Business View Civil and Municipal | February 2021

36 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL FEBRUARY 2021 offers a competitive cost of doing business, access to venture capital, and a concentration of STEM talent. Another reason companies are continuously drawn to Illinois is its position as an infrastructure hub and unmatched transportation and logistics network. Ranked #1 in the U.S. for non-stop overseas flights, Illinois is a global hub for air transport. The state is home to 12 major airports, including Chicago O’Hare, which is among the world’s busiest airports, served by all significant international carriers. Illinois is also the only state with all seven Class I railroads and has the third largest interstate highway system in the country and the third largest intermodal port in the world, providing unmatched access to global markets. Illinois’ central location puts businesses, people, and goods within a four-hour flight of most of the North American market and allows for non- stop service to more than 50 international destinations. In addition, the state has robust digital infrastructure and provides reliable, low- cost energy and abundant water and natural resources. Finally, Illinois provides its residents an unparalleled quality of life with lifestyle options from rural to urban and everything in between. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Governor Pritzker moved quickly to mandate mitigation and social distancing measures guided by science and implemented Restore Illinois, a five-phase plan to reopen the state. Programs and expanded access to benefits developed include more than $1 billion (to date) in assistance for small businesses and communities implemented by the administration and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) in the wake of the crisis. Efforts include: Expanded skills training and apprenticeship