The April edition of the Illinois Innovation Index draws attention to the role of exports in economic growth. The continued development of international markets -- especially burgeoning economies like China and Brazil -- is fueling the demand for more goods. Firms that export are better positioned to gain access to these rapidly developing markets and grow. As the Index shows, exports... Read More

A recent bipartisan bill (H.R. 4321) proposes to replace the 12 percent federal excise tax on the purchase of large trucks with a 6.3 cent-per-gallon increase in the federal diesel tax.  The current federal diesel tax is 24.4 cents per gallon, including 0.1 cent per gallon dedicated to the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund.  The bill’s sponsors stress that the tax... Read More

Late last month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) released a study of the proposed Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge . This official Environmental Assessment examined an area straddling the Illinois - Wisconsin border and identified four alternatives for USFWS, ranging from establishing a large conservation area of almost 30,000 acres through easements and acquisition to not... Read More

A global database of bus rapid transit (BRT) systems was recently released by EMBARQ (the World Resource Institute’s Center for Sustainable Transport) and the Across Latitudes and Cultures-Bus Rapid Transit Centre of Excellence (ALC-BRT CoE), in collaboration with the International Energy Agency (IEA). The tool provides data on BRT systems in 134 cities and contains 95 indicators... Read More

The number of foreclosed properties has been rising in the region since the recession began, and more homes are getting stuck in the foreclosure process . In many communities, this is increasing the backlog of vacant, foreclosed homes that do not have a clear party responsible for maintenance and are in danger of deteriorating. A core recommendation of GO TO 2040 is to invest in our... Read More