Department of Commerce reorganizes to improve effectiveness

Overseeing everything from tourism to home weatherization to disaster assistance, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is pulled in too many directions. That is why a key tenet of Governor Rauner's transition plan involved restructuring the Department --- a project the governor began pursuing immediately after taking office. To support the effort, the Civic Consulting team parsed the Department's current duties, examined best practices in other states, and designed a strategy for focusing on the Department's business development and retention responsibilities. Pro-bono partner Kirkland & Ellis LLP advised on legal ramifications, and BizMark contributed branding advice.

Last month, the governor's office filed Articles of Incorporation for the Illinois Business and Economic Development Corporation, which will assist the Department of Commerce with a focused set of business development and retention responsibilities. The private, non-profit organization will focus solely on making Illinois a prime destination for businesses of all sizes, maintaining lean, streamlined operations, and freeing up the Department of Commerce to focus on government functions such as legislative grants management.

"The agility and customer service focus of a private organization will complement and enhance Department of Commerce efforts to attract businesses to Illinois," said Jim Schultz, Director of the Department of Commerce. "This collaboration will make Illinois more competitive with other states --- and Civic Consulting played a pivotal role in making this happen."