Public Accountability Report

In fiscal year 2022 (FY22), the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (the “Department”) continued to bring and sustain jobs, business, and opportunities to the State of Illinois while providing critical services to the citizens of Illinois, especially those most impacted by the COVID pandemic.  Our efforts are guided by the state’s economic development plan: A Plan to Revitalize the Illinois Economy and Build the Workforce of the Future, as well as Federal and State plans for pandemic recovery.  

• After reopening, travel to and within Illinois is rebounding to pre-pandemic levels.  In fiscal year 2022, the Department offered the Tourism Attractions and Festivals Grant Program to boost tourism and festivals in Illinois.  Fiscal year 2022 Hotel-Motel tax receipts were $226.5 billion, nearly 91% of the fiscal year 2020 receipts. Domestic and international travel expenditures rose from $23.3 billion in fiscal year 2021 to $32.2 billion in fiscal year 2022. Illinois is thrilled to be welcoming back travelers and expects to see even more travel throughout Illinois in the future, especially with the 100th anniversary of Route 66 coming in 2026. As the ad campaign declares, Illinois is truly the “Middle of Everything.”   

• The film production industry stayed strong during the pandemic.  In fiscal year 2022, the Film Tax Credit Program brought in over $562 million of total production expenditures and $333.2 million in wages. The theater production industry boomed again in fiscal year 2022 after the lights had gone down during the pandemic. In fiscal year 2022, the Live Theater Tax Credit Program brought in $15.1 million in production expenditures and $4.4 million in wages. 

• Through the catalog of offerings from the Office of Business Development (Advantage Illinois, Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit Program, High Impact Business Program, Illinois Opportunity Zones, Prime Sites and River Edge Redevelopment Zone Program), over 66 businesses were assisted with financing, resulting in over 4,500 jobs created, 7,000 jobs retained and $3.3 billion of private investment leveraged in fiscal year 2022. 

• The value of export sales continued to climb in Illinois. The export sales value increased from $50.9 billion in fiscal year 2020 and $59.2 billion in fiscal year 2021 to $72.6 billion in fiscal year 2022.  Additionally, the Department facilitated 185 Illinois companies participating in trade missions overseas and the addition of 151 jobs added through foreign companies locating in Illinois.     

• In fiscal year 2022, the Department activated Community Navigators to deliver targeted outreach and promotion of the programs to traditionally underserved populations. The Minority Economic Capital and Infrastructure Grant Program provided funds to minority-owned businesses to invest in necessary infrastructure improvements to existing property or the acquisition of new property and essential equipment.  In fiscal year 2022 this resulted in 113 jobs created and 60 jobs retained. Also, the Department provided capital grants to incubators which serve minority-owned businesses.  Over 1,300 minority businesses were provided space to startup their business, provided networking and consulting services, and/or received professional services and training.  In fiscal year 2023 the Department is poised to provide financial assistance to Social Equity Applicants and/or Licensees to increase equity in the cannabis industry.  

• Illinois Small Business Development Centers, funded through the Department, continued to support small businesses and startups in Illinois through direct services and a network of resources by providing information, regulatory assistance, advocacy and business guidance.  In fiscal year 2022, over 15,000 clients were advised by centers (of those over 46% served were minority clients).  236 new business startups were attributable to centers in fiscal year 2022 and over 3,400 jobs were created and retained in Illinois.   

• Illinois Procurement and Technical Assistance Centers helped Illinois businesses secure over $632 million in government contracts in fiscal year 2022. 2,456 clients (53% minorities and 46% women) were advised and 2,230 clients trained (25% minorities and 28% women).    

• Illinois Works, a statewide initiative to increase the number of apprentices on capital state-funded projects and create a diverse talent pipeline into the construction trades through its pre-apprentice program, which assists in reducing barriers to public works employment in the trades for historically underrepresented populations, and bid credit programs, which incentivizes contractors who hire Illinois Works graduates, kicked off in fiscal year 2022.  775 applicants were accepted into the Pre-Apprenticeship Program and of those 173 graduated and 64 were hired into DOL registered apprenticeship programs.  The Bid Credit component will begin in fiscal year 2023 as the pipeline of Pre-Apprenticeship Program graduates continues to grow.   

• In fiscal year 2022, the Department provide assistance to individuals through various federally-funded programs.  These included:  

Illinois Low-Income Heating Assistance Program 

• 304,524 households receiving heating assistance 
• 127,376 households receiving emergency assistance of reconnection of heat 
• 115,929 households in imminent threat of disconnection or that were disconnected receiving heating assistance 

 Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program 

• 1,944 heating systems repaired or replaced 
• 2,304 housing units weatherized 

 Illinois Low-Income Water Assistance Program (a new program in fiscal year 2022) 

• 14,672 customers in disconnection/imminent disconnection/reduce arrearages status receiving water/sewer services 

 Community Service Block Grant Program 

• 603,163 individuals receiving services to improve health development
• 16,919 individuals receiving services to stabilize their housing 
• 117,084 individuals receiving services to improve their social /behavioral development 

 Community Development Block Grant Program  

• 57,476 individuals served by public infrastructure (water and sewer) improvements (over 52% were low to moderate income individuals) 

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Program 

• 6,887 workers trained