Illinois Gains Over Last Year's Ranking

CHICAGO - March 1, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today announced that the state of Illinois and Chicago have been named among the top 10 locations for new and expanded corporate facilities. Illinois ranked seventh among states, an improvement over last year's eighth place ranking, and Chicago second in the metropolitan areas category in the annual analysis by Site Selection magazine, one of the nation's premier corporate real estate and economic development publications.

"We are committed to creating jobs and working hard to make Illinois an even more attractive place to do business not only in the Midwest, but globally," Governor Quinn said. "We have an aggressive long-term strategy for bringing quality jobs to Illinois, which includes innovation, exports and foreign investment, business-friendly legislation, and addressing infrastructure needs. We will continue to do everything we can to further our economic growth and create jobs in Illinois."

In 2011, Illinois had 216 corporate facilities locate or expand in the state. Illinois joins Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia on the list of the top ten states with the most locations and expansions. With 167 projects, the Chicago-Naperville-Joliet metro area ranked second on the list of cities in the tier one, top ten metropolitan areas list. Illinois companies that have relocated or seen significant expansions this year include Ford, Motorola Mobility, Continental, FedEx, Chrysler and Mitsubishi, among others.

"We are pleased that Illinois has again been named to Site Selection's top 10 list for new and expanded corporate facilities," said Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Director Warren Ribley. "Illinois is one of the top business destinations in the nation for good reason, and we will continue to direct our efforts toward attracting and keeping investment in the state, creating jobs for the future and strengthening our economy."

The Governor's Cup analyses, issued by Site Selection magazine, are regarded by corporate real estate analysts as "the industry scoreboard." Site Selection is the senior publication in the corporate real estate and economic development field and the official publication of the Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC, at www.iamc.org). The magazine's circulation base consists of 44,000 executives involved in corporate site selection decisions, most at the CEO/President/COO level.

AZUSA, CA (03/01/2012)(readMedia)-- Bettendorf, IA resident and Azusa Pacific University student Matthew S.. Atha made the academic Dean's List at APU. Atha is honored for a fall semester 2011 academic standing of a 3.5 or better grade-point average. Atha is A Political Science Major, who is joined by more than 1,750 other students receiving the same honor.

Azusa Pacific University is an evangelical, Christian university committed to God First and excellence in higher education located 26 miles northeast of Los Angeles. With 51 undergraduate majors, 30 master's degree programs, 13 credentials, 8 doctoral programs, and 14 certificates, the university offers its nearly 10,000 students a quality education on campus, online, and at seven regional centers throughout Southern California. www.apu.edu

Apprenticeship: The Operative Plasterers & Cement Masons Local #18 Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee will be taking applications for Apprenticeship Training in Plastering.  The basic requirements for an applicant are: applicant must be at least 18 years of age; must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent; must be physically able to perform the work of the trade; and all applicants accepted into the apprenticeship program will be subject to a drug test to be paid by the JATC. 

Applications will be available to be completed at the Operative Plasterers' & Cement Masons' Local #18 office, 7909 - 42nd Ave West, Rock Island, IL, the first Monday of every month from 7:00am until 9:00am.

The OP & CMA Local Union #18 Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies and other administered programs.

MINORITIES AND FEMALES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.

As you may have heard, House Democrats fled the Capitol in protest of two bills, each designed to defend Iowans' right to bear arms. The first bill amends the Iowa Constitution to include an explicit right to bear arms and the second strengthens your right to self-defense. Both bills passed the House with the support all Republicans and a couple Democrats. The constitutional change would happen by surviving next session and a yes vote by the people. 

The House and Senate are again at odds again over property tax, mental health reform, and education. First, Iowa's current commercial property tax rate is the second highest in the nation, whereas commercial and industrial property owners pay tax on 100 percent ofmarket value. Republicans want to reduce the taxable value of commercial and industrial property by 40 percent over an eight year period, while Democrats think that proposal will put local governments at risk. Second, the division on mental health isn't that we should fix the many issues but rather how we should pay for it. As it stands the Republicans would like
to see the State fund this while the Democrats would rather property tax payers shoulder the burden. Third, on education, the House recently passed the Governor's education bill with some changes while the Senate discarded the Governor's plan and wrote one of their own.

The Ag Protection Act recently passed the Senate. This bill provides protection for Iowa's agriculture community from fraudulent activities by prohibiting people from committing fraud to obtain access to an agricultural production facility. This week the floor debate has increased as we are taking up budget issues like IDALS DNR Environmental First Fund (budget target $35.7 mil), Economic Development Budget (appropriates $29.1 mil), Judicial Branch Budget ($156.1 mil), Justice Systems Appropriations Bill (Budget approx. $16 mil). These will probably be amended and sent back from the Senate so these amounts could change. If you have concerns or questions I can be reached at the Capitol by emailing steven.olson@legis.state.ia.us.