By AP/KWMU
Springfield, IL – Illinois is the latest Midwestern state trying to land a new $400 million Honda plant.
A spokesman for Governor Rod Blagojevich's economic development agency confirmed Monday that the governor recently met with company officials.
"Governor Blagojevich certainly believes that Illinois has all of the assets to make this project a tremendous success, that the business climate here encourages both innovation and investment," said Andrew Ross, spokesman for the state Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
Ross said Honda is looking at a specific site in Illinois, but he would not say where they are looking.
Officials in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan also have pushed for the plant, which is expected to be built by 2008.
The new plant is anticipated to provide 1,500 jobs and produce 200,000 cars a year.
Honda is expected to announce its decision later this summer but has not identified potential sites.