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  • Amazon Heads To Illinois With 1,000 Full-Time Jobs

    Amazon announced that it intends to create over 1,000 full-time jobs and $75 million in investment in Illinois. The company was joined by Governor Pat Quinn and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) for the announcement.

    Amazon says it is beginning site selection activities, and plans to open its first facility in the state in 2015. It also plans to begin creating new full-time jobs in the state next year and reaching at least 1,000 jobs in 2017.

    “Today Illinois is leading the Midwest in job creation and Amazon will strengthen that growth by delivering 1,000 new jobs to our state,” Quinn said. “Illinois’ skilled workforce, world-class transportation system and educational institutions are second-to-none. Making the tough decisions is improving our economy and helping us attract new employers, but there’s more work to do. Together with great companies like Amazon growing and thriving in Illinois, we’ll build on this progress and create even more jobs.”

    “With our top-notch transportation network and skilled workforce, Illinois has much to offer innovative companies seeking to expand their operations, especially those, like Amazon, seeking to better serve their customers in the most populous state in the Midwest,” said Durbin. “It’s been my pleasure to work closely with Amazon on my Marketplace Fairness Act and I couldn’t be more pleased that the company has chosen to make this substantial investment in our state, announcing 1,000 jobs with good benefits right off the bat and an opportunity to expand in the future.”

    “We thank Governor Quinn and Senator Durbin for their leadership, and we’re thrilled to create in Illinois more than 1,000 full-time jobs and $75 million in investment,” said Paul Misener, Amazon vice president of global public policy. “The state of Illinois has an excellent workforce and we’re excited to roll up our sleeves and find the right locations, break ground, and start hiring.”

    The state saw its seventh straight monthly decline in unemployment in September at 6.6%, which is the lowest it’s been in over six years.

    Earlier this month, Amazon announced it will add 80,000 jobs across the United States, and will convert thousands of them to full-time positions eventually.

    Image via Amazon

  • Bill Daley Exits Race For Governor In Illinois

    Bill Daley, a democratic candidate has decided to back out on the race for governor of Illinois. Daley is a lawyer and former banker. He has previously served as White House Chief of Staff from 2011 to 2012 and also U.S. Secretary of Commerce under Bill Clinton from 1997 to 2000. Daley did not exit quietly and in fact took the opportunity to amplify the Republican case that Governor Pat Quinn is not electable in 2014.

    Daley announced on June 10th via Youtube that he would be running for governor and on July 2nd, he was endorsed by New York Mayor, Michael Bloomberg. His exit comes as a surprise to everyone, citing his reasons for leaving because of the personal hardships that go along with running a campaign for elective office. He is a native of Chicago and his brother Richard Daley, is also a former mayor of Chicago.

    Daley’s exit does not mean the end for the democrats and will likely have some quality candidates still to impress voters before the election. Quinn is looking to get reelected, but it does not seem that either side wants to have him around for another term. According to The Chicago Tribune, this decision will help Democrats get a measure of unity, without having to worry about significant primary contests for governor.

    There is still a four-way primary to be played out in March and the Republican governor hopefuls continue to risk their own ability to be elected as they try to appeal to traditionally conservative primary voters. The Quinn campaign responded Monday night by saying it respected Daley’s decision. He did make sure Quinn knew that he felt he was not a qualified candidate to return to office with statements including “There’s no doubt in my mind that Pat Quinn will not be the next governor of Illinois. This governor is not that strong that somebody should fear running against him.”

    In an email to the Washington Post, he said that he was just not ready to have that in his life for the next five to nine years. An adviser for his campaign also said Daley has been wrestling with the decision for some time and was really agonizing about it, states The Washington Post. He knew it was coming and had to end it eventually, knowing that he was not ready for that kind of responsibility.

    Image via Youtube