05.11.11

Durbin Urges Sears to Remain in Illinois

Senator cites Illinois' long history with company and pledges to support Illinois businesses in Congress

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) urged Sears Holding Corp. to remain at its headquarters in Hoffman Estates, Illinois and offered assistance as Sears’ evaluation process moves forward. Citing the company’s long history with Illinois and the 6,000 people employed at its headquarters, Durbin encouraged the President and CEO of Sears, Louis D’Ambrosio, to look for ways to continue to grow that partnership.

“Sears has had a long history with Illinois beginning with Sears and Roebuck establishing its Chicago office in 1887, followed by the first retail store opening in 1925, and the iconic Sears tower that dominated the Chicago skyline. The partnership between Sears and Illinois has played an important role in the region for well over a century,” wrote Durbin. “I urge you to consider the merits of the current location in Hoffman Estates and let me or my office know if I can be of any assistance as the evaluation process moves forward.”

In the letter, Durbin also pledged to do what he can at the federal level to help businesses in Illinois: “I will continue working to bring reasonable reform to the interchange fee system, I will soon introduce the Main Street Fairness Act to ensure Sears’ brick and mortar stores can compete fairly with online retailers, and I will continue working to pass the Unemployment Insurance Solvency Act which would prevent automatic tax increases for businesses such as Sears.”

The text of the letter appears below:


May 10, 2011

Louis J. D'Ambrosio
President & Chief Executive Officer
Sears Holding Corporation
3333 Beverly Road
Hoffman Estates, IL 60179

Dear Mr. D’Ambrosio:

I am writing to encourage you to keep Sears Holding Corp. (Sears) headquartered and growing in Illinois.

It has recently come to my attention that Sears is considering relocating from the current headquarters in Hoffman Estates to another location outside of Illinois. I urge you to consider the merits of the current location in Hoffman Estates and let me or my office know if I can be of any assistance as the evaluation process moves forward.

For my part, I will continue working at the federal level to help businesses in Illinois. For example, I will continue working to bring reasonable reform to the interchange fee system, I will soon introduce the Main Street Fairness Act to ensure Sears’ brick and mortar stores can compete fairly with online retailers, and I will continue working to pass the Unemployment Insurance Solvency Act which would prevent automatic tax increases for businesses such as Sears.

Sears has had a long history with Illinois beginning with Sears and Roebuck establishing its Chicago office in 1887, followed by the first retail store opening in 1925, and the iconic Sears tower that dominated the Chicago skyline. The partnership between Sears and Illinois has played an important role in the region for well over a century. Your company employs more than 6,000 in Hoffman Estates headquarters alone. It is with the long history of partnership between Sears, Illinois, and Illinois workers in mind that I encourage you to look for ways to continue and grow our partnership moving forward.

Thank you for your time and attention this matter.

Respectfully,
Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator