Services
Facilitation of Open Source Economic Development
ECIDC goes within the communities throughout the region to teach citizens how to use the Open Source Economic Development model within their populations and offers further support to aid in the model's adoption. ECIDC also serves host to networking opportunities where professionals from various sectors can voice concerns and opinions, build relationships, seek mentorship, and share success stories with other leaders throughout the region.
Leadership Development
ECIDC offers leadership development training to direct leaders in dealing with conflict and personality differences, rules of civility, asset mapping, creating future strategies (historically known as strategic planning), and gaining community support for endeavors. The tools learned can be utilized in participants' personal, volunteer, and professional lives. Click here to see course outline and overview.
Professional Development
ECIDC coordinates professional development and educational opportunities for the area's leadership and assists in making nationally recognized development opportunities more affordable for members. ECIDC hosts many of these events throughout the year and strives to provide speakers and agencies to increase awareness of potential funding opportunities or useful tools and resources. These events are also utilized as great networking opportunities, allowing the various leaders to voice concerns and learn from others' skills and tactics that can be taken back and utilized in their own communities.
Market Analysis Services
ECIDC has the technology and resources to utilize Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to generate specialized maps and data for communities and organizations throughout the region for a small fee. ECIDC is able to utilize these systems to find gaps in the current consumer market, aid businesses in learning more about their current consumers and identify additional consumers, compare site locations to aid in business retention and recruitment, and aid in focusing product or service campaigns that target the market better. Some large firms perform these services at prices that range from $10,000 - $$80,000 which has limited our rural comm unties' access to this pertinent information that allows them to make decisions based on more concrete evidence. ECIDC has now bridged this gap by providing these services. Learn more here.
Grant and Resource Information
ECIDC houses and continuously expands a Resource Center on www.ecidc.com to arm the region with an information hub packed full of resources and contact information. The organization also researches grant and funding opportunities for the communities it serves.
Leadership Recognition
ECIDC partners with Lake Land College and Eastern Illinois University to honor deserving individuals each year with the Business Ethics & Social Involvement Awards. The BESI Awards are given to fine community leaders and corporate citizens who practice ethical business tactics and donate their time and resources to the communities in which they reside. In 2009, a new award will be introduced into the lineup to honor efforts in community & economic development.