Promote:
Find public support
The organizations that help companies export from and invest in Illinois, grouped by what you need. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
1. Where to start
OTI, DCEO and Illinois SBDC Trade Centers: the guide’s first stops, of the 14 organizations below.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
- Get advice
State trade and investment office
OTI
Office of Trade and Investment, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Runs the Illinois State Trade and Export Promotion program and helps foreign companies invest, locate or expand in Illinois.
Visit OTI (opens in a new tab)Source: DCEO, International Business Services page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Get advice
State economic development agency
DCEO
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Administers the state's business tax credits and incentives, among them EDGE, AIM and a data centers program.
Visit DCEO (opens in a new tab)Source: DCEO, Incentives and Tax Credits page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
SBDC export advising network
Illinois SBDC Trade Centers
Illinois SBDC International Trade Centers
Gives no-cost, confidential export advising on strategy, market research, pricing, payment risk, compliance and financing at seven centers.
Visit Illinois SBDC Trade Centers (opens in a new tab)Source: Illinois SBDC network, International Trade Centers page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
2. Export development and market information
4 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Get advice
State trade and investment office
OTI
Office of Trade and Investment, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Runs the Illinois State Trade and Export Promotion program and helps foreign companies invest, locate or expand in Illinois.
Visit OTI (opens in a new tab)Source: DCEO, International Business Services page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
SBDC export advising network
Illinois SBDC Trade Centers
Illinois SBDC International Trade Centers
Gives no-cost, confidential export advising on strategy, market research, pricing, payment risk, compliance and financing at seven centers.
Visit Illinois SBDC Trade Centers (opens in a new tab)Source: Illinois SBDC network, International Trade Centers page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
University export advising center
SIUE Trade Center
Illinois SBDC International Trade Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Gives no-cost export advising to small businesses in the region and helps clients with market contacts, export finance and ISTEP reimbursement.
Visit SIUE Trade Center (opens in a new tab)Source: SIUE, SBDC International Trade Center home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Find finance
Federal export credit agency
EXIM
Export-Import Bank of the United States
Offers export credit insurance, working capital loan guarantees and financing for foreign buyers through its Central regional office in Chicago.
Visit EXIM (opens in a new tab)Source: EXIM, Regional Export Finance Centers page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
3. Investment and business setup
2 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Get advice
State economic development agency
DCEO
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Administers the state's business tax credits and incentives, among them EDGE, AIM and a data centers program.
Visit DCEO (opens in a new tab)Source: DCEO, Incentives and Tax Credits page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
State unemployment insurance agency
IDES
Illinois Department of Employment Security
Registers employers for unemployment insurance and publishes each year's contribution rates and wage base.
Visit IDES (opens in a new tab)Source: IDES, Unemployment Taxes and Reporting page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
4. Customs and tax
3 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Meet requirements
State tax authority
IDOR
Illinois Department of Revenue
Registers businesses for state taxes through MyTax Illinois and publishes guides to corporate income, replacement, sales and withholding taxes.
Visit IDOR (opens in a new tab)Source: IDOR, Business Registration page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Meet requirements
Port authority
IIPD
Illinois International Port District
Owns the Port of Chicago's Iroquois Landing and Lake Calumet terminals and offers ship, barge and rail access.
Visit IIPD (opens in a new tab)Source: IIPD, About page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Meet requirements
Port authority
America's Central Port
Runs the river and rail port at Granite City and administers Foreign-Trade Zone 31 across a 12-county service area.
Visit America's Central Port (opens in a new tab)Source: America's Central Port, Foreign Trade Zone 31 page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
5. Standards and sector requirements
3 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Meet requirements
State agriculture department
IDOA
Illinois Department of Agriculture
Promotes Illinois food and agribusiness exports and keeps international offices in Hong Kong and Mexico City.
Visit IDOA (opens in a new tab)Source: IDOA, International Marketing page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Meet requirements
State licensing and financial regulator
IDFPR
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Issues professional licenses, with new applications filed through its CORE online system.
Visit IDFPR (opens in a new tab)Source: IDFPR, Hub page with 2025 licensing results (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Meet requirements
State insurance regulator
IDOI
Illinois Department of Insurance
Licenses insurance companies and producers and regulates the insurance market and financial solvency.
Visit IDOI (opens in a new tab)Source: IDOI, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
6. Chambers and industry associations
2 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Get advice
State chamber of commerce
Illinois Chamber
Illinois Chamber of Commerce
Runs an International Business Council and hosts international business events for member companies.
Visit Illinois Chamber (opens in a new tab)Source: Illinois Chamber, International Business Events, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Get advice
District export council
Illinois DEC
Illinois District Export Council
Its members, business leaders appointed by the Secretary of Commerce, give smaller companies volunteer export advice and take part in trade promotion.
Visit Illinois DEC (opens in a new tab)Source: ITA, Commercial Service Illinois local partners page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
7. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare potential export marketsSee which markets import what you sell, ranked on public trade data, and read each country before you commit.
- Check duties and document requirementsCheck the duty, the origin conditions for a preferential rate and the documents a shipment needs.
- Compare the United States with other countriesSet the United States beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your Illinois project.
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Promote:Illinois is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 3, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.