By AP/St. Louis Public Radio
ST. LOUIS – Illinois is giving cell phone provider U.S. Cellular a $7.1 million tax credit package so it stays in the state.
In exchange, the company will create 25 new jobs and retain nearly 1,100 others at its Illinois facilities.
Gov. Pat Quinn announced the investment package Friday. He says the state has to do what it can to keep jobs in Illinois. He says he didn't want U.S. Cellular to move to Oklahoma or any other state.
Quinn says a similar tax credit has been used as an incentive for other companies. That includes Ford Motor Co., which announced earlier this year that it would expand its plant on Chicago's South Side.