Monarch Butterflies-National Learn about Butterflies Day!

On March 14, communities and nature enthusiasts come together to celebrate National Learn about Butterflies Day.

This special day is dedicated to exploring and appreciating butterflies, the delicate creatures that add beauty and color to our world.

In our great state, the monarch butterfly is the official state insect. There are four main stages in the life cycle of a monarch butterfly: egg, larva, pupa and adult. The entire process usually takes one to two months, although it can vary depending on the species. Adult butterflies typically live for about two to four weeks, although some species can live for up to a year.

Additionally, this butterfly has a wingspan of three and one-fourth to four and seven-eighths inches. The male has bright orange wings with black veins and black edging. The black border contains two rows of white spots. The female is dull orange with scales along the black veins. The body and antennae are black. The front legs are small and not used for walking. The caterpillar has rings of yellow, black and ivory on each segment and black and white stripes on the head.

They spend winters in central Mexico or the Gulf of Mexico. The monarchs that return in the spring are not the ones that migrated south but are their offspring. The larva eats milkweeds, which is our state wildflower, and adult monarchs visit flowers for nectar.

To learn more about the monarch butterfly, visit the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ website.

From Dublin to Chicago: the history of Irish Heritage in Illinois

Did you know Illinois has the seventh largest Irish population in the U.S.?

The rich history of Irish Heritage and culture in America began in the 18^th century, but grew largely in the 1820s, when more than half a million Irish Immigrants first arrived, many coming to Illinois. Besides Chicago, the early 19^th century wave of Irish immigrants settled largely in Randolph County, Gallatin County and Cairo. In the 1850s, the number of Irish in Illinois grew from around 20,000, to over 80,000.

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Celebrating Women’s History Month: Ida B. Wells

Did you know that the month of March is Women’s History Month? Illinois has been home to its fair share of amazing historical women figures, including activist Ida B. Wells.

Born in Mississippi in 1862, Ida was a prominent investigative journalist, educator, women’s suffragist, socialist and early leader in the civil rights movement, being one of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

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Site Selection Magazine names Illinois and Chicago as top U.S. destinations for corporate expansion and relocation

Site Selection Magazine – an international industry-leading business publication – released its annual corporate expansion and relocation rankings, naming Illinois No. 2 in the nation for corporate projects for the third consecutive year, and Chicago the Top Metro for the 12th year in a row.

Illinois saw 664 business expansion or relocation projects in 2024 (up from 552 in 2023).

Companies that located or expanded throughout Illinois in 2024 include:

• PsiQuantum: Serving as the anchor tenant of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, creating at least 150 new jobs and $1.09 billion in capital investment.

• Sysmex America, Inc.: Growing its operations in northeast Illinois, creating 110 new full-time jobs and retaining nearly 550 existing jobs through a $20.6 million investment.

• Aluflexpack AG: Expanding its operations to Bolingbrook with a $10 million investment and 30 new full-time jobs.

• Wieland Rolled Products North America: Investing $500 million, reinforcing its long-term commitment to six facilities across the state.

• Bedrock Materials: Locating its research and development headquarters in Chicago and plans to expand its footprint in Illinois with a $2.5 million investment.

• Ymer Technology: Opened its U.S. headquarters in Buffalo Grove with a $5.7 million investment.

In order to qualify, projects must meet one or more of these criteria: investment of $1 million or more, creation of 20 or more new jobs, or 20,000 square feet or more of new space.

Illinois’ strong fiscal growth has laid the foundation for continued growth in key industries outlined in Illinois’ Economic Growth Plan. With these targeted investments, the state is becoming a nation-leader in emerging industries including quantum technology, electric vehicle manufacturing, clean energy production, next-generation agriculture and more.