I'm skeptical of that claim. The only economies that Chicago is at the middle of in the Midwest are agriculture futures for big ag business and options trading

I'm skeptical of that claim. The only economies that Chicago is at the middle of in the Midwest are agriculture futures for big ag business and options trading for big financial business. Otherwise, Chicago's economic footprint outside of Illinois extends to cover Milwaukee and maybe western Michigan and Indiana. If Illinois suffered an economic collapse I'm pretty sure the futures and options exchanges could be moved out of the city in short order. There are other big cities on Lake Michigan or Superior that can (and do) act as ports that could take over the shipping traffic. What else would be left?