|
|
State gets defensive; Illinois reaps $8.3 billion in federal contracts as military hikes spending.(News)
- Article from:
-
Crain's Chicago Business
- Article date:
-
June 23, 2008
|
Copyright informationCOPYRIGHT 2008 Crain Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Byline: PAUL MERRION
Illinois grabbed $8.3 billion in federal contracts last year, its highest-ever total, as stepped-up spending on defense flowed toward local companies such as Navistar International Corp.
Federal procurement contracts-the government's purchases of goods and services from the private sector-were up almost 35% for Illinois firms from $6.17 billion in 2006, according to USAspending.gov, a new database maintained by the White House Office of Management and Budget.
That increase lifted Illinois to 15th among all states from 18th in 2006.
With few traditional defense contractors, Illinois for years lagged other major manufacturing states such as ...