Staff Reports
The corporate world just filed another travel notice: Do it Best Group announced that True Value’s headquarters will be aligned with Do it Best’s world headquarters in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The move is being billed as an operational consolidation after Do it Best bought True Value out of bankruptcy. But for anyone who pays attention to where jobs and companies land, this is another reminder that state policy matters — and voters should too.
What Do it Best actually announced
Do it Best CEO Dan Starr said the Fort Wayne alignment will create a single leadership structure and better support store owners. Indiana Governor Mike Braun showed up to welcome the move, and local officials celebrated the chance for new economic activity. The company framed this as integration after the 2024 acquisition, not as a political protest. The announcement did not list a neat headcount of headquarters jobs that will move, which means the full impact on Illinois jobs and tax revenue is still fuzzy.
Is this about taxes or simply business efficiency?
Companies say they move for many reasons. Do it Best points to operational efficiency and stability. Critics — and yes, President Donald Trump on his platform — point to a broader pattern: people and firms heading away from high‑tax, high‑regulation states toward places like Texas, Florida, and Indiana. The U‑Haul Growth Index is one piece of data showing heavy inflows to low‑tax metros, and it gets cited often when analysts talk about migration and business relocation. Call it a tax tale or an efficiency story; the end result is the same when jobs and payrolls cross a state line.
The Chicago Bears vote: a bellwether, not a fait accompli
High‑profile moves add drama, and the Chicago Bears’ board vote to “advance” a stadium project in Hammond, Indiana, has been waved around as proof that Illinois is losing its grip. That vote is a formal step, not a finished move. Illinois leaders say they’re still trying to keep the team. But whether it’s a hardware chain or an NFL franchise, the common theme is clear: projects that need predictable policy and fair deals will favor states that deliver them.
Bottom line: policy choices have costs
If Illinois leaders are surprised that businesses consider taxes, regulation, and stable budgets when picking headquarters, they haven’t been paying attention. Voters who want jobs, payroll taxes, and local investment would do well to weigh which policies attract firms — and which chase them away. Do it Best’s decision to consolidate in Fort Wayne is an operational move on paper. For Illinois, it’s a wake‑up call in practice. Fix the climate for business, or keep writing the resignation letters on company letterhead.
