Navistar layoffs add to doubts about state incentives

Dec. 23, 2011
Sears Holdings Corp. and Chicago’s financial exchanges have quit threatening to pull up stakes now that Illinois has enacted tax breaks for them. But it remains unclear whether state incentives to big companies are wise uses of economic-development resources.

Examining how the United Center has impacted Chicago's near West Side

May. 9, 2011
When the United Center was built back in the early '90s many thought it would put Chicago’s near West Side on the map. The hope was the stadium would spur further economic development in the surrounding neighborhood, akin to a Wrigleyville West.

Venture: a new Englewood?

Apr. 18, 2011
Each week on Venture, we trek out into the local business scene to see how wider economic trends are playing out on the micro-level. This week, we'll get unemployment rates for cities across Illinois.The state's been slowly adding jobs again, but the gains aren't spread evenly.