Jim Work

“I’m a case study in who you don’t want leaving the state.

“I grew up in Wheaton and went to college for accounting at NIU, but I was working in construction the whole time. It was so much better than the typical minimum wage job you get to pay for tuition. You could work outside, it was fun and you made more money.

“I graduated, started my career and then in 2008 and 2009 things obviously got really bad. I lost my job. So I started my own [building] company with my friend. We were the only guys stupid enough to do this when no one else wanted to.

“Now we’re doing well in Illinois. But we’re doing so much better in Iowa.

“The same house we sell in Illinois for $300,000 is $450,000 in Iowa. It’s nice. Property taxes are lower. Government is easier to deal with. Now our guys want to do more of their work in Iowa because we can afford to pay them more.

“It’s crazy how big the difference is. I’m in my mid 30s and I have high blood pressure. And honestly I think a large part of that is the state of Illinois. Doing business is like beating your head against a wall. But I can’t tell you how easy it is to do business in Iowa, even though the overall tax picture isn’t actually that great compared to other states surrounding Illinois. Now that we’re building out here I feel like I’m actually feeling health benefits …

“When I go to Iowa I hear about people getting raises. In Illinois people say ‘I’m lucky I still have a job.’ It’s all about opportunity. Sure it’s not beautiful weather but it’s opportunity. I never thought I’d say I’d move to Iowa, but it’s where the opportunities are. That’s why I’m moving my family.”

Jim Work
Sycamore, Illinois