Several Northwest Indiana groups are gearing up to take a piece of Illinois' economic pie.
Last week, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed off on series of tax increases in order to close an $8 billion budget deficit, and residents and businesses are not pleased.
Northwest Indiana Forum marketing and communications direction Karen Lauerman said a number of regional groups are collaborating on an advertising campaign that could lure businesses over the border.
Groups participating include the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority and the Construction Advancement Foundation in Portage.
"We're discussing exactly how to directly attack the Illinois tax structure and bring businesses to Indiana," said South Shore CVA President Speros Batistatos. "We can bring companies to Indiana with minimal impact."
Lauerman attended an industrial trade show on Tuesday in Chicago, where she spoke to several business owners.
"We've received many inquiries from businesses interested in learning more about the state, but not necessarily deciding to move yet," she said.
Lauerman said businesses are interested to learn about Indiana's business climate and the region's proximity to Chicago.
"It's a definite advantage for us," Lauerman said. "Obviously, Indiana offers a lower cost of doing business -- lower taxes and tax exemptions."
Governors in neighboring states crowed, with Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels comparing Illinois to "The Simpsons."
Indianapolis officials made the first overture to the Land of Lincoln on Tuesday, placing advertisements in several Illinois publications that noted the lower taxes in the Hoosier state.
Lauerman said Northwest Indiana is positioned well to benefit from the situation.
"We have the advantage of location," Lauerman said. "You have the reduced costs yet you still have access to Chicago."
Some economic experts are skeptical highways will be packed with moving vans as businesses leave Illinois. Income taxes are just one piece of the puzzle when businesses decide where to locate or expand, they said, and states should be cooperating instead trying to poach jobs from one another.
"The idea of competing on state tax rates is ... hopelessly out of date," said Ed Morrison, economic policy adviser at the Purdue Center for Regional Development. "It demonstrates that political leadership is really out of step with what the global competitive realities are."
Illinois' governor rejected the idea that the increase would allow other states to lure jobs away.
"Lots of luck to them, but that's not going to happen," Quinn said at a news conference last week.
Businesses look at more than taxes when making financial decisions, Quinn said. They also look at whether state government is stable and able to provide good roads and schools.
"It's important for their state government not to be a fiscal basket case," Quinn said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.