This Infrastructure & Incentives Update from Business Facilities for site selection decision-makers features news from Illinois, North Dakota, Utah, and Virginia.
Ameren Illinois Launches 2.5MW Solar Array
In mid-October, Ameren Illinois announced that its Solar Energy Center in northwest Peoria has been energized. Located on a 37-acre site, the nearly 5,000 panel array serves 2.5-megawatts of clean power onto the utility’s electric distribution system.
Under the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), Ameren Illinois was permitted to construct and operate solar generation assets in select equity-eligible communities. Along with facilities in East St. Louis, the Peoria Energy Center is just the third generating facility developed by Ameren Illinois in 28 years. Ameren Illinois delivers energy to 1.2 million electric and more than 800,000 natural gas customers throughout central and southern Illinois.
The site features a 1.5MW/4MWh MG series battery energy storage system from ELM MicroGrid, whose business operations are headquartered in Peoria. The system stores excess solar energy generated during periods of peak production and makes that energy available to the grid during periods of peak demand.
“By integrating battery storage with solar generation, the Peoria Solar Energy Center is better managing energy production which supports grid stability and maximizes the benefits of renewable resources,” said Aron Bowman, President, ELM MicroGrid. “This project is especially meaningful to our team because we had the opportunity to work with Azimuth Energy and Ameren Illinois to bring this technology home to Peoria, where ELM’s story began.”
Other project partners include Zeller Electric in Goodfield, Guarantee Electric, and Terra5.
PILOT Incentive Launched In Fargo, North Dakota
The City of Fargo, North Dakota Commission recently approved a revamped Commercial Redevelopment Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) policy. Designed to accelerate the conversion of underutilized commercial properties into high-density assets, the framework offers tax relief for businesses and real estate investors looking to launch new or expansion projects in the region. The custom PILOT policy evaluates applications on a project-by-project basis, focusing on value creation rather than pre-set capital investment minimums.
Fargo’s new policy targets designated urban infill zones, offering up to a 10-year, 100% property tax exemption for qualifying commercial redevelopments. For the incentive, development projects must drive significant density by either building on vacant parcels or doubling the existing housing unit footprint on a site.
While the city has an existing Renaissance Zone incentive for underutilized properties, the new program integrates a housing component into the incentive criteria. Future projects utilizing this commercial PILOT must commit to a 5% workforce housing set-aside, with units capped at 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). This requirement aims to ensure that subsidized developments expand housing options for the local labor pool.
The first move by the city’s commission was to approve an $8.4 million gross tax incentive for the $61.6 million COVE Living mixed-use development.
$5.1B Project Concludes At Salt Lake City International Airport
On October 24, Salt Lake City International Airport celebrated the completion of a 12-year construction project — The New SLC Redevelopment Program. The theme for the celebration was “Gateway to the World,” highlighting the airport’s transformation to a global facility.
Speakers included Airport Executive Director Bill Wyatt, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, Delta Air Lines State and Local Government Affairs Director Sara Gonzales and Artist Gordon Huether. Many of the individuals who attended the 2014 groundbreaking returned for the celebration. They included former and current Salt Lake City Mayors, Salt Lake City Council members, the airport’s past and present executive directors, Airport Advisory Board members and The New SLC’s construction director.
The New SLC Redevelopment Program broke ground in July 2014. The construction replaced three aging terminals with a state-of-the-art facility central terminal and two linear concourses. Phase 1 opened in September 2020, Phase 2 opened in October 2023, and Phase 3 opened in October 2024. Four gates opened in July 2026, and the remaining seven gates and six concessions open on October 27, with a total of 101 concessions and 94 aircraft gates. The cost of The New SLC is $5.1 billion.
Nearly 25,000 craft workers were employed during the redevelopment program working in more than 18 million craft hours.
The final section of Concourse B-east opened to the public on October 27. The approx. 132,000-square-foot addition includes seven new gates and six new concessions. Five of the gates will be occupied by United Airlines and two will be common-use gates. The concessions are a mix of local and national brands.
Top Employers For InternshipsVA Program
Governor Abigail Spanberger recognized Virginia’s Top Employers for Interns — businesses in the InternshipsVA program that are leading the way in offering high-quality internship experiences to students across the Commonwealth. Launched by Gov. Spanberger in February 2026, InternshipsVA helps Virginia employers design and deploy paid internships for students to expand economic opportunity, strengthen workforce development, and set the next generation up for success.
Three statewide winners — representing small, medium, and large businesses — were recognized:
- Overhead Solutions Group in Norfolk, VA (Small Business)
- Triple Point Security in Blacksburg, VA (Mid-Size Business)
- Atlantic Union Bank in Richmond, VA (Large Business)
Governor Spanberger recently celebrated InternshipsVA receiving national recognition from Business Facilities Magazine. The program was recognized with a 2026 Economic Development Organization Award as an innovative economic development program that helps communities attract business investment, create jobs, and strengthen workforce development.
The awards were presented during the 2026 Virginia Education and Workforce Conference.
“As a Top State for Talent, Virginia is committed to helping employers connect with talented students and young professionals, and InternshipsVA is turning those connections into opportunities for future growth,” said Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) President and CEO Jason El Koubi. “The employers recognized have shown an exceptional commitment to developing talent through high-quality internship experiences. Their leadership is creating opportunities for Virginians and strengthening the Commonwealth’s talent pipeline for years to come.”
Regional honorees from across the Commonwealth were recognized with the Innovative Employers Award for extraordinary internship programs and with the Inspiring Employers Award, which recognized established programs with longstanding support for interns’ career readiness. The full list of honorees can be accessed here.
Since its launch in February 2026, InternshipsVA has engaged more than 700 employers and partners, trained more than 500 employers in how to establish a high-quality internship program, and supported 845 internships with more than 290 employers through its matching grant.
