Illinois is still waiting to see if its attempts to lure a $1.1 billion fertilizer plant went far enough. Lawmakers this spring authorized an approximately $30 million tax incentive package in an attempt entice executives of Chicago's Cronus Chemicals LLC to build its new project in Tuscola, in the central Illinois. But Iowa is offering its own tax incentives. Spokesman Dave Lundy says the company is still evaluating cost estimates between the two sites.
"When you have a big, billion dollar plus project there are an awful lot of moving parts. And when you identify one aspect of the site, it often leads to 19 different things that you have to look at in terms of its cost."
Lundy gave no timeline for when a decision will be made. Governor Pat Quinn says Illinois has to put its best foot forward. His remark comes as legislators are readying to debate offering new incentives, aimed at convincing Archer Daniels Midland and a merged OfficeMax and OfficeDepot to headquarter in Illinois. The governor says he won't consider any such financial packages until a pension deal has been reached.