The Illinois Coalition Board Approves Organizational Changes

Chicago, IL – October 27, 2004 – The State of Illinois and the Illinois Coalition announced a reorganization last Thursday aimed at focusing efforts to advocate for federal science and technology investments into Illinois, while also stimulating commercialization and entrepreneurship programs.

The Illinois Coalition will be divided into two separate organizations each focused along the lines of its missions, research infrastructure advocacy and technology commercialization.

Technology Commercialization: Tom Thornton, the Illinois Coalition's President, will manage a public/private organization focused solely on delivering business assistance to technology firms statewide. While this entity will use the Illinois Coalition's existing corporate entity and charter, it will develop a new name to reflect its focused mission. This entity's important work will be funded through federal awards the Illinois Coalition has already secured, as well as private contributions.
The Illinois Coalition: The State, private sector and research institutions will form a new public/private organization focused solely on lobbying to land large-scale federal research and development investment in Illinois. The entity will take the Illinois Coalition name. This entity will be chaired by Sam Skinner, the Illinois Coalition's chairman, managed by a new president and funded by the State and private sector.

"We need a strong, focused mission for these public-private partnerships that brings federal dollars to Illinois," said Jack Lavin, Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

"Jack and the governor have agreed to support the organization," said Coalition Chairman Sam Skinner. "They'll be involved on the board, and we will be supercharging our efforts."

A transition team is being appointed to guide the changes, and a small number of representatives of the State as well as the current Coalition board will participate. The reorganization should be complete by the end of the year.

Skinner said the two new entities "will be a more effective effort in commercialization and advocacy. We'll be positioning ourselves for strong growth."