State Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) met with local business leaders at a roundtable sponsored Illinois Manufacturers Association last week. Representatives from area manufacturing companies, both large and small, came together to discuss their legislative priorities and share their ideas on how to create an environment that is more conducive to job growth.

“Our manufacturers and the many spin off businesses are vital to our economic success in Central Illinois, and ensuring these companies can compete on a global scale is something I am very interested in working for,” Gordon said. “We have to make sure that Illinois has a business climate that encourages manufacturers to stay and prosper in Illinois and discourages companies from pulling up their stakes and moving to Mexico, Canada or somewhere else in the United States.”

The local business leaders focused a great deal on a plan to extend the state’s Research and Development Tax Credit, an economic development tool that allows companies to innovate, invest in new product lines and ultimately put more people to work. Gordon backs the idea. Also discussed were ways business can encourage students to gain the skills they need to obtain jobs in the manufacturing sector in order to have high-paying jobs in the 21st Contrary.

“Research and Development credits help companies come up with the next big idea. We need to foster innovation in Illinois,” Gordon said. “I support making these credits permanent because I know that it will help our businesses develop new products and help them remain competitive within the United States and globally. Not only will our business community prosper, but more importantly local residents will be able to hold jobs that pay a living wage to support their family.”

Gordon sits on the Illinois Legislative Manufacturing Caucus in the General Assembly. For more information, or for any questions, please contact Rep. Gordon’s Constituent Services Office at 309-681-1992.