Developing the Illinois Valley

IVACED and NCIED facilitate the Illinois Valley with business expansion, retention development resources, and many available buildings and sites for sale.

When it comes to the business of doing business, the Illinois Valley perfectly balances convenience and affordability with the advantages of a talented workforce, a central location, and a pro-business atmosphere. These assets combine to make an ideal home for the area's largest employers and for companies competing in a global economy. North Central Illinois Economic Development is at the forefront of what the Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development is all about, and our team is dedicated to confidentially assisting you with business expansion, retention development, and making your transition into the Illinois Valley region as smooth as possible.

Why the Illinois Valley?

The Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development is a three county region comprised of La Salle, Bureau, and Putnam Counties, and includes 24 cities and villages throughout. Located just over an hour southwest of Chicago, IL, and within a 60 mile radius of 1.7 million people at the cross roads of interstate 80 and 39, the Illinois Valley Area is home to hundreds of chief employers and additional businesses, creating a robust and growing economy with a labor force of nearly 300,000 people, and a network of nearly 20 colleges and universities within a 60-mile radius provides companies with a pool of highly skilled and educated workers to draw from.

Key Regional Advantages

• Access to major markets, without paying major market prices.
• One of the lowest property tax rates in Illinois.
• iFiber, a locally owned fiber optic line runs from Chicago to Denver, giving businesses the ability to operate as if they were in downtown Chicago at a tenth of the cost.
• Efficient transportation options: road, rail, river, runway.
• Nearly 20 colleges and universities within a 60 mile radius.
• Robust workforce development resources.
• Flexible business assistance programs.
• Multiple TIF Districts and Enterprise Zones.