REALTORS® helped sell the benefits of Illinois to international decision makers during the Select USA Investment Summit in Washington, D.C.

Team Illinois included representatives from Intersect Illinois, the Illinois Department of Commerce Office of Trade and Investment and local economic development agencies and utilities.

The U.S. Department of Commerce organizes the annual event. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and corporate leaders spoke about the advantages of investing and conducting business in the United States. “The U.S. is the place for your investment to succeed,” said Pompeo.

At the event expo, Team Illinois highlighted assets that international investors seek. Erik Brejla, assistant deputy director for foreign direct investment said, “Illinois REALTORS® bring an amazing component to Team Illinois that helps us showcase the wide array of real estate solutions foreign investors are looking for, which is exceedingly critical.”

Even though the headlines can be a bit hard on the state, and we do have our challenges, our benefits certainly outweigh our setbacks. Illinois is a leader in technology, agriculture, financial services and engineering education.

Illinois REALTORS® President Matt Difanis and Director of Global Business Sharon Gorrell worked the booth and spoke with investors from Poland, Japan, Ghana and more. They also shared demographic and trade area reports from the Realtors Property Resource® with economic development professionals and decision makers. Kelly Nicholl, chief marketing officer of Intersect Illinois said, “Illinois REALTORS® was an integral component to the full scope of concierge services we wanted to provide investors at the event. Our goal is to make the investors’ experience as seamless as possible when choosing Illinois as their place to do business. Illinois REALTORS® helps us do that.”

“In addition to increasing awareness that foreign direct investment almost always involves the expertise of REALTORS®,” said Difanis, “our participation with the Intersect Illinois team provided us a valuable opportunity to forge and strengthen logical ties between REALTORS® and state, regional and local economic development organizations. Economic development is solidly within the REALTORS®’ wheelhouse.”

“It was great to have our friends from Illinois Realtors® join Team Illinois for this year’s Select USA,” said Lisa Miceli, vice president for economic development, Choose DuPage. “They were a great resource for the visiting companies and a nice addition to our well-represented foreign direct investment team!”