Dear Members:
One of the major battles being waged in Springfield during the 98th Illinois General Assembly is a Senate Democratic proposal (Senate Bill 2) to restructure the state’s economic development agency, a.k.a DCEO (Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity).
Officially, DECO’s mission is to raise Illinois’ profile as a global business destination and nexus of innovation; and to provide a foundation for the economic prosperity of all Illinoisans, through coordination of business recruitment and retention, provision of essential capital to small businesses, investment in infrastructure and job training for a 21st century economy, and administration of state and federal grant programs.
With backing from Senate President John Cullerton, Senator Andy Manar authored a bill—co-sponsored by Republican Senator Kirk Dillard—that is supported by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, is opposed by DCEO officials and has left chambers of commerce statewide to wonder if anyone involved in state government can see the forest through the trees.
Essentially, SB 2 will disband DCEO and establish a public-private partnership for economic development—as is often done at municipal and county levels of government—using the Illinois Economic Development Authority and Illinois Business and Economic Development Corporation.
Chamber leaders discussed DCEO’s mission/structure pros and cons with Sen. Manar at the Illinois Chamber’s Annual Legislative Summit in Springfield on February 5. They reported how government regulations and taxation unduly burden business development and expansion, thus hindering economic development and job growth. Also cited were inadequate employment training and retraining, leaving 350,000 jobs in Illinois unfilled.
With their own now jobs on the line, DCEO officials have mounted a protest campaign over the “privatization” of state economic development agency functions that included testimony by its client businesses at the Senate’s State Government and Veterans Affairs Committee hearing host by the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce on April 4.
DCEO’s protest warns of the lack of transparency and conflicts of interest with a private corporation and corporate board that are not subject to public laws, citing accountability concerns with The Illinois Global Partnership (IGP) and Illinois World Trade Center Association, as well as in Midwest states Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio.
Lost in the forest of all the pro and con rhetoric are the fallen trees of economic development, ranging from Illinois’ 9.5% corporate tax rate to costly, causation-less Workers Compensation.
Government needs to model one major lesson from business and simply get out of its way.
Transportation for Illinois Coalition
At an April 26 presentation in Lisle for state legislators—co-hosted by Elmhurst and other West Suburban Chamber of Commerce Executives members—the Transportation for Illinois Coalition (TFIC) reported that state highway funding from the flat motor fuel tax of 19 cents per gallon established in 1990 has fallen behind the rate of inflation.
Memorial To My Mentors
In the past six months, three of my mentors at Elmhurst College—Barbara Swords, David Lindberg and Jim Cunningham—have passed away, so I want to thank each of them again for their influence in my life and career.
I grew up in Elmhurst living on the same block side of Washington with the Swords family. Barbara’s husband (Robert) registered me for classes at EC, which eventually included her demanding English and writing classes on my way to a career in journalism.
I experienced the Watergate scandal—an America’s growing distrust of its government—in a more profound way via Dr. Lindberg’s political science class.
I broadened my appreciation for music and the arts (and celebrated the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team) as one of Dean Cunningham’s Jazz Festival stage crew members.
Happy Anniversary
Ten members are celebrating Chamber anniversaries in May, as follows: 25 years—Kaplan Chiropractic Associates; 25 years—The Hire Solution Employment Corporation; 15 years—Elmhurst Newcomers & Neighbors Club; 10 years—Champion Windows, Siding & Patio Rooms; and 5 years—Citibank, Dr. Kopp & Associates, Elijah’s Specialty Coffee & Tea, Olympia Chiropractic & Physical Therapy, Science Olympiad and Ralph F. Tellefsen III.
New Members
The Chamber welcomed seven new members in April, as follows (in alphabetical order): Battersby Technology Management, Beijo Bags, Carson Closets and Cabinetry, CMAS, LegalShield (Ronald Koss), Precision Payroll and Dr. Rachna Shah.
Reactivated Members
The following two businesses reactivated as Chamber members in April: Kramer + Olson Architecture and Senior Home Sharing.
No Longer Members
The Chamber said goodbye to the following 14 members in April: A Moon Jump 4-U, Bearcat Leasing Corporation, Champion Container Corporation, ComfortKeepers, Continental 1 T-Mobile, e2Photography, Great American Exteriors, L.W. Ready real Estate (Rich Mullaney), Law Offices of Cheryl Richards, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Plass Appliance & Furniture, Smoothie Factory, Verizon Wireless and the Waverton Hotel/Mayan Adventure Indoor Waterpark.