Report: Sears Holdings eyes move to Wasghinton D.C.

Hoffman Estates-based Sears Holdings Inc. is looking at Washington D.C. as a potential site for its headquarters, according to published reports.

The Washington Post quoted unnamed sources that Sears officials began to ask about possible sites in the Washington D.C. area. The Post says Sears is also looking at sites in Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina and Texas.

Last month, Sears began quietly looking to relocated from its sprawling campus in the Prairie Stone Business Park in Hoffman Estates, where it has been since 1988. Officials cited Illinois' business climate as a reason for considering such a move.

Gov. Pat Quinn, who has developed tax deals for companies like Caterpillar and Motorola Mobility to keep them in Illinois, said he is willing to work with Sears to find a deal to keep them in the state.

If Sears does move from Hoffman Estates, it could mean a potential loss of 6,000 jobs with the company and another 9,000 ancillary jobs with nearby businesses, vendors and contractors.