(55 ILCS 85/2) (from Ch. 34, par. 7002)

Sec. 2. Legislative declaration of public purposes. The General Assembly hereby finds, determines and declares:

(a) that the loss of job opportunities for the residents of the State is a serious menace to the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the people of the entire State;

(b) that a vigorous, growing economy is the basic source of job opportunities;

(c) that protection against the economic burdens associated with the loss of job opportunities, the consequent spread of economic stagnation and the resulting harm to the tax base of the State can best be provided by promoting, attracting, stimulating, retaining and revitalizing industry, manufacturing, and commerce within the State;

(d) that the continual encouragement, development, growth and expansion of commercial businesses and industrial and manufacturing facilities within the State requires a cooperative and continuous partnership between government and the private sector;

(e) that the State has a responsibility to help create a favorable climate for new and improved job opportunities for its citizens and to increase the tax base of the State and its political subdivisions by encouraging the development by the private sector of new commercial businesses and industrial and manufacturing facilities and the retention of existing commercial businesses and industrial and manufacturing facilities within the State;

(f) that the loss of job opportunities within the State has persisted despite efforts of State and local authorities and private organizations to attract new commercial businesses and industrial and manufacturing facilities to the State and to retain existing commercial businesses and industrial and manufacturing facilities within the State;

(g) that persistent loss of job opportunities in the State may continue and worsen if the State and its political subdivisions are not able to provide additional incentives to commercial businesses and industrial and manufacturing facilities to locate or to remain in the State; and

(h) that the provision of such additional incentives by the State and its political subdivisions will relieve conditions of unemployment, maintain existing levels of employment, create new job opportunities, retain jobs within the State, increase industry and commerce within the State, thereby creating job opportunities for the residents of the State and reducing the evils attendant upon unemployment, and increase the tax base of the State and its political subdivisions.

It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State, in the interest of promoting the health, safety, morals and general welfare of all the people of the State, to provide incentives which will create new job opportunities and retain existing commercial businesses and industrial and manufacturing facilities within the State and related job opportunities, and it is further determined and declared that the relief of conditions of unemployment, the maintenance of existing levels of employment, the creation of new job opportunities, the retention of existing commercial businesses and industrial and manufacturing facilities within the State and related job opportunities, the increase of industry and commerce with the State, the reduction of the evils attendant upon unemployment, and the increase and the maintenance of the tax base of the State and its political subdivisions are public purposes and for the public safety, benefit, and welfare of the residents of this State.

(Source: P.A. 86-1388.)