(20 ILCS 695/20-10)

Sec. 20-10. Strategic Planning. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may prepare an economic development strategy for Illinois. By no later than February 1, 2001 and biennially thereafter, the Department may make modifications in the economic development strategy as the modifications are warranted by changes in economic conditions or by other factors, including changes in policy. In preparing the strategy and in making modifications to the strategy, the Department may take cognizance of the special economic attributes of the various component areas of the State.

(1) The "component areas" shall be determined by the Department and may group counties that are close in geographical proximity and share common economic traits such as commuting zones, labor market areas, or other economically integrated regions.

(2) The strategy may recommend actions for promoting sustained economic growth at or above national rates of economic growth.

(3) The strategy may include an assessment of historical patterns of economic activity for the State and projections of future economic trends using national economic trends and projections for comparative purposes. All assumptions made in the formulation of the economic projections shall be clearly and explicitly set forth in the strategy.

(4) The strategy may identify those community economic improvement characteristics that will positively influence the rate of overall State economic growth.

(5) The strategy may recommend actions to foster and promote economic growth, taking into account indigenous resources and prevalent economic factors.

(A) The strategy may identify the critical business development approaches being considered or to be considered. The approaches may include, but are not limited to: investment recruitment, such as industry attraction, expansion and retention; trade development efforts including international trade, support for small businesses' efforts to export products and services, tourism attraction and development including cultural tourism; technology development efforts including technology commercialization and manufacturing modernization; and business development efforts, including entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial education, small business management assistance, and business financing.

(B) The strategy may identify for the State and each region the critical workforce training and development approaches being considered or to be considered. The approaches may include, but are not limited to: customized job training, retraining and skill upgrading, economic adjustment, job creation and addressing labor shortages in areas of high demand; the market for and quality of the local labor force; the quality of the education and workforce infrastructure; and related issues.

(C) The strategy may identify the critical community development approaches being considered or to be considered. The approaches may include, but are not limited to: community growth management such as regional planning and smart growth; area revitalization including brownfields redevelopment and facility reuse; and family self-sufficiency such as through housing conservation and economic opportunity.

(D) The strategy may identify the critical public facilities development approaches being considered or to be considered. The approaches may include, but are not limited to: local public services; the local, regional, and State tax and regulatory climate; the physical infrastructure, including communications and transportation systems; the capacity of area utilities; and the quality of public institutions such as schools.

(E) The strategy may identify the other critical marketplace systems, including: the financial marketplace; the competitive advantages of the area in terms of natural resources, capital resources or technology resources; and other factors affecting area development.

(6) In preparing the strategy or modifications to the strategy, the Department may work with State agencies, boards, and commissions whose programs and activities significantly affect economic activity in the State as appropriate. The Directors of the agencies, boards, and commissions shall provide the assistance to the Department as the Governor deems appropriate.

(7) In preparing the strategy or the modifications to the strategy, the Department may consult with local and regional economic development organizations, local elected officials, community-based organizations, service delivery providers, and other organizations whose programs and activities significantly affect economic activity.

(8) In preparing the strategy or the modifications to the strategy, the Department may take into consideration any decisions or recommendations related to programs, services, and government regulations that have been rendered as a result of a Statewide Performance Review.

(9) The strategy shall be presented to the Governor, the President and Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the members of the Illinois Economic Development Board, and the Chair of the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability on February 1, 2001 and biennially thereafter, as warranted by changes in economic conditions or by other factors, including changes in policy.

(10) The strategy shall be published and made available to the public in both paper and electronic media.

(Source: P.A. 92-490, eff. 8-23-01; 93-1067, eff. 1-15-05.)