Put down roots and grow your business

… in our supportive and progressive communities

Jacksonville is 40 minutes from Springfield, under two hours from St. Louis and 3½ hours from Chicago. Our central location on the I-72 and US-67 Corridors make us ideal for businesses looking to move products throughout the country. This is why our region is home to major food processing and agricultural businesses, along with high-tech manufacturing companies.

Families and young professionals love everything the Jacksonville region has to offer. Here, you can find high-paying jobs with upward mobility, enjoy live free concerts, shopping, dining and the arts, or spend time outdoors fishing, hiking, hunting and boating. Our region is also home to good school systems, a liberal arts college and two community colleges – all providing incredible educational opportunities close to home.

The JREDC is here to help you discover why the Jacksonville region is the right place to put down roots and grow a business.

Great For Business!

The Jacksonville Region has the potential to be at the epicenter of Illinois distribution between Missouri and Indiana. Other major markets throughout the Midwest and rapidly growing South Central U.S. are within an eight-hour drive. This places the Jacksonville Region within one-day’s drive of 50% of U.S. manufacturers. Chicago, Indianapolis, Kansas City and St. Louis are all well within 275 miles of Jacksonville.

Community

Beautiful Parks

We are home to Lake Jacksonville, voted the #1 Bass Fishing Lake in Illinois; Godfrey Park, a fully accessible park; the Leonhard Sanctuary and Trail; a sportsman’s club; and a variety of parks, lakes, rivers and hunting grounds.

Outdoor Activities

Enjoy hiking, hunting, fishing, swimming and more. Outdoorsmen, families and nature-lovers enjoy living in our region for the many opportunities to enjoy outdoor hobbies and to reach them quickly.

Vibrant Art Scene

Though our communities are smaller than nearby metropolitan areas, we are not small on culture or entertainment. Here, you can find the only Lincoln-area governor’s mansion outside the state capital, the Strawn Art Gallery, Woodland Farm Underground Railroad Site, Illinois College TheatreWorks, the Jacksonville Symphony Society and enough events to keep busy year-round.

Shopping, Dining, Live Music, and More

Love exploring boutique shops with one-of-a-kind treasures? Or, prefer major shopping centers with everything from lawn ornaments to the latest fashions? Whatever you want, you’ll find it here.