Magazine Lists Illinois, Effingham Among Top Places for Development

Site Selection Magazine has announced Illinois as a top state for businesses looking to relocate. The publication also named Effingham one of the top communities for development among those in Illinois.

Illinois was named third in the 2017 Governor's Cup rankings. This is the second year in a row that Illinois has received the honor. The recognition is awarded to states with the most qualifying new and expanded facilities per capita.

Illinois has 419 projects over the course of the year, coming in behind only Texas and Ohio.

Effingham was one of four micropolitan areas named for their projects. The others are Ottawa-Peru, Paducah and Rochelle. Micropolitan areas are defined by cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people that cover at least one county.

Site Selection's Conway Projects Database focuses on new corporate facility projects with significant impact, including headquarters, manufacturing plants, R&D operations and logistis sites, among others. It does not track retail and government projects, or schools and hospitals. New facilities and expansions included in the analyses must meet at least one of these criteria: involve a capital investment of at least $1 million, create at least 20 new jobs, or add at least 20,000 square feet of new floor area.