27,000 hired in Illinois through federal tax credit

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Updated: January 18, 2012 12:04PM

Illinois businesses hired more than 27,000 individuals and qualified for $67 million in income tax credits last year through the Work Opportunity Tax Credit program, the Illinois Department of Employment Security said Tuesday.

The agency administers the federal program, which provides credits to business owners who hire from historically disenfranchised groups. Those groups include individuals receiving state financial assistance, qualified military veterans and qualified ex-felons, certain disabled individuals, youth and certain individuals who live in renewal zones.

The tax incentives range from $2,400 in one year up to $9,600 over two years.

“This valuable program helps a business owner improve the bottom line and offers a hand up to those who want to make a better life for themselves and their family,” IDES director Jay Rowell said in a statement.