ECIDC Current Newsletter
Published August 26, 2011
ECIDC Earns Agri-Tourism Award
For its part in developing a regional map of wineries in east central Illinois, ECIDC was presented with the Excellence in Agri-Tourism Award by Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka (second from left) at a ceremony held August 16, 2011 at the Illinois State Fair. Accepting this award on behalf of ECIDC is ECIDC Executive Director Jean Anne Grunloh (far right) along with Lake Land College (LLC) GIS Adjunct Instructor Brooke Ferguson (far left) and LLC Vice President for Development Pam Crisman (second from right).
ECIDC facilitated the collaborative efforts of representatives from many area organizations including LLC, the University of Illinois Extension, the Effingham Visitors Center, and several other economic development and area tourism offices to produce maps with easy-to-read travel directions from any of the 10 wineries in east central Illinois. The project also yielded sub-region maps showing the clusters of wineries that are close to one another and also an online Google map that provides an interactive search tool which allows for locating other area attractions nearby. The project not only helps visitors explore the area wineries, but also explore what else east central Illinois has to offer.
Thank you to the many ECIDC members and regional partners who helped make this project a success! To learn more about the East Central Illinois Wine Trail, visit: www.ecidc.com/wineries.cfm