WhyILTest


	Illinois offers unparalleled opportunity at the epicenter of North America. As one of the most diverse economies in the nation, Illinois boasts a world-class business environment, a culturally vibrant landscape, and an experienced workforce with some of the countries brightest minds.
	Illinois is second to none as a center for global business. Illinois offers a vibrant economy and world-class business community, an educated and skilled workforce, infrastructure that facilitates the seamless movement of goods and people, and strong support for investment and growth. As one of the largest and most diverse economies in the United States, and the 18th largest economy in the world, Illinois draws companies from across a large range of industry. We are home to 36 Fortune 500 and 14 Global 500 companies, 241 companies on the Inc. 5000 List, and 29 S&P Companies. Illinois is the largest exporting state in the Midwest, and the fifth largest exporting state in the USA. Last year, Illinois exported $59.76 billion worth of goods and services. Since 2009, Illinois exports have grown by $18 billion, a 44% increase, outperforming the national average of 37%. Our global footprint also includes over 5,600 foreign-owned company site locations, and we continue to recruit businesses looking to expand their enterprise.
	Access to a high quality workforce is a top concern for companies, and Illinois’ well-educated, hardworking and loyal workforce has long been a draw for businesses around the world. For decades, Illinois has been a major magnet for new graduates, and with over a third of the state’s working-age population completing postsecondary education, has one of the most educated populations in the Midwest. Illinois’ high quality workforce begins with the state’s emphasis on education, from early childhood through high school. Afterwards, students from around the world come to Illinois to learn at one of the state’s 200 institutions of higher education, world-class universities and colleges. Illinois is home to two of the top ten MBA programs in the country, and each year, the University of Illinois graduates more engineers than MIT, Stanford & Cal Tech combined. Additionally, a vibrant cultural scene and diverse career opportunities draw college graduates from across the country to Chicago, making the city the number one metro area for Big Ten Alumni. A widespread community college network also helps students gain tactical skills to build a successful career in an affordable and flexible matter. Many of these outstanding programs are geared toward in demand fields, including S.T.E.M., which offer high-paying jobs and opportunities upon graduation. The state is focused on training and maintaining a skilled workforce for the 21st century. Through a series of pilot programs including apprenticeships, exchanges, and workshops, Illinois is exploring all career pathways beyond the traditional four year degrees to further enhance the workforce pipeline across the state. Programs include the Accelerated Training for Illinois Manufacturing (ATIM), which trained 600 individuals for manufacturing occupations in five regions, and the Apprenticeship PLUS program, which targeted youth between the ages of 16 and 24, and provided them with specific career education, a chance to earn industry-recognized credentials and do on-the-job training. There is also an extensive registered and independent apprenticeship network actively engaged in further developing the Illinois workforce.
	Located in the nation’s heartland, Illinois is at the center of the U.S. and North American transportation network. Unique geographical advantages have resulted in the growth of an extensive shipping and logistics industry; the Mississippi River and Lake Michigan offer two international shipping routes, while Chicago serves as a primary connector for the east and west coasts. Chicago is the world’s third largest intermodal port, with all seven of the country’s Class 1 freight lines, the Port of Chicago and access to nine interstate highways. In total, Illinois is home to two major inland ports, Midwest Inland Port and America’s Central Port, and 14 waterway ports along the state’s rivers. With a wide variety of options for domestic and international shipping, it’s no wonder that Illinois has nearly 12,000 transportation and warehousing establishments, the fourth largest cluster in the USA, and 300 distribution centers operated by Fortune 500 companies. Illinois offers a gateway to international markets with five flight options for international travel and shipping. Among them are O’Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport in Chicago. These two airports combine to make Chicago a triple-hub region for United, Southwest, and American Airlines. Both offer access to all of the continental USA and the majority of Canada within a four hour flight, service to 65 international destinations, and nonstop service to over 200 destinations – domestic and international
	From the majesty of the Mississippi River to the splendor of Lake Michigan, Illinois offers residents exceptional educational options, access to world-class healthcare, abundant outdoor amenities, delicious dining options, magnificent arts and culture, and endless entertainment. Illinois values education from cradle to career. Our state is focused on equipping the next generation with the tools they need to succeed through a quality education. The Illinois high school graduation rate is above the USA average, and over 70% of high school students are enrolled in college courses. Additionally, there are 86 nationally ranked public high schools throughout the state and 40 specialized S.T.E.A.M. magnet elementary schools. We are a leader in higher education with more than 200 institutions, including three of the top 30 universities in the country and an extensive network of community colleges. Illinois also fosters and promotes apprenticeship programs that prepare individuals to enter and succeed in technical careers. Premium healthcare services are available across Illinois. With over 20 teaching hospitals and 7,000 biomedical science and engineering students graduating each year, Illinois is a national leader in healthcare. The Chicago metro ranks in the top 25 for specialties including cardiology, cancer, and orthopedics. Within that measure is the nationally recognized Northwestern Memorial Hospital, which landed among the top hospitals nationally in 11 categories. In your free time, spend a day exploring the Field Museum of Natural History, the Art Institute, the Museum of Science and Industry or the Brookfield Zoo. Take a step back in time at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. Cheer on one of the 20+ professional sports teams that call Illinois home. Enjoy a weekend hike through Shawnee National Park, a nice vacation at a southern Illinois winery, or begin your road trip on historic Route 66. Whatever you’re looking for, Illinois has it.
	Illinois is proud to be home to many established business ecosystems. The below are just highlights of the diverse cluster of industries that have high growth potential and continue to see significant investments in our state: Agribusiness and Food Processing With approximately 1,500 different types of soil and over 72,000 farms that average 358 acres each, Illinois is so fruitful that almost 90% of Illinois agricultural land can be used to raise crops. Therefore it is no wonder that Illinois leads the pack in agribusiness, and that the state is a front-runner in soybean processing, meat packing, and dairy manufacturing. The state is the nation’s second leading exporter of soybeans and feed grains, and Illinois exported $8.2 billion worth of agricultural commodities to other countries in 2014. Food processing is also a cornerstone of Illinois’ economy as the leading manufacturing activity. It contributes more than $13 billion to the value of raw agricultural products. The 2,500 food manufacturing companies in the state employ more than 82,500 Illinoisans, making it the leading private employer in Illinois. Advanced Manufacturing Manufacturers in Illinois make the products that enhance the lives of people across the USA and around the globe, from elevators and agricultural equipment to automotive components, power tools and electronics. Altogether, the 19,500 manufacturing operations in Illinois employ 578,000 workers. The value of their output topped $101 billion in 2015, fifth among all states, and accounted for 13% of the gross state product. Some of the world's best-known brands have major manufacturing operations in Illinois, including Caterpillar, Case New Holland, Deere & Co. and KONE Energy Our central location makes Illinois a transportation hub for crude oil and natural gas moving throughout North America, with eight crude oil pipelines, eight petroleum product pipelines, 18 interstate natural gas pipelines, two natural gas market centers, and two petroleum ports. Illinois is also the third largest producer of ethanol with a production capacity exceeding 1.6 billion gallons per year. Illinois ranked first in the nation in 2016 in both generating capacity and net electricity generation from nuclear power. Nuclear power plants in Illinois generated 12% of the nation’s nuclear power. Life Sciences and Biotech Within the Midwest there are more than 16,800 biotechnology establishments employing more than 377,000. In a recent study conducted by the iBIO, Illinois has demonstrated an average annual growth of 13.3%, the strongest revenue growth experienced in the study. The success is largely due to the rise in research and development expenditures and the ability to secure early-stage funding within the state. Business and Professional Services As the sixth largest state in the nation, and home to the third largest city in the country, demand for business and professional services is high in Illinois. This target industry created more than $75 billion in output over the course of 2015, with no indication of slowing down
	A culture of research and innovation drives growth throughout the state. Illinois benefits from a strong commitment to research, with over 300 corporate R&D facilities, $2.4 billion in annual R&D funding and growing communities of entrepreneurs. Illinois’ 13 technology parks, many of which partner with the state’s universities and colleges, 87 business incubators and accelerators bring together researchers, entrepreneurs and businesses at various stages to share expertise and resources, push the boundaries of innovation and produce game-changing processes and technologies. Illinois is also home to Scott Airforce Base, the global mobility and transportation hub for the Department of Defense, which currently employs 13,000 people. A diverse community of business incubators has produced a growing digital startup community, resulting in the third fastest growth in tech jobs in the country. Chicago is home to 2,100 digital companies, including locally founded tech companies such as GrubHub and Groupon, as well as Midwest outposts for Silicon Valley powerhouses like Google and Facebook. Chicago’s tech scene continues to grow, with 275 digital startups launched annually. Most recently, Illinois launched a state-wide initiative to attract the emerging industry of Blockchain technology. In 2017, Governor Rauner and the University of Illinois unveiled plans for an Illinois Innovation Network (IIN) to nurture inventors and entrepreneurs through a $1.2 billion network of research universities, businesses, and public sector partners focused on the development of solutions in computing and big data, advanced materials, food and agriculture, and biosciences and health.