Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

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Illinois DCEO @illinoisdceo.bsky.social · 10h

$4.4 million is now available for grant programs to boost tourism and welcome more visitors across Illinois:

🖼️ Tourism Attraction
🎡 Tourism Private Sector
📰 Tourism Marketing Partnership

Learn more and apply today: bit.ly/3KyB2rE

Image of festival with text: Announcing Applications Open for Tourism Grant Programs.

Illinois DCEO @illinoisdceo.bsky.social · 12h

Attention grantseekers! DCEO’s Office of Accountability is hosting a virtual training session covering the first step in the grant process: pre-qualification.

Wednesday, October 15
9-10 a.m.
Learn more: bit.ly/3Rajnrp

Image of man at laptop with text Webinar: Presented by Office of Accountability.

Illinois DCEO @illinoisdceo.bsky.social · 1d

Welcome, NANO Nuclear, to IL – helping power the future of clean energy and advanced manufacturing. 🌱⚙️🏭

With support from DCEO’s REV Illinois program, they’re bringing new investment, jobs & innovation to the Chicagoland area. #BeInIllinois

Read more – bit.ly/46Ies8s

release

Cas Peters | 40 Under 40 2025

Illinois DCEO @illinoisdceo.bsky.social · 1d

🎉 Congratulations to DCEO’s Chief Business Development Officer, Cas Peters, on being named to the prestigious Crain’s Chicago Business 40 Under 40 list! 👏 🌟

Cas Peters, chief of business attraction and development at the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, is a Crain’s Chicago Business 40 Under 40.

www.chicagobusiness.com

The Best Cities in the US: 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards

Illinois DCEO @illinoisdceo.bsky.social · 1d

Chicago has been named Best Big City in America by Condé Nast Traveler for the 9th year in a row! 🎉One of Illinois’ greatest assets, Chicago shows the world what our state has to offer. 🏙️ #EnjoyIllinois

Read more

This year our readers advocated for newcomers to the top American cities, leaving no corner of the US unexplored.

www.cntraveler.com

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Illinois DCEO @illinoisdceo.bsky.social · 2d

Funding through the State’s Illinois Grocery Initiative is increasing food security and economic development in Venice, Illinois. 🍎#BeInIllinois

Learn more about the project and its critical impact –

Once left behind, an Illinois town finds hope in a new school and grocery store

When steel and manufacturing jobs dried up over the last several decades in Venice, Illinois, the town lost two-thirds of the population.

cbsn.ws

Illinois DCEO @illinoisdceo.bsky.social · 2d

Celebrate #ManufacturingMonth by joining IMEC and IMA on their #MakersOnTheMove bus tour! 🚌

The tour aims to inspire students, engage communities, and connect employers with the next generation of talent. Learn more – makersonthemove.org

Makers on the Move

makersonthemove.org

Illinois DCEO @illinoisdceo.bsky.social · 5d

With major productions like Netflix’s Monster filming in our state, Illinois’ film industry is creating new opportunities and driving job growth.

The third season of Monster, filmed throughout Illinois, is streaming now. 📺 #BeInIllinois

Illinois DCEO @illinoisdceo.bsky.social · 5d

DCEO is hiring! We have a variety of openings across the state, including:

✔️ Latino Business Development Specialist
✔️ Dig Once Manager
✔️ Staff Assistant
✔️ Workforce Reporting, Performance Unit Manager

Apply today! bit.ly/3MNt2zV

Illinois DCEO @illinoisdceo.bsky.social · 5d

October is #ManufacturingMonth!⚙️

Learn more about DCEO’s efforts to build upon our world-class manufacturing workforce and find events to commemorate this month across the state. – bit.ly/4pRdtds

Image of quantum manufacturing with text: Manufacturing Month-Oct 2025.

Illinois DCEO @illinoisdceo.bsky.social · 6d

This National Women’s Business Month, DCEO will be hosting events with community partners to uplift and support women-owned businesses and entrepreneurs throughout Illinois. 💼 #ILWBM2025

Learn more – bit.ly/46xUptn

Women’s Business Month 2025 illustration.

Illinois DCEO @illinoisdceo.bsky.social · 6d

Need help with utility bills? #LIHEAP applications are now open for income-eligible households. Learn more and apply today: bit.ly/4nHy3f1

Visit the DCEO website or call 1-833-711-0374 for more information on eligibility.

Image of man on laptop with text: Utility Bill Assistance, Applications Open for Income-Eligible Households.

Fortune Brands opens new Deerfield headquarters, surpasses hiring goal 2 years early - Chicago Business Journal

Illinois DCEO @illinoisdceo.bsky.social · 6d

Congratulations to Fortune Brands Innovations on the official opening of its new Deerfield headquarters! Backed by the State’s EDGE incentive program, this expansion is bringing 400 new full-time jobs to Illinois. 💼✨ #BeInIllinois

Read more:

Fortune Brands has unveiled its new headquarters in Illinois.

www.bizjournals.com

Babe's Opens In Logan Square, Giving Women's Sports Fans A Place To Call Home

Illinois DCEO @illinoisdceo.bsky.social · 7d

October is National Women’s Business Month!

The best way to celebrate is by supporting women-owned businesses across the state. Make sure to visit Babe’s Sports Bar to watch your favorite women’s sports teams! 🥇📺

#ILWBM2025

With eight TVs, Babe's is able to show four women's sports games at a time. Events, sports-related movie screenings and watch parties are being planned.

Women, Agriculture & Business Development in Illinois

Illinois DCEO @illinoisdceo.bsky.social · 8d

🚀 Big news for Illinois: The IQMP has officially broken ground! With PsiQuantum as the anchor tenant, the IQMP will drive billions in economic impact, create thousands of jobs, and position Illinois as the nation’s leader in quantum innovation.

Learn more – bit.ly/470RObs. #BeInIllinois

Image of quantum computing: Governor Pritzker Breaks Ground on IQMP.

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Illinois DCEO @illinoisdceo.bsky.social · 8d

In honor of National Women’s Business Month, join DCEO and our community partners for the Women, Agriculture and Business Development in Illinois Resource Session. 🌽 🚜 #WomeninAg
📅Thur., Oct. 23 @ 8:30am in Noble, IL.

Make sure to register – bit.ly/3KA3auh

This workshop highlights the vital role of women in agriculture and rural enterprise

Illinois DCEO @illinoisdceo.bsky.social · 12d

DCEO is hiring! We have a variety of openings across the state, including:

✔️ EDGE Program Mgr
✔️ Asst Chief Financial Officer
✔️ APEX Accelerator Program Mgr
✔️ Northeast Regional Mgr
✔️ Workforce Reporting, Performance Unit Mgr

Apply today! bit.ly/3MNt2zV

Illinois DCEO @illinoisdceo.bsky.social · 13d

DCEO is continuing our #ILHHM celebration by highlighting another Illinois Latino-owned business. Diverse Strategies Now offers workshops, presentations, and specialized consulting tailored to clients’ needs.

Learn more – www.diversestrategiesnow.com

Hispanic Heritage Month Illustration plus image of Diverse Strategies Now President Alfred Ramirez with copy about the company.

Reposted by Illinois DCEO

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 21d

Illinois is making a quantum leap forward.

With our Quantum and Microelectronics Park in Chicago, that means good-paying jobs and vital investment for the South Side of Chicago.

It's a win for not only the city but the entire state.

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Illinois DCEO @illinoisdceo.bsky.social · 14d

REMINDER: Applications for Round 3 of the Cannabis Social Equity Loan Program close this Thursday, September 25 at 5:00 p.m. CT.

Learn more and apply today – bit.ly/4m9cCCQ

Image of laptop with text: Loan Applications for Cannabis Social Equity Licensees Close Sept. 25

Illinois DCEO @illinoisdceo.bsky.social · 14d

Attention grantseekers! DCEO’s Office of Accountability is hosting a virtual training session covering the first step in the grant process: pre-qualification.

Wednesday, October 1
9-10 a.m.
Learn more: bit.ly/3Rajnrp

NFIB Illinois schedules virtual session on small business resources

Reposted by Illinois DCEO

Illinois EDC @illinoisedc.bsky.social · 15d

The 2025-26 #Illinois Investment Guide is here! Released annually, the guide showcases #WhyIllinois is a premier business destination.

Read it for stories of growth, a letter from @govpritzker.illinois.gov, interviews with Illinois EDC and @illinoisdceo.bsky.social, and more: bit.ly/4mvjBWc

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Illinois DCEO @illinoisdceo.bsky.social · 16d

DCEO leadership is joining NFIB Illinois’ virtual business resource session Oct. 22nd at 11 a.m. to discuss resources available for Illinois small businesses 🖥️

Learn more about how to register for the event – prairiestatewire.com/stories/6751...

NFIB Illinois is organizing a virtual event on October 22 at 11:30 a.m. CT to provide information about small business resources in the state.

prairiestatewire.com

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Illinois DCEO @illinoisdceo.bsky.social · 19d

DCEO is hiring! We have a variety of openings across the state, including:

✔️ Administrative Assistant
✔️ Operations Assistant
✔️ Grant Manager Team A
✔️ Multi-Family Engineer Lead

Apply today! bit.ly/3MNt2zV