Features

“Each year, Illinois Businesses and government agencies spend billions of dollars on goods and services. Even a small shift in buying habits to target more in-state buying would boost the Illinois economy by hundreds of millions of dollars, resulting in the direct and indirect creation of jobs and the generation of additional tax revenues for schools, roads, police and fire protection, health care and other public services,” said Governor Blagojevich when he called upon state agencies to purchase more Illinois products as part of his Opportunity Returns initiative.

In response to the Governor’s request, Capital Development Board has developed a three-part “Buy Illinois” program. First, CDB has established a directory of Illinois products that are used in the construction industry. To qualify as an Illinois product, the product must be manufactured, fabricated or assembled within the State of Illinois. The directory is in a pdf format and can be printed from personal computers.

The directory supports the second element of the program; encouraging the design professionals to include these products in the project specifications. Where products are typically specified by a list of three manufacturers and their product names and model numbers, the designer should consider the inclusion of an Illinois manufacturer whenever possible. Illinois products will be indicated in the project manual with (IL) preceding the item in the specification paragraph.

The third element of the program is to encourage contractors to procure the Illinois products during the construction phase of the project and indicate them on the Contractors Schedule of Values. This is not a mandatory requirement nor will a preference be given in awarding contracts.

If your firm has an Illinois product and would like to be included in the directory, please contact one of the individuals listed below.