and connect graduates to good-paying jobs.

Simon recently advocated for passage of legislation that aims to reduce remedial needs at colleges and universities by implementing the state's first math curricula for middle and high schools. The models should lead to more high school seniors enrolling in math courses that prepare them for college and careers. Building on this success, Simon is asking the NLGA to pass a resolution in support of state-specific solutions that will boost high school graduation and college readiness.

"America's lieutenant governors are making a difference and as we welcome them to Illinois, this is a wonderful opportunity to share best practices and develop solutions," Governor Quinn said. "We are grateful for our own Lt. Governor Sheila Simon, who is leading the way on education as she pushes to reach our goal of 60 percent graduates by the year 2025."

On Friday, Simon will moderate a discussion on the role states should play domestic violence prevention, and be joined by the Acting Director of the Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women, Bea Hanson. The Violence Against Women Act, which enhances the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women, is up for reauthorization before Congress.

Simon's office is piloting a program that connects domestic violence survivors in underserved areas with family law attorneys for free via Skype. The Virtual Legal Clinic currently operates out of shelters in Peoria and Jacksonville at no new cost to taxpayers and is expected to expand later this year.

The NLGA is a bipartisan, nonprofit, professional organization for elected officials who are first in line of succession to the governors in the United States and five territorial jurisdictions. Since 2000, at least 20 lieutenant governors have succeeded governors, including former Lt. Governor and current Governor Pat Quinn. The NLGA last held a conference in Chicago 50 years ago.

CHICAGO - July 16, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bill:

Bill No.: HB 4314

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Extends the date by which a business must certify job relocation to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in order to be exempted from certain utility taxes.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

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