Intersect Illinois

The new CEO of the public-private economic development group Intersect Illinois says landing major projects for downstate is a major priority.

The state's business attraction agency is seeing more interest in sites outside the Chicago area.

Central Illinois has a lot going for it economically. The problem is, many of the site selectors considering locations across the country for big businesses often hold an antiquated view of the region.

After several years of relative dormancy, the state's public-private business attraction agency is coming back with a new strategy to lure certain out-of state companies to the Land of Lincoln.

The privately run and funded economic development corporation that Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner created to attract new businesses to Illinois has a new…