Naperville has been ranked the No. 1 city to live in America for the second year in a row according to Niche rankings top 50 best places in America to live.

Niche surveyed over 50,000suburbs and neighborhoods to find the best places to live in the U.S.  On top of best city to live, Naperville was ranked first in cities to buy a home, raise a family and best public schools. Coming with the territory Naperville also was selected as best place to live in Illinois.

Naperville, founded in 1831 originally as Naper’s Settlement, experienced a population boom in the 1980s and 1990s. This boom was largely attributable to its location within the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor. Companies like Nokia, BP, Nicor, Edward Hospital, Kraft Foods and ConAgra have labs and offices in Naperville.

The city boasts a robust library system, art and film festivals, historical preservation and recreation through the Naperville Park District. Naperville even boasts a river walk and Centennial Beach, a quarry turned swimming hole. Naperville also contains several colleges and university satellite campuses including College of DuPage Community College, Devry administrative headquarters, Northern Illinois University satellite campus and Indiana tech.

The city has attracted many young professionals and families and is sure to continue growing in the coming years. The other top five cities to live in Illinois are Clarendon Hills, Hinsdale, Vernon Hills, and Kildeer. The remainder of the top 20 were Chicago neighborhoods, suburbs and towns in northern Illinois.

Last year, Illinois made monumental economic developments, particularly one that brings the state to the forefront of a premier technological industry. Last summer, the state announced a major Manufacturing Illinois Chips for Real Opportunity Act agreement with PsiQuantum – a leading quantum computing company set to build the first practical, error-corrected quantum computer at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park in Chicago.

Quantum computing is emerging as a cutting-edge sector of computer science that focuses on solving large problems through the use of quantum mechanics. Quantum computers, as opposed to normal super computers, use qubits instead of bits to store information and process the data differently. These computers can solve problems on a grander scale much faster than classical computers by testing multiple potential solutions simultaneously and measuring the probability of finding the best outcome.

Illinois is a state that embodies innovation, craft, surprise and creativity, so it is no surprise that 2.16 million international travelers visited the state in 2023. This boosted the Illinois economy by nearly $2.7 billion, a 47% increase from the previous year.

In 2023, Illinois welcomed visitors from Canada, Mexico, India, the UK, Germany and many other countries. This vast increase in international tourism shows a growing global appeal of Illinois. 

Illinois is full of attractions. The state boasts beautiful state parks including Matthiessen, Garden of the Gods and Starved Rock, attractions such as  Henson Robinson Zoo, Grady’s Park and Sea Lion Aquatic Park, and museums like the Art Institute of Chicago, The Schweikher House and Curiosity Museum.

Illinois has been named the number one leader for workforce development in the Midwest region for the second year in a row!

The Site Selection magazine ranking annually recognizes states that performed well given their employment climate, listing Illinois first for the state’s dedication toward creating high quality jobs.

Illinois' workforce development has consistently evolved in equity and innovation, including apprenticeship programs at every level and has over 400 registered apprenticeship programs for more than 20,000 active apprentices.

Under these apprenticeships, Illinois has focused seven key elements to ensure that every applicant receives high quality development with a focus on their career path including: diversity, quality and safety, supplemental education, being a paid job, industry led, able to earn credentials, and structured on-the-job learning/mentorship. With these categories in mind, Illinois has covered the essential bases for every apprenticeship to be a success story.

Workforce development programs have grown expeditiously in Illinois, focusing on access to certification programs, custom training programs, apprenticeships and sponsored college degrees.

One such program that has provided countless providers to work with is the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program, which has increased access to good-paying jobs in the trades since 2021.

Under this program, support services are also available based on the participant’s needs including mental health counseling, housing assistance, childcare, transportation assistance, and math and reading tutoring to ensure every Illinoisan is given an equal opportunity to develop and focus on their career path.

For a complete list of Pre-Apprenticeship Program Providers visit the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity website.

Looking for a great place to enjoy holiday cheer? Look no further! Last holiday season Chicago’s Christkindlmarket was ranked the third best holiday market in the U.S. in 2021 by U.S Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards. This year the market is expected to not only maintain, but exceed expectations. Established in 1996 by the German American Events, LLC, the Chicago market plays host to international and local vendors, supplying a unique array of items for all visitors. The market is located in the Daley Plaza of downtown Chicago, and the German-style outdoor market has become so popular multiple locations in Aurora and Wrigleyville have been added over the years. This year the market will run from Nov. 18 – Dec. 24, Sundays – Thursdays: a.m. – 8 p.m. and Fridays – Saturdays: 11a.m. – 9 p.m.  

History of the market goes all the way back to 16^th century Germany, where in Nuremberg the first Christkindlmarket was established. It was the first outdoor market of its kind. The Chicago market takes inspiration from Nuremberg. Every year Chicago, and its Aurora and Wrigleyville counterparts, seek to unite German and European tradition and support local and international vendors. The markets in Illinois are known for their high quality of vendor food, drinks, gifts and holiday cheer. For over 20 years now, the Chicago Christkindlmarket has been a haven for creating fun and unique family memories during the holidays.

Items that can be found at the vendors storefronts include things like Christmas ornaments from Bavarian Tradition, Belgian hot chocolate blends from Bob’s Hot Chocolate, olive wood handcrafted items like music boxes from Bethlehem Nativity, or handcrafted bags and wallets from Ecodunia. If shoppers cannot wait for the markets to open to buy these wonderful items, they can even buy them online. Illinois’ Christkindlmarkets are a staple of the holiday season in the state and they create memories that last a lifetime.

To learn more about all three Christkindlmarkets located in Illinois, and to shop from their vendors online, you can visit here.