Mayor Emanuel’s also cheerleading the deal, though it’s draining the state of money he says he’s counting on to avoid massive school layoffs.
“By choosing Chicago as their new home, ConAgra Foods sees the same strengths that so many other companies see in relocating their headquarters here, from our talent, to our transportation, to our quality of life,” the mayor said in his press statement.
OK, Mr. Mayor, if Chicago’s so great, how come we had to pay ConAgra to come here?
You know, fellas, it’s bad enough we’re getting fleeced on this deal. Don’t feed us shit and tell us it’s chocolate pudding.
This is a pretty lousy way to grow our economy. Instead of creating new jobs it will be importing a bunch of people from Omaha. Moreover, the Merchandise Mart is in the booming River North area—you shouldn’t have to pay people to move there. Yelp, Motorola Mobility, and Regus all moved into the Mart without a handout from the governor.
For what it’s worth, ConAgra CEO Sean Connolly already lives in Winnetka—as does Rauner. Give Connolly credit for this: he masterfully played Omaha against the state of Illinois, entertaining offers from both before settling on Chicago. In the end, Omaha mayor Jean Stothert was almost begging him to stay.
“We offered them TIF [financing],” Stothert told reporters. (Yes, folks, they have tax increment financing in Nebraska too.) Ultimately, Connolly still turned her down.
This isn’t the first time ConAgra has put the squeeze on Omaha. In the 1980s company leaders threatened to leave if city officials didn’t allow them to tear down 20 or so historically valuable buildings in Jobbers Canyon, an industrial part of town. Back then sprawling suburban-style campus settings were in with corporate honchos.
Now apparently they’re out as the honchos, finding their inner hipster, look to move to old, retro buildings such as the Mart. Perhaps Rauner and Connolly will show up to the official opening in fedoras.
Here’s hoping that corporate fashions don’t change again. Otherwise Rauner may propose demolishing the Mart to keep ConAgra from leaving.
Welcome to Chicago, ConAgra. I see you already know the players and how to play the game.
Article Appeared @http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2015/10/02/rauneromics-tax-credits-for-conagra-budget-cuts-for-everyone-else