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First Mid- Illinois Bank & Trust Groundbreaking
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Holiday Edition Coles County Update Mattoon FutureGen Group Buys 420 Acres: Obama Election Fuels New Hope Saturday, December 13, 2008 5:53 PM Dec. 13--MATTOON -- Feedback from Washington and scientific data from Coles County show FutureGen is still a sound investment, FutureGen Alliance CEO Mike Mudd said. On Friday, Mudd announced the completed purchase of 420 acres of land on the proposed FutureGen power plant construction site west of town, near Dole Road. Joined by state and local officials at a news conference, Mudd also said President-elect Barack Obama's transition team has offered favorable signals on the project during recent discussions with FutureGen Alliance officials. "What encourages me is that they are asking good questions, and they're open-minded, and they are asking about jobs. That is a recognition that President-elect Obama knows and understands FutureGen, and his transition teams knows it," Mudd said after the news conference in the board meeting room of the Mattoon School District. While FutureGen Alliance stays in contact with the new administration to secure federal funding for the $1.8 billion project, there was good news on what a seismic underground survey revealed. Rob Finley of the Illinois State Geological Survey said a seismic survey of the Mattoon site showed no evidence of faults or breaks anywhere 10,000 feet below the surface, a key to preventing leaks of carbon dioxide emissions. "This shows the Mattoon site is an excellent site for carbon sequestration. The images show no faults or fractures that could risk the escape of CO2 to the surface," he said. Underground carbon capture, or sequestration, is a key feature of the FutureGen site. The carbon dioxide emissions would be captured and converted into liquid more than 7,000 feet below in saline deposits. Previous surveys showed enough capstone layers to prevent escape of those emissions. That helps end the greenhouse effect of carbon emissions from a coal-fired power plant. Finley said the survey used technology similar to ultrasound and other sound-imaging techniques, such as oil well logging. Three seismic sound vehicles dropped weights equal to 106,000 pounds to send sound waves in color images up to 10,000 feet below the surface for several miles around the FutureGen site. Transmission lines for recording the sound waves were stretched along local roads to produce a grid, Finley said. Hannes Leetaru, a senior geologist with the geological survey, helped interpret the images with his expertise in petroleum surveys. Jack Lavin, director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, said the survey results and land sales show the partnership is working well on the private and public level. "The team that worked to bring FutureGen to Illinois is still moving the ball forward to make this critical project a reality," said Lavin. "With this effort, we're making the best possible case to President-elect Obama and his energy policy team that the path to energy independence goes right through Mattoon, Illinois." And Coles County has shown its support for the project, Coles Together President Angela Griffin said. That included a $3 million fund drive to help with costs on the land deal, which will total more than $6 million with a sharing of costs by FutureGen Alliance, a group of worldwide coal-related companies. The sale of 25 more acres will be completed in coming weeks to wrap up the final step on land acquisition near Mattoon. Land sale options have been in place for a long time. Present at the announcement were state Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon; state Rep. Bob Flider, D-Mount Zion; and representatives of U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, and U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson, R-Urbana. Other state lawmakers, including Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton, and Rep. Dan Reitz, D-Steeleville, said the project is important to the Illinois economy by creating hundreds of jobs directly, and possibly thousands indirectly by helping the coal industry in the state. "We want this so we can put people to work. That is why I am glad to be here today," Forby said. hmeeker@jg-tc.com|238-6869
Douglas County Update Arcola Article by Chris Slack Arcola Record Herald Customers of the First Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust Arcola branch will in the near future be conducting their business in a facility that will be nearly triple the size of the current bank. At a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday morning, November 19, bank officials and city leaders kicked off the construction of a 2,800 square foot building that will be located on a parcel of land between Fishel Chiropractic and the new Sarah Bush Lincoln Arcola Clinic along Illinois 133. Bill Rowland, First Mid chief executive officer, was among the bank officials who turned the first shovel of dirt. He said, “First Mid has always been proud to be a part of the Arcola Community. It’s been a partnership that has worked well for this community and for the bank. This new facility will enable us to provide an even higher level of service than before.” The new bank facility, expected to be completed by next summer, will provide expanded drive-up services. Inside the main bank will be more office space, a larger lobby and a conference room. Customers will also benefit from more parking opportunities around the building. None of these amenities are available at the bank’s current location on the corner of Illinois 133 and U.S. 45. In general, bank leaders are confident that the new facility will improve overall customer service. First Mid’s current building is approximately 1,000 square feet. “The combination of new facility, the product and services lineup we have and, most importantly, the team of hard-working, dedicated staff members we have here make a great combination-one that can and will serve the financial needs of the community for many years to come,” said Rowland. First Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust has operated in Arcola since 1995. Arcola native Brad Pullen currently serves as the bank’s branch manager.
Crossroads Workforce Investment Board applies for RIG CWIB submitted its application for a Regional Innovation Grant (RIG) from the US Department of Labor last week. The region includes the following counties: Moultrie, Douglas, Edgar, Coles, Cumberland, Shelby, Clark, Crawford, Jasper, Effingham, Fayette, Marion, Clay, Richmond and Lawrence. The Grant would fund the development of a Regional Strategic Plan relating to economic development and workforce development. It would set up a regional council made up of regional associations (regional planning organizations, economic development organizations like ECIDC, foundations, higher education partners, regional offices of education, USDA, and others) that impact the fifteen counties. CWIB hopes to hear a positive response in four to six weeks. Presentations are now being made to the county boards in the CWIB region (14 Counties). Last year we served over 10,000 people who entered our Crossroads Workforce Centers, an Illinois workNet Center looking for assistance in resume' writing, job posting, and finding a job. We also serve over 300 employers with job postings. Our grant was for $2.8 million and we served 981 people who were re-employed at an average wage of $21,000+ a year which translates into a return on investment of $4.01 Million back into the local economy.
Lake Land College to Host Alternative Energy Conference Lake Land College will host the second annual Energy Innovation Conference on Feb. 25-27 on its campus in Mattoon, Illinois. The Honorable Chuck Hartke, former director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture, will kick off the conference on Wednesday at 1 p.m. with the keynote address. Additional highlights include a legislative panel on Thursday at 4 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend and ask state legislators questions about current or future legislative bills concerning energy. Attendees can choose presentations from an agricultural/residential or an academic tract. Select workshops will be open to the public. Vendors will be available to share their expertise on energy savings initiatives and products. More information about the conference is available online at www.energyconf.org.
And the Survey Says -- Jumpstart the New Year with Training A survey assessing training needs of businesses and nonprofits during this economic downturn was recently circulated by the Business Solutions Center, the Charleston, Effingham, Paris and Sullivan Chambers of Commerce, The Mattoon Rotary, ECIDC and the Lumpkin Family Foundation's Nonprofit Excellence Program. A total of 59 businesses and 86 nonprofits responded. The survey revealed that both groups are willing to attend training for one-half day mid-week to learn about improving their organization. Hot topics of interest will be addressed in a three part series "Jumpstarting Your Business or Organization in 2009". All sessions will be on Wednesday mornings from 8-noon and will cost $25 per session. You'll hear from regional experts who will impart their knowledge and best practices, then there will be a peer counseling opportunity and you can discuss your individual with the SCORE counselors and panelists to discuss your business or nonprofit’s individual issues. 2/11/09 - Top 10 Ways of Reducing Costs - Charleston Public Library 2/25/09 - Enhancing Sales Without Increasing Your Marketing Budget - Mattoon @ Crossroads Workforce Training Center. 3/11/09 - Recognizing New Opportunities - Effingham (TBA) Call the BSC at 581-2913 for more information and to reserve a space.
Discover Web2.0 - What is it and how can my nonprofit benefit? Thursday, January 29th from 9 am - 2 pm Sponsored by the Lumpkin Family Foundation & the BSC 305 Richmond Ave., Mattoon Cost: $20 (includes lunch) Contact Becky Stroud at becky.stroud@consolidated.com to register.
Regional Forum on Community Investment Has the recent volatility in the economy caused you to ask yourself what to do with your money? Does the idea of investing in your own community sound interesting? Join us for an Open Forum Conversation on Community Investing sponsored by East Central Illinois Open-a diverse group of professionals that are passionate about growing opportunities in the region. This forum will explore a variety of investment vehicles that are currently being used in growth-oriented communities throughout the nation. Opportunities to be discussed include:
These ideas will be introduced as a catalyst for an open conversation about what could be implemented in our community. All those interested in sharing their own ideas and learning more about these novel ways of investing to help grow your community are encouraged to attend. The Forum will take place on Wednesday, January 28th from 12:00-1:30 pm at the Mattoon Country Club, 6700 N Country Club Rd, Mattoon. Ill. A buffet will be available for lunch at your own cost. For more information, please contact Trisha Mason at (217) 540-3517.
BSC and SCORE offering "How to Start a Business" Classes Tuesday, January 27, 2009 from 6-9 p.m. Charleston Carnegie Public Library - Charleston Monday, February 2, 2009 from 6-9 p.m. Midland States Bank - Lincoln Land Bldg. - Effingham Thursday, February 19, 2009 from 6-9 p.m. Service Learning Bldg. - Sullivan Contact Jeanne Dau for more information.
BESI Nominations Now Being Accepted It is time once again to nominate our local businesses and leaders for the Business Ethics & Social Involvement Awards. ECIDC, Lake Land College, and Eastern Illinois University's College of Business and Applied Sciences sponsor these awards each year to recognize business firms and business leaders for their ethical business practices and their exemplary contributions to meeting the social needs of their communities. To learn more about this prestigious award or to submit a nomination online visit the ECIDC website.
ECIDC Update Happy New Year everyone! Many exciting happenings have taken place since our last newsletter: the East Central Open Retreat was held at Allerton Park, two new counties have been added into the ECIDC region, regional asset mapping sessions have taken place, and ECIDC has purchased an ESRI GIS internet application to make an advance in economic development. The East Central Open Retreat took place at Allerton Park near Monticello at the end of October. During the retreat, 25 regional leaders from diverse backgrounds came together to learn about Open Source Economic Development and how we can apply this model in our region. Ed Morrison, founder of I-Open and policy advisor for the Purdue Center for Regional Development, led the retreat. The outcomes of these two intense days were: the beginning of a regional internet platform, East Central Open, which is being used as a mode of communication and an information parking lot. This platform allows all users to invite others into the group to share in discussion forums surrounding projects and initiatives currently taking place in the region, to share best practices, both inside and outside of the region, and to make new connections with others inside the region that have aligned interests. The space also houses a community calendar where all events can be recorded therefore aiding in the overlapping of organizational functions. This collaborative space is a step in the direction of better regional awareness and collaboration. Although it is in its infancy, it still proves to be a valuable tool for the region and will continue to improve as we receive more and more feedback. Another outcome were the new relationships formed during the time spent at Allerton. Many people who were in the room did not know each other prior to coming but left with an understanding of one another's roles in the region and importance of their involvement. The group also constructed their first Action Plan together. This plan laid the groundwork to keep the momentum high and progress moving forward. The group came back together on December 4th to discuss what they had been doing to implementing the Action Plan, along with the challenges and joys that came with doing so. A revised Action Plan was constructed to continue moving the initiatives forward, which focus on further developing the internet platform, East Central Open, by getting more participation from others and making it more user-friendly, continuing the planning of the first regional open forum on investing in our communities which will take place on January 28th, and building a team to lay out the framework for all future regional open forums. The group will come back together again in the Spring to report their progress, share innovative stories, and plan the next steps. Please contact Trisha Mason for any questions or to get involved in the East Central Open initiatives. The Board of Directors and Advisors met on November 13th for a regular scheduled meeting. During that meeting, it was approved that both Crawford County and Jasper County be invited to join the East Central Illinois Development Corporation region, now expanding into 11 counties! Both counties are excited about the possibilities that come with joining ECIDC as we are excited and honored to represent them in regional efforts. Once receiving county commitments all materials will be revised to show this change . In early December, ECIDC hosted four asset mapping forums in order to construct a comprehensive asset map of the region it represents. These asset inventories are currently being circulated the region so that those who were not able to attend can make additions that are currently not listed. Click on the following links to view each of these inventories: 21st Century Brainpower, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Quality, Connected Places, and Branding Stories. The asset inventories will also be posted on the ECIDC website in order to make the Resource Center currently available on the site more complete. These inventories will be available to all organizations in the region in hopes that they can be of use to many others in finding connections and new opportunities for collaborations! ECIDC recently purchased ESRI Business Analyst Online for use of its membership. Business Analyst Online combines GIS technology with extensive demographic, consumer, and business data for the entire U.S. to deliver on-demand analysis, boardroom-ready reports, and maps over the Web. ESRI updates the data annually so that you have access to the most current and accurate data. Business Analyst Online provides reports and maps to help you understand the lifestyle and buying behaviors of the households in your market and answer questions such as where to find optimal sites for new store locations, how to market effectively to specific customer segments, and how to profile your best customers and find more like them. With Business Analyst Online, we can:
Business Analyst Online is only available to ECIDC membership*. Trisha Mason is the one who actually generates all reports for our members. The members can request certain information that they need, Trisha will generate the reports or maps necessary and email them to the member to fill the request in 24 hours or less. Soon there will be a form present on the ECIDC website along with case studies showcasing how this tool can be used. This service allows East Central Illinois to be one step ahead of their competition at a very low cost to each individual user. Contact Trisha Mason for information on obtaining reports and maps through BAO. 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. *A small additional fee is charged to use this service. ECIDC Upcoming Events... February 19 11 a.m. ECIDC Board Meeting March 6 Last day to submit BESI nominations May 14 6 p.m. ECIDC Annual Banquet and BESI Awards Presentation Stay in the Loop... If you have received this e-newsletter from a friend and wish to subscribe, visit our website and enter your email address for it to be delivered straight to your inbox!
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. |
(Source: Herald & Review)
By Herb Meeker, Herald & Review, Decatur, Ill.