News




2007 County Updates

 

Christian County

Macon Metal Products, Inc. is a strong example of a community's primary focus on the importance of retaining local businesses. Macon Metals is thriving more than a year after the City of Taylorville, with the help of Senator Deanna Demuzio, secured a $100,000 grant from DCEO for the purchase of a new state of the art laser machine to help MMP better serve the needs of their expanding customer base such as CAT, Wal-Mart and the automotive industry. Employment has reached 90+ and is expected to continue to grow.

 

The GSI Group, Inc. will be operating their Swine Protein Business Unit from Taylorville the fourth quarter of 2007. The project will be located in the Taylorville Industrial Center, occupying the approximately 139,000 square foot facility. Investment will be approximately $3 million with 150 jobs in the first phase. An expansion to adjacent acreage is expected in the near future which would result in a considerable amount of additional investment and approximately 100 additional jobs. The project has received ongoing support and technical assistance from Christian County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC), the City of Taylorville, the Taylorville Industrial Development Corporation (TIDC), and the State of Illinois.

 

The Taylorville Energy Center Project (TEC) represents the development of a state of the art, Integrated Gas Combined Cycle coal generated power plant. The plant will be fueled by Illinois coal mined by CAM of Illinois, Inc. from coal reserves owned by Northfolk and Southern. The TEC is expected to be in operation in 2010. It will provide hundreds of construction jobs, and 500 permanent jobs will most likely be created to operate the gasification plant and coal mine.  The project has received ongoing support and technical assistance from Christian County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) the City of Taylorville, Christian County and Taylorville Industrial Development Corporation (TIDC), and the State of Illinois.

 

Peabody Energy, in cooperation with other large national and international energy providers, continues to evaluate the possibility of reopening a coal mine near Taylorville to mine their considerable coal resources in Christian County. The project may also include the development of a coal fired power plant, which would utilize Peabodys Christian County coal reserves. More details about the future of this project are expected later in 2007.

 

The City of Taylorville, CCEDC, Christian County and TIDC continue negotiations with ADM for the purchase of their Christian County property. Upon the completion of successful negotiations, CCEDC would acquire approximately 275 acres for development of a new industrial park.  Eventually, this property would be owned and management by the newly formed not-for-profit Taylorville Development Association (TDA).

 

 

Clark County

 

Construction began in March for a Wal-Mart Super center to be located just off of Interstate 70 and Route 1 in Marshall. The new Super center will be approximately 99,000 square feet with a projected opening date of late fall 2007.

 

The City of Marshall was awarded a $399,000 Department of Transportation Scenic Byways Grant for the Harlan Hall National Road Welcome Center. The Center will be housed in Historic Harlan Hall. The building, currently under restoration, was constructed in 1872 as an opera house. The second floor and mezzanine area will contain a variety of displays and information on the history of the National Road. The downstairs includes a lobby area, restrooms, two offices, a meeting room and kitchen.

 

Charles Industries announced it will be adding a new product line at their facility in 2007. The AdrenaLine xDSL Conditioner will offer DSL service providers a cost-effective, quick-to-market solution for capturing a greater market share. The company anticipates additional job growth for the new line.

 

 

Coles County

 

Coles County was recently chosen as one of the final four sites for a billion dollar, near-zero emissions goal gasification/carbon dioxide sequestration power plant. The project, famous for its opportunities for research and its place in President George W. Bush's Energy Bill, will be one-of-a-kind and is only one of several accomplishments Coles County is proud of over the last year.

The county is also working with Diamond Ethanol to locate an ethanol plant in Charleston, American Clean Coal Fuels to locate a coal gasification plant and mine near Oakland, and also with Family Farmers Meats to locate a natural and organic, multi-species meat processing plant in Mattoon.

As of April 1, Coles County also made the cut for potential site selection by two other large industrial projects, providing one of these companies with a site visit.

Coles County is fortunate to be constructing its third interchange on I-57. The new interchange will join State Routes 121 and 130 with 1000N, which will be upgraded to a Class Two truck route.

Finally, Coles Together secured a new vice president to replace our dear friend and colleague Denny Burrell after he passed away last year. Anthony Pleasant, an Eastern Illinois University graduate and former assistant planner for Coles County, currently holds the position and has been instrumental in implementing GIS capabilities at the office.

 

 

Cumberland County

Cumberland is hosting the first ever Relay for Life event on July 27, 2007 at the Toledo Reservoir and Park.  The record breaking kick-off event was held on Monday, February 26th at Toledo Christian Church.  Eighty-nine people attended, making it the largest kick-off in the state of Illinois.

The Village of Jewett received grant money to perform a feasibility study and plan for the repair and replacement of the storm drain system and applied for a second grant to help pay for construction of the drainage project.

Cumberland County Development Corporation held its Annual Dinner and Award Ceremony in January where Dr. Thallemer, President of Lake Land College, was the guest speaker.  The Economic Development Person of the Year Award, as well as, the Hall of Fame Awards was presented.  There was also the presentation of certificates of accomplishment for the 34 new businesses, which opened in the county during 2006. Cumberland County Development is currently assisting local fire departments prepare grants to help fund equipment needs due to new standards set by government.  

Cumberland County celebrated the opening of the Dollar General store in Greenup, the re-opening of Villa Family Restaurant in Neoga, the sales and continuation of business for Toledo Auto Parts and Toledo Pharmacy in Toledo, and all of the positive prospects and business developments actively moving forward in 2007.

Cumberland County is a participant in the Community Development and Economic Growth through Homeownership program which offers collaborative funding mechanisms; homeownership counseling and homebuyer education and employee assist opportunities for new construction of homes targeted at families in the 80 percentile of area medium income range. These funds will be used towards second mortgages at zero percent interest over 30 years and down payment assistance funds.

 

 

 

Douglas County

 

Syngenta has announced a $5.9 million expansion at the Tuscola facility located just east of the I-57/US 36 interchange. Work is to begin this summer.

Plans for Tuscola Sesquicentennial are in full gear... events will be held July 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 in Tuscola; More news and the schedule of events regarding the Sesquicentennial will be released in the near future.  There will be live entertainment, children's activities, a variety of historic events and the largest ever fireworks display (2006 was the largest and fireworks budget will be nearly doubled).

TEDI and the City have passed the halfway point in work being done to completely renovate the Tuscola website (www.tuscola.org) - with substantial involvement from Tuscola Chamber of Commerce, Tuscola Tourism and Tuscola school district - among others.  This website will coincide with new logo identities and branding which are results of the Boomtown Boot Camp which was conducted last year.

Work continues with Emerald Renewable Energy (a Cargill Subsidiary) to locate a 100 million gallon ethanol plant at Tuscola.  Work with Emerald is going well and a final announcement is expected later this summer.

 

 

Edgar County

 

The past year has been another progressive one for the Paris community as it continues its industrial, commercial and civic growth. North American Lighting, Inc. completed its move into the company's new corporate headquarters adjacent to its state-of-the-art forward lighting plant in the PEDCO Industrial Park. In January NAL announced a $13 million expansion of its Paris manufacturing plant, adding 57,000 square feet and another 160 jobs to bring total employment to over 700 by the end of 2007. Despite a tight labor market, Paris was selected over an alternate location in Alabama due to the evidence of local support and results experienced in opening the initial facility.

 

Cadillac Products Packaging, the first industry to locate in the PEDCO industrial park, also announced plans for a building expansion for added production.

Paris Community Hospital completed its $11 million renovation/expansion of its health center that included a new 12-suite medical office addition and remodeling the in-patient and swing-bed rooms into private rooms.

First Bank & Trust opened its new banking center and parent bank headquarters in downtown Paris as one of the largest investments in the central city area in recent years. Following a "property exchange" with the city government, city offices moved into the renovated former bank building at the south edge of the downtown business district, in effect securing a large and newly modernized City Hall.                                            

The city, working in cooperation with the Illinois Industrial Labor Council and the Illinois Housing Development Authority, will acquire a new 50-unit residential project of moderately-priced housing geared to housing opportunities for the industrial labor force. Construction is scheduled for 2007.

Plans are complete and authorization has been secured from regulatory agencies in Illinois and Indiana for the City of Paris to construct a new $13 million water system, supplied from an aquifer at the Wabash River, 15 miles away near Shephardsville, Indiana.  Work is expected to start by summer or early fall and completion is scheduled for sometime in 2008.

 

 

Effingham County

 

Pinnacle Foods Group is currently expanding the former Quebecor World Facility (located on South Route 45) by 110,000 square feet bringing the total building size to approximately 650,000 square feet.  The company will be distributing various food products out of the facility and will create approximately 100 new jobs.  Operations are scheduled to commence at the beginning of April 2007 with the building addition slated to be completed by July 2007.

 

Kohl's Department Store construction has started on the new 67,500 square foot store which will be located north of the Super Wal-Mart.  Over 100 jobs are projected to be created and the stores expected opening date is October 2007.

 

Rose Bud Theatre, a new 1,550 seat live performance theatre is under construction and is located on Outer Belt West.  The theatre will be a "Branson type" facility with top name performers.  Shows are set to commence in October 2007.

 

Mechanovent Corporation is expanding by 43,000 square feet and adding 30 jobs over the next few years.  The Company is located in the Effingham Business Park on Jaycee Avenue.  Mechanovent Corporation, a New York blower company, manufactures fans for industrial applications and has been in operation since 2002.

 

Peerless of America, Inc. is expanding by 6,500 square feet and adding a second shift which will create over 50 new jobs.  The Company will be adding new equipment and relocating some equipment.  Peerless of America, Inc. is located on Wabash Avenue and manufactures heat exchangers for a wide variety of industrial uses.

 

Patterson Dental Supply, Inc is converting their distribution facility into additional office area which will result in the creation of 100 new jobs over the next few years.  Patterson manufactures software for the dental industry.

 

 

Moultrie County

 

Sullivan had a great 2006 with 16 new businesses opening and four business expansions resulting in 121 new jobs and almost two million dollars in investment.  The downtown now has far fewer empty buildings as city incentives are being promoted to encourage new business in Sullivan. 

With a new downtown façade program, the year ended with one completed façade and 12 approved applicants planning to begin construction in the spring of 2007.  The Sullivan Chamber & Economic Development Beautification Committee received a $390,000 Illinois Department of Transportation Enhancement Grant for a streetscape project along Routes 32 and 121.  Construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2007.

The Moultrie County Courthouse celebrated its centennial birthday in 2006 with a gathering on the courthouse lawn.  Music and historical readings entertained the crowd as they commemorated the downtown landmark.  The county broke ground on a new jail west of town slated for completion in 2007. Grant funding from the state helped the decision to replace the 100 year old jail.  

Tourism continues to be a focus and Sullivan is still partnering with communities in Douglas and Shelby counties to promote "Boats, Buggies & Broadway".

 

 

 Shelby County  

 

The new Wal-Mart Supercenter in Shelbyville officially opened its doors on January 22nd, 2007. This 100,266 square foot store has created a planned 176 new jobs for those in Shelbyville and the surrounding areas.