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10/27/2011 |
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ECIDC: Fostering Regional Economic Development through Collaboration, Networking, and Education ECIDC unifies the community leadership, resources, and organizations concerned with economic development to enhance and promote east central Illinois. In the past year, ECIDC has facilitated collaborative efforts with state-wide partners on projects such as creating a downstate voice for development issues, promoting broadband (high-speed Internet) in our rural communities, and educating community leaders on available development and business support resources. This newsletter provides updates on many of these ECIDC initiatives as well as other development projects within our 11-county service region.
More than 200 Attend Downstate Summit Hosted by ECIDC
Map, developed by LLC geography and earth science instructor Dr. Mike Rudibaugh, illustrates Illinois locations represented by Downstate Summit attendees. Creating a Common Voice, a downstate economic development summit and the first of its kind in Illinois, was hosted by the East Central Illinois Development Corporation (ECIDC) on September 29, 2011, in Effingham. The one-day event brought together downstate leaders to create a common voice on economic development issues that would be heard in Springfield and Washington D.C. Heralded as an overwhelming success by 200 community leaders, development officials and vested business representatives from across the state in attendance, development officials learned about current trends and tools, communicated with legislators about issues of concern, and collaborated with others to determine what steps might be taken to make Illinois more competitive in the regional, national and global marketplaces.
Save The Date: East Central Illinois Regional Broadband Summit ECIDC and Partnership for a Connected Illinois (PCI) will co-host/co-sponsor the 2nd Annual East Central Illinois Regional Broadband Summit to be held Thursday, December 1, 2011, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Education Center of Sarah Bush Lincoln, 1000 Health Center Drive, Mattoon. Attend to learn more about what public and private entities at the local, state, and federal level are doing to address broadband (high-speed Internet) access and adoption needs in the area. Visit informational booths and network with broadband vendors, stakeholders, community leaders and industry experts. Presentations will be given by representatives from the East Central Illinois Regional eTeam, Partnership for a Connected Illinois, Illinois Century Network, Consolidated Communications, Frontier Communications, and many more. Registration is required, admission is free. Click here to obtain your free admission ticket.
Add Your Voice: School and District Efficiency Survey Do you have ideas for how public schools and districts can be more efficient? With the expectation of continued budgetary challenges for P-12 education in Illinois, the Classrooms First Commission, chaired by Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon, is collecting innovative and practical ideas for improving school and district efficiency while preserving and enhancing classroom learning opportunities for students. We believe that the public has much to contribute in terms of providing the Commission with useful ideas for educational opportunity and efficiency. Suggestions may address individual schools, districts, multiple districts, collaborations among school district and other organizations, regions, or the state as a whole. The more survey responses the Commission receives, the more informed its recommendations will be. Please access the survey here to submit your idea(s). (Source: Rural Partners Newsletter, October 14, 2011 Issue)
Geo Alliance Grants Available for Schools that Receive Electricity from Illinois Electric Cooperatives Schools that receive their electricity from Illinois electric cooperatives are eligible for a part of $250,000 in grant funding to support the installation of clean and highly energy efficient geothermal heating and cooling systems. The maximum grant per school is $50,000, and grants are awarded for one-third of the incremental cost difference between geothermal systems and traditional fossil fuel systems. Those monies will be available until funding is depleted.
Did you Know? Facts about Cooperatives... Compiled by Edward VanHoose, Digital Communications & IT Manager, Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives, evanhoose@aiec.coop This year, cooperatives and their members prepare to celebrate the International Year of Cooperatives in the year 2012. The theme of the 2011 celebration and that of the International Year is the same: "Cooperative Enterprises Build a Better World." The theme reflects the contributions that cooperatives make to their members and communities.
iEntrepreneur Challenge in the East Central Region for Area Youth The Business Solutions Center at Eastern Illinois University is sponsoring an iEntrepreneur Challenge, a YouTube Video contest for junior and senior high school students and colleges students in an eight county Central Illinois region. Students will submit a short (up to 3 minute) video that highlights conversations with entrepreneurs who answer the question, "What is the best advice you would give to an aspiring entrepreneur?" Rules for the challenge can be found at www.eiu.edu/bsc. Deadline to submit entries is Friday, November 4th at 5 pm. The awards (including an I-Pad, Free registration to Camp e3 - energizing emerging entrepreneurs, and gift cards) will be presented at the East Central Illinois Development Corporation (ECIDC) Meeting and Luncheon on Thursday, November 17 at noon at the Education Center of Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System, Mattoon, IL.
Lake Land College faculty member named Instructor of the Year
Dr. Mike Rudibaugh, geography and earth science instructor at Lake Land College has been selected as the winner of the Illinois Community College Faculty Association, ICCFA Instructor of the Year Award. Rudibaugh has been a long-time partner with ECIDC, helping with projects such as broadband planning, developing maps for an east central Illinois wine trail, and educating community leaders on the use of GIS applications. ECIDC congratulates Mike on his well-deserved award!
Grand Opening for EIU Renewable Energy Center Hundreds showed up for the much-anticipated grand opening ceremony for Eastern Illinois University's new state-of-the-art Renewable Energy Center. The Oct. 7, 2011, event allowed students, faculty and community residents the opportunity to tour the facility, one of the largest university biomass installations in the country.
ECIDC Welcomes New Members ECIDC is pleased to welcome three new members who add their support and expertise to our regional development efforts. New members include: Francis Associates Engineering Consultants of Paris, Century 21 Realty Concepts of Effingham, and the University of Illinois Extension for Clark, Crawford, and Edgar Counties.
New Member Referral Program The 2011-2012 ECIDC New Member Referral Program, jointly sponsored by Midland States Bank and Midland Financial Strategies, provides a great way for ECIDC members to help their regional development group grow and at the same time be entered for a chance to win a $500 Series EE U S Savings Bond.
Share Your Development News If you wish to share your development news or success stories with over 1,000 community, business, and education leaders in east central Illinois through the ECIDC e-newsletter, please forward your information to the ECIDC office via e-mail at jgrunloh@lakeland.cc.il.us. Read More
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