Keep investing in Illinois’ Invest in Kids tax credit scholarships

By Amy Korte

12/08/2021

Illinois state lawmakers resisted efforts to cut tax credit scholarships in Illinois, instead extending the program. Now low-income and minority students need them to make the scholarships permanent so they can get the educations that best fit their needs.

TAGS: education, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, JB Pritzker, private schools, school, school choice, tax credit scholarships, tax credits, taxes

Making Illinois’ tax credit scholarships permanent will let more students excel

10/18/2021

Illinois state lawmakers can give low-income students the security of an education that best fits their needs by making the Tax Credit Scholarship a permanent fixture.

TAGS: Illinois, Invest in Kids, school choice, tax credits

Illinois’ film tax credit program is theatrically bad

By Austin Berg

08/02/2019

Illinois’ film tax credit program is a slap in the face to the state’s small business community outside the spotlight, does little to grow good jobs and is rife with corruption.

TAGS: Cinespace, film subsidies, JB Pritzker, small business, tax credits, 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

Sears files for bankruptcy despite decades of Illinois tax breaks

By Janelle Cammenga

10/16/2018

Sears, a long-time beneficiary of Illinois tax credit programs, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

TAGS: bankruptcy, EDGE: Economic Development for a Growing Economy, pensions, Sears, Sears Centre, tax credits

One of Illinois’ top tax credit recipients to shutter 1,000-employee HQ

By Austin Berg

09/11/2018

Illinois issued more than $60 million in EDGE tax credits to Takeda Pharmaceuticals from 2003 to 2013, more than any other company received over that time.

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

Auto parts company to create 100 new Illinois jobs for $1.2M in tax breaks

By Janelle Cammenga

09/06/2018

Following $3.7 million in EDGE tax credits Illinois awarded the company last year, Flex-N-Gate is set to receive a $1.2 million tax break to boost its Danville workforce.

TAGS: Danville, EDGE: Economic Development for a Growing Economy, tax credits, taxes

Taxpayer-subsidized manufacturer shutters Illinois plant

08/28/2018

Despite years of taxpayer subsidies, rail car manufacturer Nippon Sharyo has closed its Rochelle plant – pointing to a reality some politicians don’t want to face.

TAGS: EDGE: Economic Development for a Growing Economy, Nippon Sharyo, Ogle County, Rochelle, tax credits

Small business owners give Illinois an ‘F’ in friendliness

By Vincent Caruso

08/20/2018

A recent survey found Illinois to be the least accommodating state in the nation for small businesses.

TAGS: EDGE: Economic Development for a Growing Economy, income tax, progressive income tax, regulations, sales tax, small business, tax credits, taxes

Illinois families catching crossfire in scholarship fight

By Austin Berg

05/17/2018

Despite that booming demand, there are political efforts afoot to crush the scholarship program.

TAGS: education, Invest in Kids, school choice, tax credits

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

Published June 3, 2025 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The best path to empowerment and success, especially for poor people, is work. Work allows us to prosper while providing dignity, upward mobility, the means to support ourselves and create value for others. It’s how we become thriving members of our community. Central to this process is our education...

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Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

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Allan Luzbetak

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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