Skip to content
ProPublica Donate
ProPublica Donate
Politics

At a Great Price

The True Cost of the Sears Headquarters Deal

The historic $500 million Sears deal with Illinois was one of the United States’ first major tax incentive agreements to relocate a corporate headquarters — but in almost every way, it failed to deliver on what was promised.

6 stories published since 2020

The Big Empty: How Corporate Headquarters Have Abandoned America’s Suburbs

by David Bernstein for The Daily Herald,

Sears Helped Build a Giant Entertainment Arena. Now, a Suburb Pays Millions to Keep It Running.

by David Bernstein for The Daily Herald,

Nearing Bankruptcy, Sears Claimed Fast-Food Workers and Baristas as Employees to Keep Tax Breaks

by David Bernstein for The Daily Herald,

The Sears Headquarters Deal Cost Taxpayers $500 Million. 30 Years Later, There’s Little to Show for It.

by David Bernstein for The Daily Herald,

Sears’ Headquarters Was Supposed to Turn a Sleepy Suburb Into a Boomtown. It Never Happened.

by David Bernstein for The Daily Herald,

How We Reported on the $500 Million Sears Deal

by ProPublica,

What We’re Watching

During Donald Trump’s second presidency, ProPublica will focus on the areas most in need of scrutiny. Here are some of the issues our reporters will be watching — and how to get in touch with them securely.

Learn more about our reporting team. We will continue to share our areas of interest as the news develops.

Photo of Sharon Lerner
Sharon Lerner

I cover health and the environment and the agencies that govern them, including the Environmental Protection Agency.

Photo of Andy Kroll
Andy Kroll

I cover justice and the rule of law, including the Justice Department, U.S. attorneys and the courts.

Photo of Melissa Sanchez
Melissa Sanchez

I report on immigration and labor, and I am based in Chicago.

Photo of Jesse Coburn
Jesse Coburn

I cover housing and transportation, including the companies working in those fields and the regulators overseeing them.

If you don’t have a specific tip or story in mind, we could still use your help. Sign up to be a member of our federal worker source network to stay in touch.

We’re trying something new. Was it helpful?

Most Read
    Power Struggle

    Liberal Oregon and Washington Vowed to Pioneer Green Energy. Almost Every Other State Is Beating Them.

    The Northwest states passed aggressive goals to decarbonize the power supply but left it to the Bonneville Power Administration to build the transmission lines needed for wind and solar. The agency hasn’t delivered.

    by Tony Schick and Monica Samayoa, Oregon Public Broadcasting,

    Local Reporting Network

    The Price of Remission

    When I was diagnosed with cancer, I set out to understand why a single pill of Revlimid cost the same as a new iPhone. I’ve covered high drug prices as a reporter for years. What I discovered shocked even me.

    by David Armstrong,

    The DEA Once Touted Body Cameras for Their “Enhanced Transparency.” Now the Agency Is Abandoning Them.

    An internal email obtained by ProPublica said the agency made the change to be “consistent” with a Trump executive order. But at least two other federal law enforcement agencies are still requiring body cameras.

    by Mario Ariza,

    The Ugly Truth

    “Incalculable” Damage: How a “We Buy Ugly Houses” Franchise Left a Trail of Financial Wreckage Across Texas

    Charles Carrier is accused of orchestrating a yearslong Ponzi scheme, bilking tens of millions of dollars from both wealthy investors and older people with modest incomes. Despite signs of trouble, HomeVestors didn’t intervene.

    by Anjeanette Damon and Mollie Simon,

    Why Do Americans Pay More for Prescription Drugs?

    Drug companies in the U.S. face few restraints on what to charge for their products. A bipartisan bill would penalize those companies that sell their drugs at higher prices than the average of the prices in other wealthy nations.

    by David Armstrong,