On Jan. 21, 2025, President Donald Trump, alongside OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison and Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son, announced a private sector plan to invest billions of dollars in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. The announcement highlights the importance of data centers to the continued advancement of AI.

The tech leaders’ newly formed joint venture, Stargate, has committed to spend as much as $500 billion over the next four years to build data centers and other infrastructure for OpenAI development throughout the United States. According to a Jan. 21 announcement, Stargate “will begin deploying $100 billion immediately,” has started construction in Texas and is “evaluating potential sites across the country for more campuses as we finalize definitive agreements.”

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), in partnership with the Center for Economic Mobility at WestEd, released a comprehensive education and workforce analysis for the Quad Cities region, Thrive Quad Cities: An Education and Workforce Analysis Final Report. The Illinois General Assembly tasked IBHE to complete the study through Public Act 102-0017 and provided the funding to carry out the study. The report outlines critical challenges, opportunities and actionable recommendations that will inform a regional plan to support the implementation of the state’s higher education strategic plan, A Thriving Illinois, to align education pathways with workforce needs in the region. 

“This analysis will be instrumental in carrying out important, strategic work that will accelerate access to meaningful and life-changing careers for Illinoisans in the Quad Cities region,” said IBHE Executive Director Ginger Ostro. “We are energized to continue working with our education and workforce partners in the region to foster a thriving and sustainable economy for its residents.” 

CHICAGO — Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) released record-breaking data highlighting economic development milestones from 2024. Gov. Pritzker’s economic agenda doubled private investments in Illinois from $6.3 billion in 2023 to $12.5 billion in 2024, quadrupling the number of retained jobs. Illinois also doubled company investments in the clean energy economy from $2 billion to $4 billion and achieved significant growth in key sectors including quantum computing, record-breaking tourism, and exports. ​

“Time and time again, the State of Illinois reinforces its status as a global economic powerhouse – an ongoing result of our world-class workforce, strong incentives, and unabashed commitment to innovation,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “2024 was a landmark year for economic development in Illinois, with infrastructure improvements, job growth, and private-sector investments in high-growth industries like quantum and clean energy. Our momentum continues in 2025 as we continue to demonstrate there is no better place to do to business than Illinois.”

Springfield, IL – The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) is encouraging the public and community organizations to join in the state’s ongoing planning for a safer, more reliable power grid at a set of community workshops this June. 

The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) requires that Ameren and ComEd, the state’s largest investor-owned electric utilities, file grid plans that accelerate progress toward Illinois’ clean energy goals, outline system investments, and hold the companies accountable for their performance. Both utilities are required by CEJA to conduct a robust, transparent stakeholder process in the design of their grid plan.

TOKYO- ​Today, Governor JB Pritzker continued his trade mission in Japan, engaging in discussions focused on promoting Illinois’ quantum ecosystem, enhancing workforce development in quantum technologies, and attracting quantum-based companies to the state.

The Governor led a quantum roundtable discussion at the University of Tokyo, a recognized leader in quantum computing research in Japan. He was joined by state leaders, including Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, Deputy Governor for Education Martin Torres, Deputy Governor for Budget and Economy Andy Manar, and representatives from various corporations, quantum startups, and universities. ​

TOKYO- ​Today, Governor JB Pritzker continued his trade mission in Japan with meetings to highlight Illinois’ clean energy efforts and flourishing business landscape.

The Governor participated in the ComEd Clean Energy Roundtable alongside ComEd CEO Gil Quinones, legislators, and Illinois company leaders. Held at Bloomberg Tokyo Headquarters, the roundtable focused on renewable energy initiatives, investments into clean energy jobs, and solar installation efforts. The Governor touted Illinois’ Climate and Equitable Jobs Act and transformational workforce development programs to build the next generation of clean energy workers.

TOKYO- ​ Today, Governor JB Pritzker, alongside the Illinois delegation, met with Japanese business leaders to promote Illinois’ leadership in manufacturing and innovation, and to explore opportunities with global businesses.

The Governor began Monday by welcoming the full Illinois delegation, consisting of leaders in business, education, and government, at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, where Deputy Chief of Mission Katherine Monahan and Alan Turley, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs, hosted a panel on U.S.-Japan relations. The panel featured presentations from key embassy sections, setting the foundation for the trade mission’s goal of strengthening economic cooperation between the State of Illinois and Japan.

CHICAGO— On the first day of Governor JB Pritzker’s trade mission to Japan, the Governor, Sysmex America, Inc. and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced that Sysmex America, Inc. will expand its operations in northeastern Illinois. New investments will create 110 new full-time jobs and retain nearly 550 existing jobs in the State, enabling the company to continue growing and meeting increased customer demand for its innovative medical diagnostic technologies and products.

“Sysmex is an essential part of the fabric of the northeastern Illinois economy, and this expansion further exemplifies that innovative companies want to work out of innovative states,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “It is opportunities like this that make these trade missions so rewarding, and I look forward to seeing what Sysmex does in the future in partnership with Illinois.”

CHICAGO— Governor Pritzker along with leaders in business, education, and government from around the state will embark on a trade mission to Japan. During the course of the visit, the delegation will meet with their counterparts in Tokyo to discuss strengthening economic cooperation between the State of Illinois and Japan. Programming throughout the mission will focus on… clean energy, manufacturing, life sciences, quantum, and other key growth industries for the state.

"When I became Governor, I promised to be our state's best Chief Marketing Officer—sharing with any and all global partners that Illinois is the best place to live, work, and do business," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Over the course of next week, I couldn't be more excited to meet with local and international leaders in Japan—highlighting our state’s many accomplishments and ambitious goals across sectors like education, clean energy, manufacturing, and business.”

Ymer Technology, a manufacturer of electric vehicle (EV) components for the heavy equipment industry, has officially opened its new U.S. headquarters in Buffalo Grove, a significant expansion in the company’s operations.

The relocation from Houston is supported by a $5.7 million investment and an incentive package through the Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois (REV Illinois) program.

As Chicago’s convention schedule has waxed and waned in recent years, one event has remained rock solid on the McCormick Place calendar: the International Manufacturing Technology Show, held every other year in late summer. This year’s edition runs Sept. 9 to 14, with nearly 2,000 exhibitors laid out over 1.3 million square feet and more than 100,000 visitors expected to attend. 

Outside of the annual Chicago Auto Show, which is held each February with attendance of more than 500,000, the IMTS, which is limited to a private audience of manufacturers shopping for machine tools, is the biggest event held at McCormick. In fact, it’s almost certainly the second-biggest business convention held in the United States, trailing only the Consumer Electronics Show, which attracted 139,000 people in January in Las Vegas. In the world of machine tools, the Chicago event competes evenly with a big show called EMO held in odd-numbered years in Hanover, Germany.