Illinois' new economic development plan promotes IT as a crucial industry to spread statewide, especially in rural areas.

A new plan will create $400 million in broadband deployment grants and put $20 million toward the expansion of a high-speed public-sector network.

Cost overruns, security concerns and a refusal to cooperate with the state comptroller were evidently hallmarks of Department of Innovation and Technology's recent history.

To prepare for future innovations, the former Toyota executive says the state needs first to ensure its technology fundamentals are sound.

Ron Guerrier represents the first major hire to a technology office left largely empty at the top by a recent gubernatorial transition.

Acting CIO Jack King, Chief Strategy Officer Shanna Rahming and Tyler Clark, the Department of Innovation and Technology's chief of staff are stepping down.