Chicago alderman wants ‘robot tax’ on Amazon HQ2

By Vincent Caruso

02/14/2019

Amazon pulled its HQ2 out of New York City, so Chicago is considering imposing a “robot tax” on companies looking to automate their way around high labor costs.

TAGS: Amazon, Amazon tax, Ameya Pawar, robot tax, taxes

Illinois strikes out on Amazon HQ2

By Brad Weisenstein

11/15/2018

Amazon picked two of the 20 remaining cities to split its $5 billion, 50,000-job HQ2, with a third city receiving 5,000 jobs. Illinois struck out on all three.

TAGS: Amazon, EDGE: Economic Development for a Growing Economy, jobs, tax credits

Amazon scouts to visit Chicago for headquarters bid

By Brendan Bakala

03/20/2018

Amazon’s team will visit 10 proposed sites in Chicago for its second North American headquarters.

TAGS: Amazon, Chicago, EDGE: Economic Development for a Growing Economy, Rahm Emanuel, tax credits

Illinois’ Amazon HQ2 offer up to $2.25B in incentives

By Brendan Bakala

10/24/2017

The state’s combined incentives package will reportedly include $1.4 billion in EDGE tax credits, $450 million in improvements, $250 million in new education and workforce programs, and more.

TAGS: Amazon, Bruce Rauner, EDGE: Economic Development for a Growing Economy, Rahm Emanuel

Illinois waits for Superman, does Amazon wear the cape?

By Austin Berg

09/14/2017

Amazon’s plans to hire 50,000 workers at the new headquarters would single-handedly shift the city and state’s economic landscape.

TAGS: Amazon, Bruce Rauner, Chicago, jobs, Rahm Emanuel

Rahm courting Amazon for move to Chicago

By Brendan Bakala

09/07/2017

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel reportedly spoke with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to lure Amazon’s second headquarters to Chicago.

TAGS: Amazon, Chicago, EDGE: Economic Development for a Growing Economy, Rahm Emanuel

Amazon to open another Illinois location, creating up to 800 new jobs

By Robert Brutvan

07/18/2017

Amazon announced plans to open another Illinois shipping facility in Crest Hill, Ill., which is expected to create up to 800 jobs.

TAGS: Amazon, EDGE: Economic Development for a Growing Economy, jobs

Amazon may employ 8,000 people in Illinois by end of 2018

By Brendan Bakala

06/16/2017

The Romeoville fulfillment center is one of several Illinois facilities Amazon has opened or plans to open in the coming years. For some of those locations, Amazon has signed deals with the state of Illinois worth tens of millions in potential tax credits.

TAGS: Amazon, jobs, 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, jobs, Joliet, Monee, tax credits

2019 Illinois corruption tracker

Illinois is the second-most corrupt state in the nation, according to the University of Illinois-Chicago. And corruption costs the state economy at least $550 million per year. But the size and scope of government corruption is nothing new for Illinoisans. What is new? Powerful Illinois lawmakers, Chicago aldermen, local mayors and business interests are involved...

View Report

2019 Illinois corruption tracker

Report Archive

Al Lashbrook

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students