$100M in state incentives keep Motorola Mobility in Libertyville
BY JOHN ROSZKOWSKI jroszkowski@pioneerlocal.com May 6, 2011 2:21PM
Gov. Pat Quinn talks about the state tax incentive package that will keep Motorola Mobility’s headquarters and its 3,000 employees in Libertyville. | Josh Peckler~ For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: July 6, 2011 12:22AM
LIBERTYVILLE — Thanks in large part to a statewide tax incentive package totaling more than $100 million, Motorola Mobility will keep its corporate headquarters and its approximately 3,000 employees in Libertyville.
Gov. Pat Quinn and Motorola Mobility Chairman and CEO Sanjay Jha announced the news Friday to a packed auditorium of employees at the company’s headquarters at 600 N. Route 45.
Quinn praised Motorola officials and the hard work and dedication of company employees as key factors in ensuring Motorola Mobility corporate headquarters would remain in Libertyville.
“We’re all in this together,” said Quinn. “I’m not interested in getting the credit. I’m interested in getting good jobs for good people in Illinois.”
“Three thousand jobs are very, very important in this state,” he said. “These are high-tech, good-paying jobs.”
Libertyville was competing with several other cities across the country, including San Diego, San Francisco and Austin, Texas, for the Motorola Mobility headquarters.
In an effort to keep Motorola in Libertyville, the state offered a tax incentive package estimated at more than $100 million over 10 years. The package includes Economic Development for a Growing Economy tax credits, estimated at more than $10 million annually over the next 10 years. The package also includes job training assistance funds and a $3 million grant to offset capital expenses.
“We’ve put together an incentive package, a very good incentive package, that encourages people to invest in Illinois,” Quinn said.
Motorola officials say they are committed to spending more than $500 million in research and development over the next three years and are hopeful those investments will lead to even more jobs in Libertyville in the future.
Jha said the state incentive package was one factor, among many, that led to their decision to stay in Libertyville. He also credited the “high-class workforce” at the Libertyville facility and the close partnership they’ve had with state and local officials as other reasons.
“We ultimately decided Illinois was the best place for our business,” he said. “We’re confident that this was the right decision for Illinois and Motorola Mobility.”
During his visit, Quinn toured the facility and saw some of Motorola’s latest devices, including the ATRIX 46 smartphone and the Motorola Zoom tablet.
Libertyville Mayor Terry Weppler said he was very pleased by Motorola’s decision to stay in his community.
“I’m thrilled by the news,” Weppler said. “It’s very important to keep a major employer like Motorola in Libertyville. I’m grateful for the state in stepping up and keeping this company in Libertyville.”
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