2008 Annual Meeting

Advisory Staff, Pam Crisman and Past President Lloyd Murphy

Ed Morrison

Mr. Morrison and members

John Inyart, Jim Ryan and Carl Walworth

2007 Boat Outing

Summer Edition

Arcola

Arcola recently celebrated the Grand Opening of Arcola Family Foods on May 10th. Mark and Brian Maggio expanded their Champaign County operations by reopening the former IGA store, which closed operations in January 2007. The City assisted the third generation grocers from Tolono with $35,000 in TIF Grant Funds as well as a $140,000 Revolving Fund Loan. In addition, the city worked cooperatively with the Arcola Foundation to produce an additional $50,000 forgivable loan to further update and expand the store facilities and services.

The Thomas Monahan Company has reached an agreement to purchase the former Littelfuse building in the Arcola Industrial Park. The Monahan family intends to expand their brush fiber line in Arcola adding 20 jobs in the first phase with 5 production lines. The Littelfuse site has been vacant since their last production line was phased out and moved to their production facility in Mexico in late 2004.

Ed Morrison Keynotes ECIDC's 24th Annual Meeting and BESI Awards Presentation

This year’s ECIDC Annual Meeting and BESI Awards Presentation was held on May 15th at 6:00 pm at the Thelma Keller Convention Center in Effingham, IL.

Ed Morrison keynoted the event. Mr. Morrison came to East Central Illinois from Cleveland where he founded I-Open, the Institute for Open Economic Networks. Ed also works for the Center for Regional Development at Purdue University, as well as serves as Economic Policy Advisor for the WIRED initiative in North Central Indiana. Ed is the publisher of EDPro, a popular weblog for economic development professionals. He serves on the Board of the University Economic Development Association, teaches advanced strategy at the Economic Development Institute, and serves on the Regional Experts Committee of the Council on Competitiveness.

Mr. Morrison shared his wealth of knowledge with the group in regards to regionalism and its benefits. He explained how we need to move from our Grandfather's Economy to our Grandchildren's Economy. Our Grandchildren's Economy's strategy involves linking and leveraging assets into five "asset networks": brainpower, innovation, quality places, branding and civic collaboration. In adopting this new strategy, we will tear down the boundaries that separate each town, county or organization from the rest and begin working together for the common good of the region.

Three Business Ethics and Social Involvement (BESI) Awards were also presented that evening to Jim Ryan of Marshall, John Inyart of Charleston and the Journal Gazette-Times Courier of Coles County. These fine individuals and business were honored for their ethical business practices and the social responsibility displayed in the communities in which they live and serve. Click here for full bios of the award recipients.

New Officers and Board members were elected during the program as well. The new officers being: Bill Steichmann of Neoga, President, Alan Gilmore of Mattoon, Vice President, Dick West of Mattoon, Treasurer and Ken Smith of Marshall, Secretary. Four new Board members were elected: JoBeth Geier of Newton, Paul Ruff of Paris, Mark Donaldson of Mattoon and Mike Cohan of Sullivan.

Business Solutions Center is now open for business

The Business Solutions Center (BSC) is the community outreach and education component of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The center is supported by a collaborative regional partnership composed of EIU, Crossroads Workforce Investment Board, community foundations, chambers of commerce, businesses, financial institutions, governmental entities and individuals who share the vision of providing business support services, and youth entrepreneurial education to foster economic growth in the eight-county region of: Coles, Clark, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Moultrie and Shelby counties.

The BSC’s mission is to develop and implement the five core entrepreneurial functions set in the community generated strategic plan. These include: resource broker, e-early developer, cheerleader and champion, capacity builder and capital developer.To find out more about the Business Solutions Center please visit their website.

ECIDC Update

This Spring has proven productive for ECIDC. This year's annual meeting was a success with a 31% increase in attendance over last year. ECIDC wishes to thank the fine sponsors of this year's annual banquet: Agracel, Inc., Ameren CIPS, Coles-Moultrie Electric Cooperative, Consolidated Communications, Crossroads Workforce Investment Board and Lake Land College.

Ed Morrison, our Annual Meeting keynote speaker, has motivated ECIDC in its time of restructure. Trisha Mason, Tiffany Macke of Clark County and Brian Moody of Tuscola traveled to Michigan last month to learn more about a new approach to economic development. In open source economic development representatives from education, workforce development and economic development come to the table on a consistent and regular basis in a collaborative effort to move the region forward through working toward achieving goals set by the group. These efforts create a bond within the region through the many connected networks and allows all parties to leverage their resources for the greater good of the communities in which they serve.

Planning is underway for the 2008 ECIDC Annual Boat Outing. This event will take place on the beautiful Lake Shelbyville. Two house boats will launch from Lithia Springs Marina at 5:30 p.m. on August 28th to cruise the lake. The boats will anchor in a peaceful cove and dinner will be served to all guests. This evening will be filled with great food, drinks and stimulating conversation. ECIDC hopes to increase their outreach through this popular event and gain more support and momentum as it continues to move forward.

Please join me in welcoming our new Board members: JoBeth Geier, Paul Ruff, David Lett, Mark Donaldson and Mike Cohan!

If you have any questions regarding ECIDC, the upcoming events or joining the organization please contact Trisha Mason at (217) 238-8233 or by email.

ECIDC Upcoming Events...

August 28th

5 p.m. ECIDC Annual Boat Outing on Lake Shelbyville

October 22-23

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East Central Illinois Development Corporation (ECIDC) was established in 1984 to assist economic development in a nine county region consisting of Christian, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Moultrie and Shelby counties. ECIDC was one of the first regional economic development organizations in the state and has continued to assist in meeting the economic development needs of east central Illinois.