2008 Goals and Accomplishments
We feel it is important to set high standards for ourselves in order to become a greater resource for the region each year.
In 2007, the Board chose 5 goals to accomplish in 2008. These 5 goals were:
1. Research best practices of regional economic development consortiums.
2. Using the best practices, develop a pragmatic plan for restructuring ECIDC including a plan for increased revenue and a three-year strategic plan.
3. Network/train/meet/join with other economic development groups, strengthen partnerships and partner to provide training and workshops for ECIDC area.
4. Develop regional resource directory and explore feasibility of developing a regional data bank with a plan for implementation.
5. Continue with coordinating and conducting routine duties including Coordinating Council and Board of Directors meetings, Annual Meeting/BESI Awards, Newsletter, and boat outing.
At the end of 2008, ECIDC completed each goal:
1. After researching best practices of regional economic development, ECIDC chose to adopt the model of Open Source Economic Development that was constructed by the Institute for Open Economic Networks and Purdue’s Center for Regional Development. This model was introduced in May of 2008 at the ECIDC Annual Banquet & BESI Awards Ceremony by Ed Morrison, founder of I-Open and policy advisor for Purdue’s Center for Regional Development.
2. ECIDC’s leadership structure has been improved to fit the new model adopted. The past Coordinating Council has been renamed as the Advisory Staff and both the Directors and the Advisory Staff will meet at 4 quarterly meetings each year. Five new Action Teams have been adopted in this model as well: 21st Century Brainpower, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Quality, Connected Places, and Branding Stories. ECIDC has also increased the due structure to compensate for the additional services added for members this year. Seven new members have joined the organization this year, several organizations moved up in membership levels and two counties have been approved as additions into the region: Jasper County and Crawford County. On December 2nd and 3rd, Asset Mapping sessions where held in order to find the links amongst the regional assets to help ECIDC formulate its plan of action for the upcoming months. When ECIDC chose to adopt Open Source Economic Development, we became a region of Strategic Doing, not Strategic Planning. Strategic Doing is more flexible and open, inviting several into the planning process to create a more unified approach. The first step of this process or discipline is building relationships then asset mapping. As Ed Morrison would state it, “We must move slow to move fast.” ECIDC is slowly adopting these new concepts in order to limit confusion and increase participation. The next step is to voice the possibilities of what we could do together as an organization to fulfill our mission.
3. ECIDC has worked hard to build relationships with other regional groups this year. We participate in SCIGA’s activities, the regional economic development consortium covering Kaskaskia College’s district. We have also partnered with many other organizations to provide training and workshops in the area. We partnered with Ameren to provide LOIS training to our economic developers. We partnered with Crossroads Workforce Investment Board to bring Ed Morrison in as our annual banquet keynote speaker. We partnered with Agracel, Shelby Electric Cooperative, Coles Together, Ameren, IL Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Lake Land College, Mattoon and Effingham Area Community Foundations, Crossroads Workforce Investment Board, Tuscola Economic Development Inc., and Mattoon Area Industrial Development to host a retreat at Allerton Park near Monticello in which we brought Mr. Morrison back to East Central Illinois to teach others in the region about Open Source Economic Development and how we can utilize these concepts to build a stronger region. ECIDC has also chosen to make a three year commitment to the Business Solutions Center as a Silver Member.
4. ECIDC has a brand new website! On that site, you will find a Resource Center, which serves as a directory for the region. It currently contains information on the Chambers, Economic Development Organizations, Education, Entrepreneur and Start-up Resources, Municipal Governments, Healthcare, International Trade Resources, Main Street Organizations, News and Media, Non-profit Resources, Real Estate, Tourism, U of I Extension, Utilities, and Workforce Development organizations and resources in the region. This Directory is an ever-growing listing and suggested additions are welcomed at any time. The results from the Asset Mapping initiatives will also be added to this Resource Center in the coming months. The new site also houses data regarding the individual counties in the region and ECIDC has purchased a one year subscription to ESRI Business Analyst Online in order to expand on providing mapping and data services to our communities and economic development organizations. Examples of how this tool can be utilized will be displayed on the website along with a request form. For a fee, all members can request specific reports and maps to help them recruit, grow, and manage new and existing business and industry in their area.
5. Through 2008, we have continued with the routine functions of the organization as historically known. The Board and past Coordinating Council (now Advisory Staff) will continue to meet quarterly. With each meeting, we see an increase in attendance and interest from our Leadership. The Annual Banquet was quite successful this year with an increase in attendance over the past few years. The Boat Outing was also a success. The 80 slots available for the outing were all taken, but due to Mother Nature, several chose not to attend. Unfortunately, we have no control over the elements, but the excitement comes from the amount of interest generated in the event and the organization. Next year we hope to see brighter skies that day! In regards to the ECIDC Newsletter, we have now taken that activity in-house to create. Although we had a rough beginning, the process seems to streamline itself in providing a regional report bi-monthly to not only those present in the region but all else interested in what is going on here from the outside. This is a tool that can be used to promote our developments and growth, with the goal of attracting other outside investments and interest. We will continue to look to find new ways of improving this newsletter and making it more functional for its readership.