Jeanne M. Ives of Breakthrough Ideas said on April 13 that corporate relocations to Illinois are driven by taxpayer incentives, as the state celebrates a recent national ranking for business expansion and relocation projects.
The discussion comes after Illinois was ranked second among states for verified corporate facility projects, according to Site Selection Magazine’s annual review. The ranking was announced by state officials earlier in the year and highlights how states use economic development programs to attract business investment. Texas maintained the top position in corporate facility counts for the 14th consecutive year, while Illinois recorded 680 projects to secure second place nationally. The publication’s industry scorecard reflects verified expansions and relocations nationwide during the prior calendar year.
“Every relocation is only because they have been enticed with taxpayer handouts,” Ives said in a post on X. “Illinois still has the slowest growing economy in the region and higher unemployment than the national average.”
According to an analysis by Illinois Policy, Illinois has been the fifth-slowest growing state economy since 2019, with real GDP rising just 7.9%—less than half the national average of 17.6%. From 2025 to 2029, the state’s economy is projected to grow only 1.4% annually, compared with 1.8% in the Midwest and 2.2% nationally. The analysis also projected that job growth in Illinois will trail neighboring states.
Ives represented the 42nd District as a Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives for three terms from 2013 to 2019. Ives now hosts the weekday program The Real Story on AM 560 The Answer in Chicago, focusing on public policy discussions.
