Before making your next expansion or relocation decision, it’s worth taking a close look at Illinois. CNBC just gave Illinois its highest-ever ranking in its Top States for Business, reflecting years of momentum driven by strategic investments in infrastructure, talent, and innovation. Illinois has climbed 27 spots since 2007 and 18 spots since 2019, with a #3 national ranking for infrastructure—CNBC’s most heavily weighted category.
The ranking aligns with what we’re seeing on the ground. Companies across advanced manufacturing, life sciences, agtech, and quantum computing are making significant investments in Lake County, Chicagoland and the entire state of Illinois. For executives evaluating where to grow, the conversation is about more than incentives. It’s about access to talent, transportation, utilities, innovation ecosystems, and long-term business resilience. Importantly, our community has made a compelling case on all of those fronts.