Illinois announced 2023 was a record-breaking year of export sales with more than $78 billion in exports,
thanks in part to the state’s trade and export promotion program. Convenient proximity to airports, rail lines and shipping ports helps companies move products to more than 200 countries. Top export markets include Canada, Mexico, Germany, China and Australia, and exports to Mexico have increased by 32 percent since 2019. The state’s manufacturing sector is also growing. In
February, Heartland Community College in Normal cut the ribbon on its new state-of-the-art manufacturing
training academy to help meet the region’s growing workforce needs.
EDGE (Economic Development for a Growing Economy): Offers annual corporate tax credits to qualifying businesses that support job creation, capital investment and improve the standard of living for all Illinois residents.
Enterprise Zone Program: Offers state and local tax incentives, regulatory relief and improved governmental services to stimulate economic growth and neighborhood revitalization in economically depressed areas of the state.
Employer Training Investment Program: Offers grants to reimburse new or expanding companies of up to 50 percent of the cost of training their employees.
High Impact Business Program: For large-scale economic development projects located outside of eligible enterprise zone areas, Illinois offers a number of applicable tax incentives, such as sales tax exemption on building materials and utilities. To qualify, businesses must create at least 500 full-time jobs and make a minimum capital investment of $12 million or retain 1,500 jobs and invest $30 million.
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
illinois.gov/dceo/Pages/default.aspx
Intersect Illinois
intersectillinois.org
World Business Chicago
worldbusinesschicago.com
Together Chicago
togetherchicago.com/economic-development
The Illinois’ 2024 Economic Growth Plan offers a five-year plan to guide the state’s economic development priorities and programming. It features a roadmap to attract record-level investments, create jobs and support communities over the next five years. The plan has four main goals: promote high-growth sectors, advance business growth and retention, promote equitable growth and build out the new clean energy economy.
Thirty-two Fortune 500 companies headquartered in state, including:
Chief Executive Group exists to improve the performance of U.S. CEOs, senior executives and public-company directors, helping you grow your companies, build your communities and strengthen society. Learn more at chiefexecutivegroup.com.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
