5001 Lake Land Blvd. Mattoon, IL 62401 (217) 234-5402 ecidc@lakeland.cc.il.us

COLES COUNTY
It has been an exciting year in Coles County, as we have been able to work with several companies, evaluating sites in the county as a destination for their next big project. We have also worked with many existing industries in the county as they have grown, added facility space, brought in new equipment lines and hired new employees.

FutureGen
What began more than a year ago has become dinner table conversation for most of Coles County and the chances of success continue to improve. The partnership between the cities of Charleston and Mattoon to provide water to the project has made the proposal unique and demonstrates a spirit of cooperation and goodwill that has become the norm among the units of local government in the county.

The past year saw a record number of leads and with the addition of Anthony Pleasant to the team, Coles County has continued to maintain, compile and update digital databases. Response time continues to be shortened and the proposal quality continues to improve.

The Coles Together staff is in the process of meeting with plant managers and human resource managers to collect information on the county's workforce, wage and benefit levels, as well as training needs. These meetings also provide an opportunity to gather insight into the dynamics of the local industrial economic, industry shifts that may be occurring and industry clusters that should be pursued. The information collected will be valuable, as appropriate business recruitment strategies are formulated.

Biofuels, coal gasification and coal-to-liquids (CTL) projects, warehouse, distribution and manufacturing are mar market sectors that have been worked with recently. The community is pleased that Coles Together staff, board members and partners have responded to recruitment of these opportunities and development of the workforce to support their location in Coles County.

The flexibility and initiative shown by both public and private partners is appreciated. Working together, a comprehensive approach, makes it possible to achieve much more than by working alone. Ultimately, the economic viability of the county as a whole will be improved.

Also important is regionalism in the context of long-term economic development for Coles County. In a year filled with inspirational moments, few images stand out more than the August public meeting for the FutureGen Project, which was attended by nearly 800 supporters from around the county. Partners in development from the entire region came to the meeting to reinforce the message of public support and strengthen the bid to host the project. Representatives from Sullivan, Tuscola, Decatur, Marshall, Ford County, Moultrie County, Douglas County and Clark County were on hand to demonstrate that East Central Illinois is a cohesive region that will support the FutureGen project, should it choose to locate in Illinois.

It became clear that the FutureGen experience is not just a Mattoon experience. It is an experience that includes Charleston, Oakland, Coles County and Douglas County. FutureGen represents a remarkable generational opportunity for the entire region.

In order to effectively compete in today's global economy for FutureGen, or any new business that would create jobs and grow the local economy, the region must unite and work together. Coles County has been successfully working together to improve and expand county transportation routes and access. The Enterprise Zone has also been altered and expanded to accommodate development. Municipalities have been sharing resources, information and expertise, proving clearly that working together is critical to economic strength and long-term prosperity.

It is the goal of Coles Together that years from now the next generation will look back on the relationships being forged today - in the county and the region - and agree that they are all better because leaders today chose to work together.

Critical Work Skills Study
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (IL DCEO) has selected Eastern Illinois University's Business and Technology Institute and the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation to conduct a year-long study in the Southeastern Illinois Economic Development Region. The study focuses on determining the differences between supply and demand for significant work skills in the thirteen counties. EIU will work in cooperation with Crossroads Workforce Investment Board to complete this study that will:
" Determine supply and demand for significant critical work skills
" Identify shortages in these critical skills
" Examine the root cause and solutions
" Design a plan of action for the DCEO

The information will be gathered in four ways:
1. Face-to-face and online interviews will be conducted with identified sector management.
2. The data will be aggregated and sent directly to a secure database housed at Eastern Illinois University.
3. All data will be analyzed and reports prepared for focus groups to discuss root causes and possible solutions.
4. A regional task force will create a plan of proposed solutions with recommended actions. The final report will serve as a roadmap to solve critical skills, which can be helpful when writing for additional grants within the region.

Although Eastern Illinois University is leading the project, it is necessary that a regional task force be established to champion the CSSI effort, and to identify focus group participants and promote the solutions over the long term. Several local economic developers will be contacted for their support and input, which is vital for the success of the study.

Lake Land College
Lake Land College will host an Energy Innovation Conference on campus Feb. 27 and 28, 2008. The first annual event will feature keynote speakers Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn and Jack Schultz, chief executive office of Agracel and author of Boomtown U.S.A.: The 7 ½ Keys to Big Success in Small Towns.

The day and a half conference will offer workshops from experts in academic and residential/agriculture fields who are familiar with alternative energy initiatives. The conference also includes a middle school and high school Energy Fair. Students' energy projects will be judged and the lieutenant governor will announce awards. Select workshops will be open to the public.

For more information, visit the conference website at www.energyconf.com

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CLARK COUNTY
Marshall
Lake Land College
Lake Land College recently opened the Eastern Regional Center at the Forsythe Center at 224 S. 6th St. The facility will offer dual credit classes to high school students, training for area employers and regular college courses. The facility is currently conducting automotive classes with more classes to be offered in January 2008. An open house is scheduled for November.

The Forsythe Center underwent renovations this summer in preparation of offering classes to area residents late this fall and next spring.