News
Community Accomplishments
Christian County
In February of 2006, the City of Taylorville received a $100,000 grant to retain Macon Metal Products, LLC (MMP). The City will pass through the grant to MMP to assist then im purchasing new state-of-the-art laser equipment. MMP, which is a manufacturer of metal parts, is extending its engineering and technical capabilities to expand its product lines to customers such as Caterpillar, GM and Wal-Mart. The project retained over 65 jobs. The City of Taylorville worked with local legislators and Christian County Economic Development Corporatioin (CCEDC) to provide assistance to MMP.
The mining industry is on the rise in Christian County. Taylorville Energy Center, a state-of-the-art coal fired electric generating facility which will be fueled with Illinois Basin coal, is expected to break ground in 2007 and begin commercial operations in 2009 or 2010. It will be located on a site northeast of the City of Taylorville.
Central Appalachian Mining (CAM) of Illinois purchased Christian Coal Company in 2005, and has optioned ground around Stonington. Groundbreaking is anticipated in 2007. CAM of Illinois will be the coal supplier to Taylor Energy Center.
Peabody Energy is pursuing the possibility of opening a new mine on the north side of Taylorville. This site was previously Peabody Mine #11, which closed in the 1950's. They have examined the mine shafts and are applying for permits to open the mine.
Clark County
New businesses in Marshall include: Reidle Inc., Farmer Brown's Soywax Candles, Heaven Bound Christian Bookstore, The Tackle Box Restaurant, and Marsahll Realty.
Heartland Lables began contruction of an addition to its facilities. TRW Automotive finished its addition and created 100 new jobs within the last six months.
The Clark County Trails Coalition was awarded a $20,000 grant from Dept. of Natural Resources to research the possibility of a bike/pedestrian trail along the National Road. The Civil Engineering Dept. at Rose Hulman Institute of Technology as one of their design projects. Results of these studies are projected in June.
Coles County
Construction has started on the first phase of the new Interstate 57 interchange. The second phase will begin in the spring of this year. The interchange and its accompnying access road, which will connect with Illinois Route 121 to the west and Illinois Route 130 to the east, is mostly designed for truck traffic en route to industrial areas north of Charleston and Mattoon.
Justrite, Inc. has selected a site in the Mattoon Enterprise Park to build its new 75,000 sq. ft. warehouse and distribution center. Justrite, Inc. selected this site over a competing site in Kentucky. Officials from the City of Mattoon, Coles Together, Agracel, Inc., and the Coles County Regional Planning and Development office worked together to keep this business local. Justrite, Inc. can now continue to grow and invest in Coles county.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has recently completed a 7,000 sq. ft. facility in the Coles Business Park. The government offices of the USDA Soil & Water Conservation District, the National Resource Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency and Rural Development are all housed in the new facility constructed by R. & L. Enterprises of Mattoon. These government agencies have expanded the services and programs provided to Coles County citizens and needed additional space.
Quality Electric has also expanded into Coles Business Park. This company has a growing list of construction projects in Illinois and Indiana and Coles county provided the right mix of accessibility, affordability and workforce availability to keep the company competitive and increase productivity.
Cumberland County
Both IGA in Greenup and Angie's Pizza in Toledo reopened. The Fillin Station expanded their operation and was featured on WCIA ch. 3 news as a favorite destination. Other new businesses include Meek's Motorsports, Down Town Pet Feed, Peters' Construction, Henderson Financial, and Johnson's Automotive Service.
Neoga celebrates the opening of the community food pantry on 6th Street.
Park improvements include collecting donations to purchase and construct a play area on the municipal lawn in Greenup. Jewett Community Park has new equipment installed.
Toledo Fire Department donated $1,500 to Cumberland All Weather Track project.
Douglas County
Boomtown Institute, a new company founded by Jack Schultz and with Coleen Phillips as President, is using Tuscola as a test site for their program called "Boomtown Boot Camp". The program is aimed at providing a means fo the implementation of Schultz's 7 1/2 keys in small communities. The progrma is currently underway and has generated a great deal of enthusiasm among the participants.
Flesor's Candy Kitchen in Tuscola is expanding to Lincoln Square Mall in Urbana. The Candy Kitchen has collaborated with businesses throughout Illinois to offer their candies in a wide variety of locations. They have several key customers in Chicago and continue to expand their market.
Tuscola Economic Development, Inc. (TEDI) Executive Director, Brian Moody, is conducting a Business Retention and Needs Analysis Survey to each TEDI investor. The survey is to identify positives and negatives in doing business in Tuscola in order to better assign TEDI's priorities. Also, three renovation projects will soon begin on Tuscola properties which are currently vacant.
TEDI has received two grants from the Illinois Corn Marketing Board/Illinois Corn Browers Association. The grants will be used to complete the preliminary feasibility work, additional research, and to hire a professional for a feasibility study on the possibility of an ethanol plant in the Tuscola area.
Edgar County
North American Lighting, Inc. has completed its new corporate headquarters last fall in Edgar county and has begun moving administrataive and engineering position from Flora. NAL is the leading independent producer of automotive and truck lighting in the country.
Paris Transport, over the road delivery compnay with its own trucking fleet, completed a new 50,000 square foot warehouse on a site in the PEDCO Industrial Park. The facility is currently filled to near capacity by local industries, but has room on its site to double in size.
Paris Community Hospital will complete its lates expansion and renovation project later this spring. This includes a medical office building addition, remodeling of all in-patient rooms, and extensive renovation of hospital utilities.
The City of Paris moves ahead on its project to develop a new municipal water source from a well field near the Wabash River in Indiana to replace the present Twin Lakes surface water supply and an outdated treatment facility. The project is in the design stage with bidding and possible start of construction due by the end of the year.
Edgar County Airport completed the overlay repaving of the runway, which included improved underdrainage. The airport is loooking into property acquisition for the development of a crosswind runway.
Effingham County
Several new restaurants have opened: Firefly, Great American Bagel, Joe Sippers, Quizno's, Starbucks, and the South Side Drive-In.
Numerous expansions and new facilities were undertaken in the healthcare field. St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital renovated the sixth floor, the Ambulatory Surgery Center added 10,761 sq. ft., Apex Physical Therapy contructed a new 5,000 sp. ft. building, and The Cancer Care Center expanded by 3,800 sq. ft.
Sport Designs and Graphics is a new 10,283 sq. ft. facility on S. Maple Street with 25 new jobs created. The company prints and embroiders uniforms, t-shirts, and sweatshirs for teams and sporting goods dealers.
A new 1.5 millioin gallon standpipe was constructed on the north side of the City of Effingham. The standpipe will provide additional pressure and water capacity for future growth in the northern portion of the community.
Interstate Truck Repair constructed a new 12,000 sq. ft. facility on Outer Belt West, the first operation to be located on this new roadway. Crossroads Truck Equipment expanded and relocated into the vacant MEI Building located in the Effingham Business Park. The company added a new showroom, store front, and delivery area.
Moultrie County
The Sullivan City Council was successful in extending TIF 1 and 2 districts to 2021 and 2024 respectively. The council also set aside $150,000 in TIF funds to create a facade improvement grant program for downtown. To date, there are nine applicants and enhancements to the nine properties will be complete in 2006.
Douglas and Moultrie Counties are working together to form the Amish Country of Central Illinois CVB. The organization recieved a Marketing Partnership Grant in 2005, which expand the marketing program for that area. Earning CVB status in 2006 will create opportunities for additional projects.
The Lake Shelbyville Economic Development Group was formed in 2005 as a collaborative effort between all of the comunities surrounding the lake. A feasibility study of the lake and surrounding towns is being pursued and is necesasry before any additional public development can happen on Army Corps properties.
Shelby County
In February 2006, the Shelbyville City Council approved a Development Agreement with Wal-Mart for a new $7 million to $10 million Super Center in Shelbyville. The groundbreaking is expected to take place in March and the building would be completed in October of 2006. A Murphy Oil gas station will be contructed on the site at the same time. The new Wal-mart Super Center will create approximately 180 to 200 jobs. Additionally, the Wal-Mart project includes four lots that will be sold and developed into a strip mall, while one of the remaining lots will be used for a restaurant.
A multi-purpose trail offering activity to walkers, hikers, runners, and bicyclist is now open in Shelbyville. The trail has been named after Major General Robert J. Dacey, who was the lead engineer of the construction of the Lake Shelbyville Dam. The General Dacey Trail is currently four miles long and is accessible in Forest Park in Shelbyville or at the ninth street boat ramp parking lot on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers property. The trail's dirt and grass surface is being upgraded to a limestone surface in phases and the first mile should be completed this spring. Additional funding is continually being sought in an effort to upgrade the surface of the remaining miles, and eventually, have a trail around Lake Shelbyville. The trail network is being designed so that it can one day be part of a regional and statewide trail network by affording opportunities to connect with other trails such as the Lincoln-Prairie Trail and the Lincoln Heritage Trail. The goal of the General Dacey Trail Plan is to promote environmental, recreation, aesthetic and economic enhancements in the region.