In 1961 Board of Economic Development was created, assuming responsibilities of Department of Registration and Education's Division of Industrial Planning and Development, and State Water Resources and Flood Control Board. It was to plan for state's economic betterment, gather data on economic conditions and factors, encourage new industry to locate in state, act as state's official planning agency and accept forthcoming federal grants, determine areas of critical labor surpluses, approve grants to local and regional agencies which qualified for them under Area Redevelopment Act, cooperate with civic groups and local planning agencies, and recommend legislation relating to economic development. Board also had authority to oversee state's water resources. These responsibilities were transferred to new Department of Business and Economic Development, which was also charged with assisting state businesses in obtaining contracts from federal government and foreign countries and in expanding foreign trade.
Powers and duties of Department of Business and Economic Development were moved to newly created Department of Commerce and Community Affairs. Also, Governor's Office of Manpower and Human Development was abolished and its duties were assumed by new Department, along with some of those of Department of Local Government Affairs, which ceased operation. Department was also mandated to provide central clearing house for information about local government concerns and their solutions and to aid local governments in fiscal matters.
From the description of Administrative assistant's correspondence and working files, 1969-1970. (Illinois State Archive). WorldCat record id: 36743733
