Schultz Said New Agency Can Be More Responsive and Proactive in Boosting Illinois' Economy

Effingham's Jim Schultz was home Friday for the Chamber's First Friday Luncheon for July, promoting economic development in Illinois.

Schultz is the Chairman and CEO of the Illinois Business and Economic Development Corporation. He was named to head the newly-formed agency in April after serving more than a year as head of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The goal is to keep the agency a privately-funded enterprise that can focus exclusively on marketing the state to new or expanding business and industry.

Schultz spoke about success seen with Amazon, which was originally at bringing a lesser number of jobs at one location to Illinois. Through working with Schultz's agency, the number of new jobs will grow to 5,000 and at multiple communities across the state.

He also spoke of a European company he can't publicly identify that will be coming to Illinois and bringing 500 jobs to the state.

Our Greg Sapp with Jim Schultz about the agency after Friday's luncheon...