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BLAGOJEVICH ADMINISTRATION TO BRIEF
CONGRESSIONAL STAFF AND LEADING PRIVATE SECTOR DEFENSE
AND SECURITY OFFICALS ON ILLINOIS’ STRATEGIC APPROACH TO
MEETING THE CRITICAL NATIONAL NEED FOR PRODUCTS IN THE
HOMELAND SECURITY MARKET
“Highlighting Homeland Security Private
Sector Capabilities and Public-Private Partnerships in
the State of Illinois” To be Held Tuesday in Washington,
DC
CHICAGO - Furthering his ongoing efforts
to advance the role of Illinois in keeping our nation
safe, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced that he is
sending Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity (DCEO) Director Jack Lavin to Capitol Hill
to conduct a briefing on Tuesday to highlight the State
of Illinois’ strategic investments to improve the
availability of homeland security products and services.
“Highlighting Homeland Security Private Sector
Capabilities and Public-Private Partnerships in the
State of Illinois” will be held from 12:00 to 1:30pm on
Tuesday, February 28th, in 345 Cannon House Office
Building, Washington, DC. The event will provide an
overview of Illinois' programs and strategies to support
businesses engaged in the research, development and
production of homeland security related goods and
services. Special focus will be devoted to the role of
Illinois as a leading research and development center
for homeland security products in key sectors of
information technology, biotechnology, transportation
and food/agro-security.
“We are committed to strengthening our existing network
of public and private resources for homeland
security-related industries in Illinois by building
public and private partnerships with the federal
government and leading companies in Washington, DC,
Northern Virginia and Maryland,” Gov. Blagojevich said.
“Forging stronger ties to the national homeland security
and defense industries will increase opportunities for
Illinois’ businesses to collaborate with firms inside
the Beltway to generate innovative products for the
homeland security market and create more Illinois jobs.”
Private sector activities in Illinois within key
homeland security-related industries and areas of
expertise can be utilized to fuel economic growth. By
showing companies in the Washington, DC metropolitan
area the benefits of bringing their homeland security
business interests to Illinois, Gov. Blagojevich is
helping to increase the state’s capacity as a center of
homeland security research and product development.
“Illinois has great depth in the homeland security
market, and we want Washington DC-area homeland security
and defense companies to be aware of our growing
capacity to be a major source of cutting-edge research
and development for the industry,” DCEO Director Jack
Lavin said. “The goal is to establish productive
partnerships and foster stronger ties with the homeland
defense industry and the state of Illinois.”
Director Lavin will be joined by more than 75 leading
national homeland security and defense industry firms,
federal agencies and representatives of Congress. With
an estimated annual global market value of approximately
$45 billion and growing, the homeland security sector
represents a vibrant growth opportunity for Illinois
businesses, and the potential creation of thousands of
well-paying jobs will make an important contribution to
public protection, emergency preparedness and business
continuity. The U.S. share of that total market value
equates to $23.4 billion with the balance of the market
($19 billion) coming from international activities.
Based on the current market value and expectations for
growth, between now and 2010, the composite value of the
U.S. homeland security market is projected to reach an
estimated $115 billion.
Illinois has been a leader in homeland security
preparedness through the collaborative efforts of the
Illinois Terrorism Task Force in its work with all
sectors of critical infrastructure across the state. The
merging of expertise and experience from the Illinois
Terrorism Task Force, with the identified resources and
demands of the private sector, will continue to
strengthen Illinois’ security and economic capabilities.
Illinois’ businesses are poised to compete with the
creation of innovative new solutions and its favorable
business climate featuring easy-access to robust capital
sources, top-notch universities and research
institutions, a highly skilled and trained workforce and
a strong, diverse business and manufacturing base.
Illinois is taking a market based approach to identify
solutions to solve national homeland security problems,
to help set standards where needed and to more
effectively protect our citizens. Additionally, the
state is at the center of an efficient global
transportation and distribution network providing the
foundation for the homeland security industry.
Featured speaker Dr. David E. Borth, Corporate Vice
President and Chief Technology Officer for Government
and Enterprise Mobility Solutions at Motorola, Inc, will
discuss what corporations like Motorola have to gain by
investing in homeland security and business continuity
planning, as well as the benefits of partnering with
public sector entities.
Guest speaker Richard Cooper, Business Liaison Director
for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Office of
the Private Sector, will address the role of the private
sector in meeting Illinois’ and the nation’s homeland
security needs.
Guest speaker Kevin Mitchell, an aviation system
security expert and Chairman of the Business Travel
Coalition, will discuss why public investments are
crucial to generate innovation in the homeland security
industry.
“The resources and leadership Illinois is committing to
identify areas of need and to provide solutions for
homeland security requirements within the travel and
transportation sector is essential to protecting a vital
part of our nation’s economy,” said Mr. Mitchell. “The
transportation assets of Illinois, and the volume of
travel for both business and tourism conducted in the
state, demonstrates why the public and private sectors
must work together to effectively address the security
needs of our people, our businesses and our
infrastructure assets.”
In an innovative effort to deal with post-9/11 security
issues, Gov. Blagojevich launched an unparalleled
economic development strategy to expand the homeland
security industry in Illinois. Created and staffed
within the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity (DCEO), the Homeland Security Market
Development (HSMD) Bureau attracts, supports and engages
businesses in the homeland security industry. HSMD
offers a variety of financial tools specifically
intended to foster growth in homeland security industry
businesses. The HSMD programs help to build capacity,
develop programs and offer services bringing together
the public and private sector as we collectively address
homeland security needs.
Gov. Blagojevich established a Washington, DC office for
its Homeland Security Market Development Bureau to focus
on the economic development aspects of the homeland
security industry to ensure that Illinois companies have
access to national information required to understand
current and future product/service needs. The office
also provides technical assistance and gateway services
for Illinois business seeking to do business with
federal agencies and works with members of the Illinois
Congressional delegation.
For more information about Illinois’ homeland security
market development strategies and its Washington D.C.
and Chicago offices, please visit
www.hsmd.gov. | 
