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Jean Anne Grunloh and Brian MoodyECIDC Executive Director ECIDC Vice President

Presented to

23rd Annual Rural Community Economic Development ConferenceMarch 7, 2012Peoria, Illinois

Downstate Summit: Creating a Common Voice

Overview

• Who is ECIDC and Why Did We Host a Downstate Summit?

• Who Were Our State-Wide Partners and Sponsors?

• Results from the Inaugural Event

• Motivations for On-Going Collaboration

• What is Being Done to Carry Forward the Initiative?

• How Can you Add your Voice to Downstate?

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Who is ECIDC?

Why Hold a Downstate Meeting?

• Support revitalization of a Downstate Caucus• Bring together development leaders to find a

common voice on key economic development issues

• Develop a “pro” Illinois message

“Invent your future. If you don’t someone else will. You can count on it.” ~ Lou Tice

Statewide Partners

• Guest Speakers• Event Sponsors• Key Development Issues

Motivations for Collaboration

• Continued Population Declines in Downstate Rural

• Rural Areas will Lose Representation

• Non-metro Depends on Metro for Jobs

• Elderly Need Access to Health Care

• Youth Desire Access to High-Paying Employment

• Metro Businesses Rely on Non-metro for Customers

• Metro Businesses Need Dependable Work Force

• Difficult for Small Governments to Provide Services

• Small Governments Benefit from Regional Economies of Scale

04/20/23 6Center for Governmental Studies

Who Attended?

Downstate Summit Attendees were Surveyed for:

• Need for a downstate meeting• Top three economic development issues• Value of Supporting a Downstate Caucus• Importance of Collaboration • Use and Value of TIF Districts• Use and Value of Enterprise Zones• Willingness to serve on a task force

Survey Results -Executive Summary Available at:

Survey Results - Key Takeaways• Need for a downstate meeting

– 100% of respondents requested annual event

• Top economic development issues– Lack of skilled workforce– Continued population decline– Adequate infrastructure– Job creation is key

• Value of Supporting a Downstate Caucus– 100% of respondents supported revitalization of bipartisan downstate

caucus

Survey Results - Key Takeaways• Importance of Collaboration

– Opportunity exists for more meaningful collaboration between communities and regions of the state

• TIF Districts vital tool for rural communities– Effective to stimulate economic development– Average project ranging from $100,000 - $1,000,000

• Enterprise Zones instrumental for many– 58% of EZ communities to be negatively impacted within 5 years

without extension of legislation – 47% in less than 2 years

• Willingness to serve on a task force– 125 volunteered for future committees

Making Illinois More Competitive:Summit Breakout Session

• Form sub-groups to develop action items• Positive narratives and better collaboration in

marketing and messaging• Communicate to legislators vital role of TIF

and EZ in downstate communities• Develop regional strategic initiatives • Identify effective models and align existing

organizations and groups

Making Illinois More CompetitiveTask Force - Next Steps

• Host meeting of volunteers for committee• Identify assets & resources of volunteers• Link & leverage to create new opportunities• Develop initial Strategic Action Plan and

various Strategic Initiatives to implement action

What’s Ahead?

• Steering Committee• Task Force Chairs

– Steering, Communications, Enterprise Zones, TIF and Making Illinois More Competitive

• 2nd Annual Meeting, Fall 2012– Look for more details to come

“Education – Leadership – Action”

How Can You Add Your Voice?• Visit downstatevoice.org and create a user

account (help us build a data base of downstate leaders)

• Join a Task Force • Communicate a Pro-Illinois Message – Share

Success Stories• Attend the Fall 2012 Downstate Meeting• Encourage your legislators to Revitalize a

Downstate Caucus

Questions?

For Further Information

Contact:

East Central Illinois Development Corporation1204 Network Center, Effingham, IL 62401

217-540-3517www.ecidc.com or downstatevoice.org

Jean Anne Grunloh Brian MoodyECIDC Executive Director ECIDC Vice President & jgrunloh@lakeland.cc.il.us Executive Director, Tuscola Economic Dev. Inc. brian.moody@tuscola.org