Once again, Illinois is losing jobs and economic opportunities as failed policies under Governor Pritzker and the Democratic Supermajority continue to fuel an affordability crisis that is making it harder for families and businesses to stay in the state.
Tyson Foods has announced the closure of its Joslin facility, putting more than 2,000 Illinoisans out of work and delivering a devastating economic blow to workers, families, and communities throughout the Quad Cities region.
This also isn’t the first time Tyson has reduced its presence in Illinois. In 2022, the company announced plans to close its Chicago corporate offices and move approximately 500 positions to its headquarters in Arkansas.
Meanwhile, one of the state’s most iconic institutions is increasingly positioning itself to move across the border.
At a recent press conference, Chicago Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren announced that the team’s “sole focus” at this point is developing a new stadium and surrounding mixed-use development in Hammond, Indiana. While the Bears have not formally ruled out Illinois, team officials say discussions with Illinois officials have been minimal and have been in constant contact with Indiana officials about moving the Hammond project forward.
While the Tyson plant closure and the Bears’ stadium negotiations are two very different situations, both should serve as warning signs about the direction Illinois is heading under Democratic leadership.
Illinois families already face some of the highest property taxes in the nation while paying more for groceries, utilities, housing, transportation, and other everyday necessities. Employers face many of those same rising costs when deciding whether Illinois is the right place to invest, expand, and create jobs.
Illinois has the workforce, infrastructure, location, resources, and communities needed to compete with any state in the country. However, after years of one-party control in Springfield, Governor Pritzker and the Democratic Supermajority have failed to build on the state’s advantages, leaving families struggling and businesses closing up shop.
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