By Dave Dahl

ROCKFORD – To State Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington), the Rivian plant in Normal is only the beginning. He wants the success of the electric vehicle plant repeated across the state.

“This incentive plan,” which Gov. JB Pritzker signed at Rock Valley College in Rockford Tuesday, “targets companies who will supply our existing manufacturers. This proposal will help make Illinois more competitive to attract companies who will not only be here to supply but to provide jobs — sorely needed jobs.”

“Because this bill was set up the right way, we are not doing what other states are doing. We are not throwing money at big corporations” before they invest in communities and workers, said State Rep. Dave Vella (D-Rockford). “I truly believe this could turn Illinois into the Silicon Valley of electric vehicle manufacturing.”

The incentives include “the legislation includes tax credits for income tax withholding, training costs, tax exemptions, and investment credits, as well as allowing local jurisdictions to abate property taxes for EV projects,” the governor’s office said in a statement.

There’s also a discount for Illinoisans who buy an Illinois-made EV, a million of which Pritzker wants on the road by 2030.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].