Illinois EDC Launches Program to Turn Data into Economic Growth

New program will benefit eight Illinois regions with detailed economic analysis

The Illinois Economic Development Corporation’s Economic Research Center today announced the launch of the Regional Research Pilot Program (R2P2), a new initiative designed to provide deeper, forward-looking research and economic growth planning support to communities and partners across Illinois.

R2P2 is designed to help communities move beyond individual projects and near-term needs by offering strategic economic analysis that supports long-term regional competitiveness. R2P2 will deliver customized research and analysis to help participants develop proactive, realistic, and data-driven economic development strategies aligned with limited local resources.

“Illinois EDC is committed to helping communities compete in a rapidly changing economy by pairing Illinois’ unmatched assets with rigorous, future-oriented analysis,” said Illinois EDC President and CEO Christy George. “R2P2 strengthens our ability to support economic developers at the regional level—ensuring that growth strategies are grounded in shared data, aligned with market realities, and focused on long-term opportunity.”

R2P2’s pilot cohort includes eight organizations based across Illinois:

• City of Rockford
• Economic Alliance of Kankakee County
• Greater Freeport Partnership
• Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois
• Grow Quad Cities (formerly Quad Cities Chamber economic development)
• Southern Illinois Now (SI Now)
• Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance
• Vermilion Advantage

“With R2P2, Illinois EDC is forging a new path in providing impactful research, analysis and strategy to regional partners across our state—opening doors for future growth,” said Illinois EDC Chairman John Atkinson. “When our partners have better data and strategic direction, all of Illinois wins.”

Through R2P2, participating entities will receive analysis examining their region’s current economic trajectory relative to national trends and their long-term economic vision, and the gaps between present conditions and desired future outcomes. Illinois EDC will then work collaboratively with participants to prioritize industry sectors and develop targeted strategies that reflect both regional strengths and market realities, creating clearer pathways from analysis to action, with the ultimate goal of economic growth. The program is intentionally structured to complement—but remain distinct from—Illinois EDC’s existing pipeline-driven and marketing-focused services.

“The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is proud to support the Regional Research Pilot Program as part of our ongoing commitment to strengthening economic growth in communities across the state,” said Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Kristin Richards. “The insights generated through this program will further inform our approach to strategic economic development throughout Illinois.”

The launch of R2P2 reflects Illinois EDC’s commitment to strengthening regional economic development through enhanced research, deeper collaboration, and long-term strategic planning—positioning communities across the state to compete more effectively for investment and support resilient, inclusive growth.

“R2P2 will help communities step back, assess their economic trajectory, and make strategic choices about where to compete over the long term,” said Illinois EDC Research SVP Robin Ficke. “This program fills a critical gap by offering forward-looking research and planning support to communities across Illinois.”

R2P2 is an initiative of Illinois EDC’s Economic Research Center, which launched earlier this year and produces fact-based data sets and analysis of Illinois’ workforce, industries, and economy.

“The Regional Research Pilot Program gives communities the opportunity to think strategically about where they want to go and what it will take to get there,” said Illinois EDC Director of Research and Regional Analysis Kate Lindgren, who is helping to spearhead the program. “By combining statewide analytical capacity with local insight, R2P2 will help participants align vision, strategy, and action in a way that is both ambitious and achievable.”

PARTICIPANTS SHARE HOW R2P2 WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE

“We are grateful to partner with Illinois EDC,” said City of Rockford Mayor Thomas McNamara. “By turning data into action, we can better position Rockford to attract new businesses, expand job opportunities for residents and build on our current momentum.”

“We are honored to participate in the Regional Research Pilot Program, an initiative that will further support and elevate Kankakee County. As we work to attract new business, strengthen our workforce, and drive development, it is essential that we fully understand our capabilities as a region. By recognizing our strengths in industry diversity, workforce training, and site opportunity, this program positions Kankakee County to compete confidently in a global market,” said Economic Alliance of Kankakee County President and CEO Angela Morrey. “The insights and tools provided through this pilot will help us sharpen our strategy and accelerate our momentum. With stronger data, clearer direction, and expanded resources, Kankakee County is poised to seize new opportunities.”

“Through our participation in the Regional Research Pilot Program, the Greater Freeport Partnership is strengthening our ability to align data-driven insights with real, actionable economic development strategies,” said Greater Freeport Partnership Executive Director Andrea Schultz Winter. “The Partnership’s mission is to serve as a catalyst for economic growth in Freeport and Stephenson County bringing partners together to move our region forward. R2P2 provides the analytical foundation we need to better understand our trajectory, prioritize opportunities, and create a more prosperous future for our community.”

“We welcome the opportunity to establish this strategic partnership with Illinois EDC for the Regional Research and Pilot Program to enhance our existing business intelligence resources,” said Grow Quad Cities Chief Economic Development Officer Julie Forsythe. “In today’s data-driven economy, expanding our access to meaningful insights enhances our ability to support the growth and competitiveness of the Quad Cities region.”

“Today’s economic development decisions must be grounded in data and strengthened through meaningful partnerships. Illinois EDC has been an exceptional partner to Southern Illinois Now, consistently providing the tools, insights, and leadership that help communities across our region and throughout the state succeed,” said SI Now Executive Director Deb Barnett. “The Regional Research Pilot Program (R2P2) is another powerful resource that allows us to move beyond assumptions and align our strategies with real market demand, workforce trends, and long-term growth opportunities, advancing not just our region, but Illinois’ broader economic development goals.”

“Illinois EDC’s research will enable us and our local development professionals to know which industry sectors we are growing, and which sectors we are poised to complete well for new developments,” said Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois President and CEO Kyle Anderson. “Their partnership will highlight all of the success and the potential our region has to continue to be an industrial powerhouse in the U.S.”

“Data driven approaches to economic development and business attraction provide the proof necessary to show that real facts support the sales pitch. However, availability of data and market information is also critical in business retention and expansion,” said Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance President and CEO Ryan McCrady. “This data will help our businesses make informed decisions and inspire additional investment and commitment to their current locations. SSGA is excited to be part of the R2P2 project, and we believe that it will be another tool to set our state and region apart from the competition.”

“In economic development, data isn’t a back-office function—it’s competitive infrastructure,” said Vermilion Advantage President and CEO Amy Brown. “Site selectors, employers, and investors make decisions on the strength of the evidence a region can put in front of them. Through R2P2, Vermilion Advantage is strengthening that evidence base and sharing it openly with the partners working to grow our regional economy.”

Quick Q&A:

Why is the Regional Research Pilot Program needed? What’s the purpose of R2P2?

• In today’s rapidly evolving and global economy, data-driven strategy is critical to competing for investment and jobs in high-growth industries. But for many local and regional communities, accessing high-quality, up-to-date research can be costly, time-consuming, and cumbersome. Illinois EDC’s newly launched Regional Research Pilot Program (R2P2) is meant to help address this challenge by working closely with Illinois governments and economic development organizations to develop customized and data-driven economic development analysis and strategies.

For example?

• Analysis can help to determine whether a community should make a play for a high-growth industry based on its assets, like a higher ratio of workforce talent and infrastructure.

Who is part of the R2P2?

• Participants of the inaugural cohort include:
  • Economic Alliance of Kankakee County
  • Greater Freeport Partnership
  • Southern Illinois Now (SI Now)
  • Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois
  • Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance
  • Vermilion Advantage
  • Grow Quad Cities
  • City of Rockford

Why were these entities and communities selected?

• For the initial phase on R2P2, Illinois EDC’s ERC selected entities that provided geographic diversity and varying levels of economic development research capacity. This cohort enables the ERC to assess and refine the program model across a range of community contexts and needs, informing future expansion efforts.

How long will the program run? Will it continue after the pilot phase?

• The initial pilot will run for a twelve-month period. We are already planning for what additional data and analysis we can continue to provide communities and what a second year of the program could entail.

How can I get involved with the Regional Research Pilot Program (R2P2)?

• Reach out to R2P2@IllinoisEDC.org to inquire about future participation.
• Illinois EDC can connect journalists with local participants and with ERC analysts leading the research efforts; contact newsroom@illinoisedc.org.