Canton, IllinoisBusiness incentives. Quality of life. Available workforce.

Spoon River Partnership for Economic Development

The Spoon River Partnership for Economic Development (SRPED) is the lead agency in the Canton area focusing on community and economic development. We are a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. The SRPED actively works with the City of Canton, the

Chamber of Commerce, Canton Main Street, Spoon River College, Fulton County and other local and regional stakeholders to promote economic development within the Canton area. We are here to help you achieve your goals as a business. Whether you are relocating or expanding your business to Canton, we will address your business needs, form professional partnerships and deliver success.

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Welcome to Canton, Illinois

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Table of Contents

About Canton, Illinois ...................................... 4-5

What Canton Can Offer You ...............................6

Fast Facts ..............................................................7

Downtown & Fifth Avenue TIF District ............. 8-9

Route 9 & Chestnut Street TIF District .......... 10-11

Canton 3 TIF District ..................................... 12-13

Enterprise Zone ............................................ 14-15

Retail Environment .............................................16

A Special Quality of Life .............................. 17-19

Economic Development Resources ................19

Missy ToweryExecutive Director

Spoon River Partnership for Economic Development

Carla BobellExecutive Director

Canton AreaChamber of Commerce

Amanda WoodruffMarketing & Tourism Coordinator

Spoon River Partnership for Economic Development

A perfect location to build or expand your business, with amenities that may surprise you.Canton is a vibrant, thriving city rich in history and full of traditions. Located in West Central Illinois, Canton has enjoyed unprecedented growth in the past several years and we invite you to be a part of that expansion. Located within minutes of larger metropolitan areas like Peoria—home to renowned Bradley University—Canton combines an engaged local goverment, highly progressive local educational institutions, an outstanding pool of available workers and a strong determination to succeed. We are open for business.

Home to Spoon River College, Graham Hospital, acres of beautiful parklands and an excellent school system, we offer many key amenities not usually found in smaller communities. In Canton, we believe that we have whatever you are looking for in an exceptional community.

Utilities

Electric Supplier: Ameren Illinois Spoon River Co-Op

Gas Supplier: Ameren Illinois

Local Telephone Supplier: AT&T Mid Century Communications

Long Distance: AT&T Ameritech

Digital Switching AvailableFiber Optics Available

Health Services

HospitalsGraham Hospital

24-Hour Emergency Room/LifeFlightExtended Care/Home Health CareRehabilitation Services

ClinicsGraham Medical GroupUnity Point Clinic- CantonHealth & Wellness Clinic of Fulton County

Educational Institutions

Canton Union School District:Three Elementary SchoolsMiddle SchoolHigh School

Spoon River College (Four Campuses):CantonHavanaMacombRushville

Graham Hospital School of NursingInnovation Design Academy

Canton is within 40 minutes of two major institutions: Western Illinois University in Macomb; Bradley University in Peoria.

Employment & Workforce StatisticsLargest Employers

Employer #EmployeesUnionAffiliationGraham Health System 733 NoneIL River Correctional Cntr 437 AFSMECanton School District 345 IEA/NEAFulton County 239 N/A Spoon River College 140 SRCFA/SRCCPA HyVee Food Store 165 NoneCOOK 215 None WalMart 142 None City of Canton 90 AFSME/IAFFRenaissance Care Center 145 NoneMidAmerica National Bank 115 None Labor Force

Summary for Fulton CountyTotal Labor Force 15,224Total Employed 14,273Manufacturing 3.94%Non-Manufacturing 86.06%

Wage Rates

Wage rates for experienced workers in selected occupations working in the Peoria MSA Region.

Asabusiness,youneedtoknowthefactsaboutanycommunityyoumightconsiderwhenchoosingyourfirstlocation, or expanding your company’s interests. Below, we have gathered statistics that you can use to determine whether Canton has the physical capacity to meet your company’s needs, should you choose to locate here. For a full listing of site selection data, go to cantonillinois.org and click on Spoon River Partnership for Economic Development.

Population (2010 Census)

City: 14,704County: 37,069

Local Government

Mayor Kent McDowell 2 North Main Street, Canton, IL 61520 309.647-0065 kmcdowell@cantoncityhall.org City Council: Four Wards; Two Aldermen Each Comprehensive Plan Completed 2008Full-Time Fire & Police Departments Emergency Management Services/911 System

Transportation

AirCommercial: Gen. Wayne Downing Peoria

International AirportDistance: 30 MICommercial Airlines: 5 Flights Per Day: 30

Public Local Airport: Ingersoll AirportType of Runway Surface: ConcreteLongest Runway 3,900 FTLighted RunwayFuel Available Charter Service AvailableStorage/Maintenance Available

Motor CarrierHighways Serving Community: IL 78, IL 9, IL 24Nearest Interchange With Interstate: 32 MI UPS/Federal Express Package Delivery Service Available

Hwy Days Days City Miles by Rail by Truck Atlanta 698 6 2 Chicago 199 2 1 Cleveland 477 4 1 Dallas 789 5 2 Denver 918 7 3 Detroit 455 4 1 Kansas City 329 3 1 Los Angeles 1,979 10 5 Memphis 440 4 1 Minneapolis 421 3 1 New Orleans 834 5 2 New York 990 12 3 St. Louis 149 2 1 Seattle 2,024 6 5

Water Water Supplier: MunicipalWater Sources: Lake/Aquifer

Gallons/Day Liters/DayStorage Capacity 3,200,000 12,113,317Treatment Capacity 4,000,000 15,141,620Average Daily Demand 2,200,000 8,327,902Peak Daily Demand 2,800,000 10,599,148Excess Capacity 1,800,000 6,813,738

Sewage Type of Treatment Plant: Activated SludgeTreatment Capacity: 3.43 MGD, DAF Present Load: 40-55% of capacity unusedExcess Capacity: 8.34 MGD, DAF

About Canton, Illinois

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*Wage rates from the Illinois Department of Employment Security website.

Occupation Entry Top Architecture & Engineering $33.45 $54.91Business & Financial Operations $18.87 $33.49Buildings & Grounds, $10.45 $15.52Cleaning & Maintance Community & Social Services $13.46 $29.65Construction & Extraction $11.33 $22.97Education, Training and Library $11.97 $25.22Computer & Mathematical $15.63 $32.29Installation, Maintenance and Repair $11.70 $19.49Office&AdministrativeSupport $9.31 $19.22Production $9.04 $17.86Transportation & Material Moving $10.61 $18.12Food Preparation & Serving Related $8.87 $11.13 Healthcare Practitioners & Technical $17.86 $37.77Healthcare Support $10.65 $14.42 Management $12.06 $49.78Personal Care & Service $9.15 $15.86Sales & Related $9.77 $18.98Life, Physical & Social Science $24.81 $40.57Protective Services $18.08 $33.68

Enterprise Zone

Canton is home to one of 101 Enterprise Zones in Illinois. All offer the same mix of state incentives designed to encourage companies to locate or expand within a zone. In addition, each zone offers distinctive local incentives to enhance business or neighborhood development efforts. Such local incentives include abatement of property taxes on new improvements if the investment matrix is met. Other local incentives may include waiver of business licensingandpermitfees,streamlinedbuildingcodeandzoningrequirements,andspeciallocalfinancingprogramsand resources.

Workforce Development

One of the key advantages that Canton can offer prospective developers is creating partnerships between the City of Canton, Spoon River College and the Spoon River Partnership for Economic Development to recruit, screen and train a viable workforce tailored to the skill-set you need for your business. This process has been implemented with an astounding success rate for COOK Medical, COOK Polymer Technology and Canton Harvester Inn, and can be customized for your needs.

“Graham Hospital has called Canton home for over 110 years, and as we’ve continued to grow during those years, the one consistent has been our staff. Whether an entry level position in our Environmental Services Departments, a skilled Registered Nurse, or as a Board Certified Physician, our employees and providers go above and beyond just punching the time clock or

picking up a paycheck. They are devoted and truly passionate about caring for the folks in and around Fulton County. The support we get in “Growing Graham” from the Economic Development leaders in Canton and Fulton County; whether it be from The Spoon River Partnership for Economic Development, The Canton Chamber, or Canton Main Street, shows that same degree of passion. Any business is really only as strong as its people, and at Graham Hospital, we feel blessed that the 700+ people who make up our organization are second to none. Small town living, like that in Canton, has many great perks, including: lower cost of living; less crime; a more relaxed pace away from the “hustle and bustle” of a big city; and, being part of a close-knit community which allows a person or a small business to stand out in a way they never really could in a large city.” Bob Senneff President & CEO Graham Hospital Association

A Resilient Economy

Canton was founded in 1825, and has a long and rich history as a manufacturing center for farm implements, beginning with the P&0 Plowworks, which opened its doors in 1860. International Harvester purchased the enterprise in 1919, and the company was the largest employer in the county and beyond until the four-acre plant shut its doors in 1983. The blow was profound, but Canton—and its economy—have always been remarkably resilient. COOK Medical and COOK Polymer Technologies, part of the largest privately-held medical device companyintheworldhavechosentolocatehere.Thedowntownhassurvivedtornadoes,firesand,mostrecently,a natural gas explosion in the heart of the business district in November of 2016. Over $134,000 in donations were received from businesses and individuals to repair damage and reopen storefronts, most of which are now thriving.Canton has learned how to turn misfortune into opportunities that make it stronger.

Lower Cost of Living Index - Sperling’s Best Places

Each of these cost of living indexes is based on a national average of 100. If the amount is below 100, it is lower than the national average. If the amount is above 100, it is higher than the national average. Overall, Canton enjoys a cost of living that is 21.9% lower than the national average.

Competitive Tax Rates

Canton enjoys a lower set of tax rates than many Illinois communities. For companies considering locating orexpanding to the area, the affordable rates lower the cost of doing business.

Property Tax Rates (2018) Per $100 Assessed Valuation City of Canton 2.336493%Fulton County 1.509093%Sales Tax Rate: 8.75%

City Overall Grocery Housing Utilities Transportation Healthcare Miscellaneous Canton 78.1 99.5 39.6 95.4 85.2 103.9 96.8Peoria 79.3 90.4 46.3 93.1 82.9 104.0 100.3Springfield 81.1 90.457.297.981.3 105.092.3Macomb 75.6 99.5 45.6 100.7 62.2 105.1 95.6Moline 81.6 90.4 49.7 91.6 86.8 111.5 99.4St. Louis 88.7 92.9 62.9 95.8 113.8 93.8 95.8Chicago 117.8 93.9 120.6 92.8 159.8 94.0 107.3

What Canton Can Offer You

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Fast FactsCanton offers a variety of competitive incentives to businesses considering locating in the area. Whether you are a large manufacturing company or a retail outlet, the Spoon River Partnership for Economic Development will help you create public/private partnerships to meet all of your company’s needs: locating the right commercial property,financing,permitting,constructionservices,employeescreening,andotherbusinessrequirementsnecessary to complete the process of establishing your business here.

TIF Districts

Canton offers three Tax Increment Financing Districts (TIFs), which include commercial corridors, as well as the downtown business district.

Low-Interest Loan Funds

The City of Canton and the Partnership have low-interest loan funds available for economic development. The application process is simple and streamlined, allowing new developers to explorefinancingoptionsinatimelyfashion.In addition, the Partnership can help facilitate access to a variety of other funding resources within the region for additional capital.

Downtown & Fifth Avenue TIF District

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Route 9 & Chestnut Street TIF District

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Canton 3 - TIF District

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Enterprise Zone

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Blessings Food Hub

Crow Hollow

Walmart Hy-Vee

Kroger Auto Zone

Crawford’s Home Furnishings

Mel’s Sporting Goods

The Bloom Box

Di’s Boutique

Walgreens

CVS/pharmacy

While Canton enjoys a wealth of locally-owned businesses offering unique inventoriesofhand-crafteditems,thecityalsoenjoysthebenefitsofseverallarge-market retailers that have located within the community.

Orendorff Emporium/Blessings

The Sweet Shoppe

Bistro 101

An Extraordinary Park System

Canton is nestled among lakes and rivers in rural West Central Illinois, and is a Gateway Community for the Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway. The Park District has over 1,400 acres of parkland, including Lakeland Park, which is part of the Byway and offers hikingandbikingtrails,fishing,andwonderfulopportunities to observe hundreds of species of wildlife in their natural habitat. Their Big Creek Park is home to a family friendly water park, disc golf, dog park, and skate park.

among natural beauty

SummerFarmer’s Markets

Every Saturday from June through September. Jones Park, downtown., from 7:30-11:30 a.m.

Cruise InClassic cars, music, food and great family fun.

Friday before Father’s Day. Downtown Canton.

Art on MainArtists from all over the Midwest display their work.

Also great local food, wine and Music. First full weekend in June. Jones Park, downtown.

Music in the ParkEvery Friday evening in July.

Jones Park, downtown.

Kids FestThemed free games, crafts and lots of fun!

Second Saturday in July. Jones Park, downtown.

Canton Area Heritage DaysAntiques, Crafts and Collectables Show.

Second Saturday in August. Jones Park, Downtown.

City Living

FallCanton Friendship Festival

Canton’s hometown celebration, parade, pageant and carnival.Third week of September, Festival Grounds.

Spoon River Valley Scenic DriveTens of thousands of visitors descend on Canton and

Fulton County for this county-wide arts and crafts show held at more than 15 sites.

First two full weekends of October.

Munchkin MasqueradeCanton’s downtown Halloween celebration for Kids.

Downtown Canton businesses.

Taste of CantonLocal eateries and restaurants showcase their best food.

Last Saturday in September. Big Creek Park.

Retail Environment

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A Special Quality of LifeCanton supports a rich retail environment that includes unique, one-of-a-kind stores, particularly in our downtown area,thatarelocallyownedandoperated.Boutiques,floralandsweetshops,acompletelyrestoredsodafountainwithin a confectionary serving milkshakes and malts made from handmade ice cream, cutting edge fashion and jewelry, antiques and collectibles, primitives, crafts, handmade candles and scented sprays are all a part of Canton’s retail landscape.

Canton Special Events

WinterOld-Fashioned Christmas Walk

Christmas carols, horse-drawn carriage rides, twinklinglightsandbeautifflydecoratedstorefronts.

First Friday evening in December. Jones Park, Downtown.

Outdoor Recreation Capital of Illinois Fulton County has some of the best deer and goose hunting in the state. Conveniently located just minutes from Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area and Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge, Canton is also a perfectbasefromwhichtofish,hunt,birdwatch,swim,kayak, hike or bike. Canton is also home to a Bike Share Program. Visit the website to learn about all the outdoor recreaction opportunities Fulton County has to offer. www.fultoncountyoutdoor.org

Visit cantonillinois.chambermaster.com/events/calendar/ to check out other events that take place in Canton.

Exceptional Schools

The Canton Union School District #66 Vision: Every Canton student embraces individuality and is prepared, respectful, driven, and empowered to pursue their future. CUSD#66 is rated among the best in the state, having won both state and national academic awards.

All schools have been awarded a “Commendable” rating through the state’s Every Student Succeeds Act rating system. Along with a comprehensive core program of English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science, CUSD #66 offers a variety of other programs such as: Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Career/Technical Education, Culinary Arts, Foreign Language, Entrepreneurship, Engineering, Computer Science, Family and Consumer Sciences, STEM, and Physical Education. The district also provides the following to ensure our vision for all students: Early Childhood, Special Education, Dual Credit, Early College Program, Internships, Honors Classes, Accelerated/Enriched Programs and English Language Learners.CUSD#66hasidentifiedFourPillarforStudentSuccess:Collaboration, Problem Solving, Innovation and Creative Thinking. These pillars are key components in preparing students for their post-secondary aspirations, whether college or career. Some of the latest creative and innovative additions to the student learning experience are

Outstanding Healthcare

Graham Hospital is an accredited, full-service community hospital offering 24-hour emergency services, inpatient care, and imaging and laboratory services. The emergency room also participates in the Regional II Trauma Network, assessing and stabilizing patients before arranging for transfer to a Level I Trauma Center by helicopter, if necessary, from the hospital’s helipad.

Graham Medical Group is part of Graham Health System, and the clinic provides quality medical and surgical services to all members of the community. The four-story clinic is a state-of the art facility. Graham Medical Group, and its physicians and healthcare providers, are able to offer even better access to to healthcare for Canton-area patients.

Unity Point Clinic - Family Medicine in Canton offers primary care, walk-in care and specialty physicians, and is part of the Unity Point Health Methodist/Proctor network of hospitals, clinics and medical facilities in Peoria, Illinois. Built in 2006, it is among the many outstanding healthcare facilities in the community.

Spoon River Partnership for Economic DevelopmentContact: Missy ToweryEmail: mtowery@cantonillinois.orgPhone: (309) 647-2677, Ext: 2

Spoon River Partnership for Economic Development Marketing & TourismContact: Amanda WoodruffEmail: awoodruff@cantonillinois.orgPhone: (309) 647-2677 Ext: 1

Canton Area Chamber of CommerceContact: Carla BobellEmail: cbobell@cantonillinois.orgPhone: (309) 647-2677 Ext: 4

Department of Commerce and Economic Development OpportunityOffice of Regional OutreachContact: Tony Rolando. Email: anthony.rolando@illinois.gov. Phone: (309) 338-4191

A Special Quality of Life Continued

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Economic Development Resources

An Engaged Community College

Spoon River College is a two-year, public community college dedicated to providing quality education that’s affordable. Our tuition is one-third the cost of a public university and one-sixth the cost of a private university. We

serve approximately 1,500 credit students per semester in a 1,566 square-mile area including portions of Fulton, McDonough, Mason, Schuyler, and Knox counties.

SpoonRiverCollegewasestablishedin1959asthefirstpublicjunior college to be organized in West Central Illinois. Originally housed within a wing of one of our district high schools, the college’s space now includes a 160-acre campus in Canton with a 27,000 square-foot Multi-Purpose Building completed in 2017, a historic building in Macomb, and newly constructed centers in both Havana and Rushville.

We take our students where they want to go... whether by helping them earn an Associate degree, providing career and technical education, community education, or business and industry training. The students at Spoon River College are as unique as their educational goals. Our student body is made up of 62% females and 38% males; 82% white and 18% minority; 74% age 24 and under, and 26% age 25 and over. For more information about our academic programs visit https://www.src.edu/academics/Pages/default.aspx

Working Toward One VisionSpoon River College is proud of our faculty, staff, and the many goals we’ve achieved together. Our efforts are always focused on our vision to strengthen our communities by providing an innovative environment that is dedicated to learning and student success. Below are just a few of our recent accomplishments.

•Besttransferratefromacommunitycollegeto4-yearuniversities or colleges in the State of Illinois, academic year 2017-2018•LicensedPracticalNursingprogramranked#1inIllinoisby PracticalNursing.org, 2018•IllinoisCommunityCollegeTrusteesAssociationBusinessand Industry Partnership Award, 2018 (co-recipients with Cook Canton and Cook Polymer Technology)•TRiOStudentSupportServicesgrantfromtheUSDepartment of Education

the following: Grade K-5 Lego Education; Grade 6-12 Project Lead The Way courses in Engineering, Biomedical Science, and Computer Science; Grade K-12 One Device to One Student Technology Program; Grade 5-8 Digital Media Studio; and partnerships with local businesses and organizations to mentor and coach students. The Canton Learning Community is fortunate to employ a highly skilled group of teachers who are dedicated to the children and families of the community. For example, every teacher believes all students can learn and the entire staff works hard, every day, to provide a superior education. In addition, the staff believes in an education for the whole child and building strong relationships with families. Research indicates students achieve at greater levels when involved in extracurricular activities such as clubs, community organizations and athletics. CUSD #66 strives to involve students in as many extracurriculars as possible in creative and new ways.

When visiting the district, we hope the experience will beinformativeandthatyoufindourdistrictasbeingaleader in 21st Century Learning. For more information on all the academic and extracurricular opportunities in The LandoftheLittleGiants,pleasecallthedistrictofficefora tour and/or visit the district and school websites: www.cantonusd.org (309) 647-9411

Spoon River Partnership for Economic Development

209 East Chestnut, Suite 2Canton, IL 61520(309) 647-2677mtowery@cantonillinois.orgwww.cantonillinois.org