Billion Dollar Baby

The Prize:

The Rare Isotope Accelerator

The RIA (Rare Isotope Accelerator) will produce high-energy atomic nuclei-the cores of atoms-that no longer exist in nature and that blink out of existence a trilli-second after their birth. These nuclei will open up new scientific territory in nuclear physics, environmental protection and nuclear medicine.

There are fewer than 300 stable nuclei that are relatively easy to study. Scientists have obtained glimpses of another 3,000 nuclei, but they suspect that close to 7,000 may be possible. Since they decay at such a rapid rate, these isotopes are rarely found on earth. Astonishingly, the RIA is likely able to create most of them.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has placed RIA in a third place tie among 28 projects it listed as necessary to keep the United States at the forefront in scientific research. RIA's technology is well understood and its scientific potential well recognized. Of the top ranked projects, it is the one most ready to begin construction.

The Contenders:

Argonne National Laboratory, managed by the University of Chicago. Located just outside Chicago, The University of Chicago has managed Argonne since it was established as the nation's first national laboratory in 1946. Argonne operates six national user facilities and centers for the Department of Energy, including the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Climate Facility, the Center for Nanoscale Materials and the Advanced Photon Source. Argonne also is the home of Alexei Abrikosov, who shared the 2003 Nobel Prize in Physics for his theory that explains how magnetic fields penetrate certain semiconducting materials. In Argonne's corner stands Dr. Herman Grunder, Director of ANL.

National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, managed by Michigan State University. Located in Lansing, Michigan, the NCSL boasts itself as the leading rare isotope research facility in the United States. NSCL scientists and researchers conduct advanced research in fundamental nuclear science, nuclear astrophysics, and accelerator physics. Funded primarily by the National Science Foundation and MSU, the NSCL operates two superconducting cyclotrons. C. Konrad Gelbke wears the gloves as Director of NSCL.

At Stake:

• The Heavyweight Title as the nation's center of technological innovation and scientific research
• 16,000 construction jobs created over an 8-year period while the RIA is constructed…alongside $2 billion in additional revenue to the state's economy
• Once complete, the RIA will have an annual operating budget of $70 million and will create over 1,700 permanent jobs
• $110 million in annual output generated to our state's economy, resulting annually in $40 million in new personal income for state residents
• RIA will attract over 2,000 of the world's leading researchers and scientists, traveling to the RIA to study rare isotopes

Despite a $2.7 million cut in preliminary funding for the accelerator in this year's DOE budget, Illinois leaders remain hopeful. "The Rare Isotope Accelerator provides an extraordinary opportunity to plumb fundamental issues about the origin of our universe as well as to develop the technology base of the nation," said Thomas Rosenbaum, the University of Chicago's Vice President for Research and for Argonne National Laboratory.

In order to keep the momentum, a crack team of beltway heavyweights and hometown leaders has been assembled to lead the charge. Spearheaded by Jack Lavin, Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the public-private task force is chaired by former Gov. James Thompson and JPMorgan Chase chairman William M. Daley. The 45-member panel includes: U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert (Midwest), Senator Richard Durbin, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, Mayor Richard M. Daley, U.S. Representative Judy Biggert, UAL CEO Glenn Tilton, Northwestern University President Henry Bienen, and Illinois Coalition Chairman, Samuel Skinner…just to name some.

It's not too late to get involved, so please make sure to check www.riaforillinois.com frequently for the latest information and updates regarding the project and/or contact:

Mark Harris
RIA for Illinois
100 W. Randolph Street, Suite 3-400
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone - (312) 814-8318
Fax - (312) 814-3032
info@riaforillinois.com
www.riaforillinois.com

SME Health Insurance

The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce has committed to researching health insurance options that could lower costs for its members. The newly launched effort comes on the heels of yet another year in which the majority of Chamber members experienced double-digit health insurance premium hikes. The goal is to reduce insurance costs for smaller companies while creating predictability to spur their growth and success.

In an effort to support small businesses, the Chamber will be working with the State to explore ways to offer members a suite of health insurance plans, at reduced costs, without decreasing the scope of services to which they have access.

"It is imperative that small businesses, the segment of our economy that will create the majority of net new jobs, be able to offer comprehensive healthcare benefits at a comparable cost to their counterparts in large corporations," said Chamber CEO Jerry Roper.

"We applaud the Governor's vision on this issue," remarked Roper. "The goal is to reduce insurance costs for smaller companies while creating predictability to spur their growth and success."

The Chamber has already garnered the support of the Governor and other key state officials who are working with the Chamber in hopes of supporting the state's small business economyThe Chamber was identified in Governor Blagojevich's State of the State address as being a lead partner on this issue.

In the next twelve months, this initiative hopes to create a suite of health insurance offerings for small businesses that would lower costs and promote multi-year predictability. If you are a business owner or make health insurance decisions for a business that employs between 2 - 150 people and feel that rising health insurance costs are prohibiting the growth of your business, please take a few minutes to fill out this survey.

The information you fill out will only be viewed by Chamber staff members, who will aggregate the data (without referring to any specific names or companies) and may choose to share the aggregated data with partners and underwriters of insurance.

For more information, contact Michael Fields at mfields@chicagolandchamber.org or 312-494-6779.

Participate in the Survey Now

Expat Driver's Licenses, Finally

Since 2001, Illinois had been one of only a few states requiring that applicants have a Social Security number to obtain a driver's license. This caused great inconvenience to some legally resident foreign nationals, such as family members of businesspersons and Consular personnel, and foreign students who were ineligible for Social Security numbers.

Recognizing that the restriction placed Illinois at a disadvantage in the domestic and global competition for talent and investment, the Illinois legislature passed corrective legislation in 2004.

As of this year, legally documented foreign nationals residing in Illinois, who are ineligible for Social Security numbers, but meet other requirements, can now obtain Temporary Visitor Driver's Licenses (TVDL) from the Illinois Secretary of State.

In addition to meeting various requirements, applicants must produce all required documentation and undergo the standard vision screening, written test and road test as well as pay a fee. A TVDL is valid for the remaining period of time the individual is authorized to stay in the U.S., or up to three years. Details on the new TVDL program can be found at the Illinois Secretary of State website, www.cyberdriveillinois.com .

The City of Chicago and World Business Chicago were among the business, consular, civic groups and local governments in Illinois to advocate for a more expat-friendly approach on this issue.

With some 1,600 foreign-based companies, 25,600 foreign students and 71 consulates and honorary consulates in the Chicago area alone, this legislation was a significant step in improving the state's competitiveness.

Chicago by the Numbers

World Business Chicago
177 N. State Street, Suite 500
Chicago, Illinois 60601

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