Letters

Duster's BED
EDITOR: I read with a great deal of interest Bill Miller's recent article on Donald L. Duster, the new director of the Illinois Department of Business and Economic Development. Certainly Illinois has lost businesses to competing states over the past several years, some of which can be attributed to the current business climate in Illinois, but equally important has been the aggressive attitude of other states in competing for businesses. I personally feel that Mr. Duster's stated aggressive policy in obtaining, as well as retaining, business in Illinois will serve to enhance our tax base.

Of prime concern to me is Mr. Duster's emphasis on attracting tourists to Illinois. Tourism is literally a pollution-free industry which brings fresh new money into the state, benefiting not only attractions, hotels and motels, restaurants, etc., but through the normal business process then expands into those businesses serving these industries, such as food suppliers, insurance companies, laundries and all those businesses serving this industry. We were disappointed that there will be no funding available for Welcome Centers on the interstate highway system but we hope Mr. Duster will continue to explore other ways of getting the Illinois story across to prospective visitors.

22 / August 1977 / Illinois Issues


|Home| |Back to Periodicals Available| |Table of Contents| |Back to Illinois Issues 1977|