Site Selection Magazine – an international industry-leading business publication – released its annual corporate expansion and relocation rankings, naming Illinois No. 2 in the nation for corporate projects for the third consecutive year, and Chicago the Top Metro for the 12th year in a row.

Illinois saw 664 business expansion or relocation projects in 2024 (up from 552 in 2023).

Companies that located or expanded throughout Illinois in 2024 include:

• PsiQuantum: Serving as the anchor tenant of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, creating at least 150 new jobs and $1.09 billion in capital investment.

• Sysmex America, Inc.: Growing its operations in northeast Illinois, creating 110 new full-time jobs and retaining nearly 550 existing jobs through a $20.6 million investment.

• Aluflexpack AG: Expanding its operations to Bolingbrook with a $10 million investment and 30 new full-time jobs.

• Wieland Rolled Products North America: Investing $500 million, reinforcing its long-term commitment to six facilities across the state.

• Bedrock Materials: Locating its research and development headquarters in Chicago and plans to expand its footprint in Illinois with a $2.5 million investment.

• Ymer Technology: Opened its U.S. headquarters in Buffalo Grove with a $5.7 million investment.

In order to qualify, projects must meet one or more of these criteria: investment of $1 million or more, creation of 20 or more new jobs, or 20,000 square feet or more of new space.

Illinois’ strong fiscal growth has laid the foundation for continued growth in key industries outlined in Illinois’ Economic Growth Plan. With these targeted investments, the state is becoming a nation-leader in emerging industries including quantum technology, electric vehicle manufacturing, clean energy production, next-generation agriculture and more.

Illinois has seen significant amounts of economic growth in 2024. In particular, Illinois doubled private investments from $6.3 billion in 2023 to $12.5 billion, quadrupling the number of retained jobs. Illinois also doubled company investments in the clean energy economy from $2 billion to $4 billion and achieved significant growth in key sectors including quantum computing, record-breaking tourism, and exports.

Aside from this, Illinois has grown to become the top exporting state in the Midwest. Additionally, Illinois is ranked fifth in the nation for its export sales. Illinois experienced another record-breaking year with export sales over $78.7 billion in 2023.

Illinois is home to many airports, railways, and shipping ports, which give companies a direct way to move their products all across the globe. Since 2019, Illinois exports have increased by 32%.

Last year, Illinois made monumental economic developments, particularly one that brings the state to the forefront of a premier technological industry. Last summer, the state announced a major Manufacturing Illinois Chips for Real Opportunity Act agreement with PsiQuantum – a leading quantum computing company set to build the first practical, error-corrected quantum computer at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park in Chicago.

Quantum computing is emerging as a cutting-edge sector of computer science that focuses on solving large problems through the use of quantum mechanics. Quantum computers, as opposed to normal super computers, use qubits instead of bits to store information and process the data differently. These computers can solve problems on a grander scale much faster than classical computers by testing multiple potential solutions simultaneously and measuring the probability of finding the best outcome.

Eagle watching is popular free and fun community event for numerous areas across the state! The first eagles arrive in December, and most leave by mid-March. January and February are the best months to see eagles, whether at a state park or wildlife refuge, here is a list of some of the best locations to see our protected national birds:

Did you know that Illinois is home to the first blood bank in the world?

Dr. Bernard Fantus was known for his work to improve and modernize medicine. As patients who needed a blood transfusion had to scramble to find a donor for a person-to-person transfusion, he knew there had to be a better way.