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WNIJ's summary of news items around our state.

Illinois Lawmakers Propose Biotechnology Tax Credits

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WNIJ

Two Illinois lawmakers have proposed a plan to offer tax credits to biotechnology businesses in hopes of boosting agricultural jobs in central Illinois.

The Decatur Herald & Review reports the legislation, introduced by state senators Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) and Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill), would provide incentives to produce and sell new renewable products made from biomass and other renewable sources.

Manar says the state is strategically poised to lead the development of new renewable products.

Rose says there's potential for Decatur to be at the center of a new $20 billion biotechnology industry.

He says the intent is to utilize Decatur's production and shipping capacity through the Midwest Inland Port along with the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Lab in Urbana.