Governor Ryan Makes Sales Pitch to Boeing -- Governor Calls Boeing Executive Leading Headquarters Selection Effort

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George Ryan today personally contacted Boeing executive John Warner, Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, and the point person on the selection of a new Boeing Corporate Headquarters, to discuss the company's plans to relocate their headquarters from Seattle.

"Mr. Warner was very receptive to my message that they won't find a better place to do business than in the Chicagoland area. I made the point of stressing that we have the talent, quality of life and strategic location they're seeking for their headquarters," Ryan said.

The Boeing Company yesterday announced that it is seeking to locate their new headquarters in a culturally diverse city that offers ready access to global markets and provides a strong business climate.

As part of the Illinois sales efforts, the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs will emphasize:

• Illinois boasts a large, talented workforce. Both the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University and the University of Chicago rank among the top business schools in the country. In addition, public universities in the state produce more than 3,500 engineering graduates every year.

• Illinois is regarded as one of the most strategic business locations in North America and as a gateway to markets around the world. More than one-fourth of the Gross National Product is produced within 300 miles of Illinois and half of all the goods and services created in the U.S. are produced within 500 miles of the state line.

• The Chicago area offers a high quality of life that provides workers with access to world class amenities, and an affordable cost of living. The city offers something for everyone, from blues to baseball, art to architecture.

• " The assets that Chicago and Illinois boast are our best selling point. I'm very confident in our chances of landing Boeing in Illinois based on all the quality of life and business advantages we have to offer," Governor Ryan added.