10 Illinois metro areas gain jobs, only 1 recovers from pandemic

By Bryce Hill

08/02/2022

Only Bloomington has recouped early 2020 job losses, which is bad news for Illinois’ lagging economy as recession fears increase.

TAGS: Bloomington, COVID-19, economic recovery, jobs, unemployment

Only 1 Illinois metro area fully recovered its pandemic-related job losses

By Bryce Hill

03/24/2022

Bloomington is the only metro area to recover jobs lost during the COVID-19 pandemic and statewide mandated shutdowns. Illinois is still missing 200,100 jobs as of January 2020.

TAGS: Bloomington, COVID-19, economic recovery, jobs, unemployment

Pritzker claims statewide economic growth, but these Illinois metro areas are shedding jobs

By Bryce Hill

02/10/2020

Despite Gov. J.B. Pritzker touting growth in “every major region,” Illinois shed jobs in three metropolitan areas and lagged the national average in seven more.

TAGS: Bloomington, BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, budget, Carbondale, Champaign, Chicago, constitutional amendment, economic competitiveness, economic growth, economics, economy, employment, fair tax, flat tax, government spending, graduated income tax, Great Recession, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois Constitution, income growth, JB Pritzker, job creation, jobs, labor, Madison County, metro areas, Metro East, Moline, pensions, Peoria, population, progressive income tax, recession, Rockford, spending, spending cap, Springfield, St. Clair County, tax burden, tax hikes, tax increase, unemployment, Urbana, working-age

New Bloomington city manager to outearn 49 U.S. governors

07/03/2018

Decatur City’s city manager is on his way to take the same post in Bloomington, and with it a raise that will push his income above 49 of the nation’s 50 governors.

TAGS: Bloomington, budget, Decatur, taxes

Illinois’ metro areas shed 3,600 jobs in March

By Bryce Hill

04/30/2018

Seven metro areas across the state lost jobs over the month.

TAGS: Bloomington, Champaign, Decatur, Elgin, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, jobs, labor force participation rate, Peoria, Quad Cities, Rockford, Springfield, unemployment

State Farm to slash nearly 900 IT jobs in Illinois

By Vincent Caruso

03/07/2018

The insurer will downsize its IT division in Bloomington while adding tech jobs in other states.

TAGS: Bloomington, jobs, unemployment

Canadian manufacturer to get $1.1M state tax break deal, local property tax breaks

By Brendan Bakala

12/05/2017

The Brandt Group of Companies inked a deal through Illinois’ state tax credit program and will receive property tax abatements from multiple local governments.

TAGS: Bloomington, EDGE: Economic Development for a Growing Economy, McLean County, property taxes

Wave of local tax and fee increases sweeping Illinois

By Brendan Bakala

10/16/2017

Cities and villages across the state are raising taxes or implementing new ones for a variety of functions, from attracting a fast-food restaurant to catching up on rising pension costs.

TAGS: Bloomington, consolidation, fees, local government, local government consolidation, municipal pensions, Naperville, New Lenox, Oswego, pensions, Peoria, property taxes, sales tax, taxes, TIF: Tax Increment Financing, Wheaton