"I was proud to lead this coordinated, multifaceted effort between Nucor, Gov. Rauner, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin and the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity to garner support for and ultimately the selection of Bourbonnais Nucor for this expansion." ~ Rep. Lindsay Parkhurst

Nucor Steel's Bourbonnais site has been selected as the location for a $180 million expansion.

In a release sent out by the Charlotte, N.C.-based company today, the expansion will take approximately two years to complete.

The expansion will require an additional 75 workers once complete. Currently, the company employs 475.

The expansion is for increased production of its Merchant Bar Quality production. The new mill will have the capacity to produce a half-million tons of steel annually.

The Bourbonnais site was in competition with a company site in Marion, Ohio. Read more.

Bipartisan legislation to encourage economic development, preserve and revitalize historic structure

Governor Bruce Rauner today signed Senate Bill 1488, legislation to extend the River Edge Redevelopment Zone Program. The program allows for an income tax credit to be awarded for the restoration and preservation of a qualified historic structure located in a River Edge Redevelopment Zone.

“The River Edge Redevelopment Zone Program is an important tool for municipalities to utilize to spur economic development while saving and restoring historic buildings,” said Governor Rauner. “We’re pleased that the legislature moved to extend this program, but hope that we can provide even more support to local municipalities through a balanced budget with reforms to grow jobs, lower property taxes, improve schools and enact term limits.”

 Senate Bill 1488 is effective immediately and extends the River Edge Redevelopment Zone Program for one year, to sunset on January 1, 2018.  A River Edge Redevelopment Zone is a specific area designated by the State of Illinois in cooperation with a local government to safely revive and redevelop environmentally-challenged properties that will stimulate economic revitalization and create jobs in Illinois. River Edge Redevelopment Zones are located in Rockford, Aurora, Elgin, Peoria and East St. Louis. The program is administered at the state level by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Read more.

Rep. Mike Unes

State Representative Mike Unes (R-East Peoria) announced last week that HB1868 has been signed into law by Governor Quinn. House Bill 1868 is aimed at keeping High-Tech Manufacturing Classes in area high schools.

As a member of the Focus Forward Central Illinois Economic Development Steering Committee, Rep. Mike Unes has been working hard on issues aimed at job creation and retention in Central Illinois. One of the major concerns expressed by the specialized manufacturing group in the region has been closing the skills gap between ideal job candidates and the skills they were finding amongst area job applicants. Employers like Excel Foundry & Machine began partnering with local high schools to share information with students in area high schools about specialized manufacturing careers. This is a critical public/private partnership according to Representative Unes. Read more on Rep. Unes Website.

Other news from Central Illinois