EDGE tax credit program expires, but extension passes Illinois House

By Brendan Bakala

05/01/2017

Illinois’ EDGE tax credit program expired April 30; however, proponents of EDGE have passed a one-month extension in the Illinois House of Representatives.

TAGS: David McSweeney, DCEO: Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Mark Batinick, Natalie Manley, Scott Drury, tax credits

Amazon received more than $112 million in EDGE tax credits in 2016

By Brendan Bakala

04/14/2017

In exchange for more than $112 million in tax breaks, Amazon promised to expand its Illinois operations and hire 7,200 new employees in Aurora, Monee and Joliet.

TAGS: Amazon, Aurora, cronyism, DCEO: Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, jobs, Joliet, Monee, tax credits

Illinois gives The Advisory Board Co. a $2.6M tax break

By Brendan Bakala

04/07/2017

Under a 2015 agreement between the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and The Advisory Board Co., the state gave a tax credit worth millions of dollars in exchange for 55 jobs.

TAGS: DCEO: Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, tax credits, taxes

Unbalanced Budget Response Act would allow Rauner to make cuts to balance the budget

By Amy Korte

03/28/2017

Illinois House Bill 3868 would give Gov. Bruce Rauner the authority to trim costs and reorder the state’s spending priorities to balance the budget.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, Bruce Rauner, budget, DCEO: Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, debt, Fitch Ratings, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois Constitution, Jim Durkin, Mike Madigan, spending, unpaid bills

Lawmakers and special interests propose revamped EDGE tax credit program

By Brendan Bakala

03/20/2017

As state debts mount and budget plans remain in limbo, Illinois lawmakers move to expand EDGE tax credits.

TAGS: cronyism, DCEO: Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Michael Zalewski, tax credits

Rivian Automotive gets $49.5 million in state tax credits for 1,000 jobs over 10 years

By Brendan Bakala

03/08/2017

The car manufacturer is promising to bring more than 1,000 jobs to Normal, Ill., after being offered $49.5 million in state tax credits and more in local tax credits and abatements.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, cronyism, DCEO: Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, jobs, manufacturing, tax credits

Illinois extends failed corporate tax credit program

01/23/2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner signed an extension of the EDGE tax credit program, though the program has an unsuccessful record of using taxpayer money.

TAGS: cronyism, DCEO: Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, EDGE: Economic Development for a Growing Economy, tax credits, taxes

Illinois’ corporate handout program halted temporarily

12/20/2016

The expiration of the state’s EDGE program – which has given large companies more than $1 billion in tax credits the last 15 years – is good news for taxpayers and should encourage lawmakers to pass real reforms.

TAGS: cronyism, DCEO: Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, EDGE: Economic Development for a Growing Economy, jobs, tax credits

ConAgra move to Chicago is bittersweet for Illinoisans

By Austin Berg

10/07/2015

Downtown appeal and state-issued tax credits mask a discouraging jobs climate statewide.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, ConAgra, DCEO: Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, EDGE: Economic Development for a Growing Economy, jobs, Pat Quinn, tax credits

Illinois DCEO gives Amazon tax credits worth $10 million

By Hilary Gowins

08/12/2015

With special tax breaks for Amazon, Illinois resorts to sweetheart deals to overcome the effects of the state’s anti-growth policies, leaving smaller businesses to shoulder the full tax and regulatory burden.

TAGS: DCEO: Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, tax credits