Business Assistance, Retention & Expansion

Never fear, BizBAM man is here! Be sure to check the Pantagraph's B2B this month - BizBAM is the cover and feature article. The recent media event held at the Bank of Illinois was a success with stories carried by WJBC, WHOI and the Pantagraph. Thanks to those that participated!

C7 interviews are complete and mentor/protégé groups are formed.  We are still taking applications and can expediate the selection process for last-minute paticipants. Spread the word! For more information about C7, visit www.bnbiz.org/C7.asp.

For more information related to business assistance, retention and expansion, contact Chad Carson at (309) 452-8437 or chad@bnbiz.org.

New Business Recruitment & Development

While the EDC is actively pursuing new companies to come to the area, a heavier concentration of our efforts are on the development of a local small and medium-sized business infrastructure. If we are successful, it will become our attraction program. Business people talk among themselves, and the “buzz" created by our burgeoning local businesses and the environment we create become attractive and an important part of our strategy.

Aside from this strategy, we are doing several things to bring greater awareness to our area:

• Managing the Central Illinois Development Partnership and implementing the group’s postcard marketing campaign has been driving people to its Web site (www.cidponline.com).

• Attending professional real estate meetings like CoreNet Global in Chicago on a monthly basis is also benefiting us.  Ken Springer of our staff also recently attended an industrial development trade show in Oak Brook.

• Careful ad placement in Midwest Real Estate News is also beginning to increase our “brand” awareness.

Marty Vanags, CEO, is responsible for this priority. Please call the EDC with any leads you may have regarding new businesses interested in Central Illinois.

Community Improvement

• The EDC has received confirmation that the Normal Multi-Modal Transportation Center will receive funding in the state budget from Rep. Dan Brady in the amount of $275,000.

• Christina, Chad and Ken recently met with Jeff Clawson, City Manager of LeRoy, Danvers Mayor Ron Roth and Heyworth Mayor Steve Crum to discuss current and future development.  A follow-up meeting is in the process of being scheduled with Mayor Roth and council member Tim McManaman to discuss funding opportunities for economic development projects in Danvers. 

• Christina and Ken, along with Heather Paul of State Farm and Bruce Williams of Habitat for Humanity, met with Bloomington Alderwoman Karen Schmidt and leaders from the GAP and Old Town neighborhood associations to discuss potential redevelopment on the west side of Bloomington. In addition, proposals to study the redevelopment have been received from LISC consultants Teska Associates and Camiros. A meeting to discuss the proposals has been scheduled for September 18th. 

For more information relating to the One Voice Task Force, community outreach or government relations program, please contact Marty Vanags at (309) 452-8437 or mvanags@bnbiz.org.

Program Oversight & Investor Relations

The EDC is very aware of the tremendous trust our investors have placed in us. We have promised many great things, but in particular, we have promised jobs and capital investment.Currently, we have helped create and retain 278 jobs, leveraged $4.2 million in financing through the revolving loan fund and assisted three companies with the extension of the enterprise zone. By the end of the year, enterprise zone projects alone will end up creating over 500 new jobs and retaining at least 300 jobs. This is just a small part of what investors' dollars are working towards. There are other projects and initiatives that are being developed.

All of our work will be highlighted at our next Community Leaders Breakfast on November 8th at the Doubletree Hotel and Conference Center. Along with a dynamic challenge from our speaker, Laurel Managre, you will hear how the EDC is managing your investment. Don’t forget to mark your calendar right now for November 8th at 7:00 a.m. for our next update on our progress.

If you have questions about our reporting, the investment you have made or any other matter regarding this area, please contact Marty Vanags, CEO, who has functional responsibility for this area at
(309) 661-6332 or mvanags@bnbiz.org.

1/3/5 Mile Demographics

The EDC has recently acquired software that allows us to generate demographics reports for custom radii in McLean County.  We can now take any point in the county and quickly generate summarized statistical readouts about population, economic factors, housing and social characteristics for a specified distance surrounding the chosen point.  The reports we create are very similar to those constructed by for-profit companies like Claritas and ESRI, both of which charge upwards of $70 per report.  The EDC is proud to offer this service to our investors at no cost.  Contact Ken Springer at (309) 452-8437 or ken@bnbiz.org to see sample reports or to answer any questions.

Franmar Chemical

Soy - not just a food substitute anymore. Evidently, it can be a chemical substitute as well. Franmar Chemical manufactures 100 percent biodegradable and recyclable soybean and corn-based products for the restoration and remodeling, asbestos removal, screen-printing, industrial cleaning, boating and consumer markets.

President Frank Sliney founded the company in 1983 in the kitchen of his Normal townhouse, with a mission of finding better ways to help clean up the world. For over two decades Franmar has been developing replacements for petroleum products that work better and are less harsh on the environment and the individual using them. Franmar's products are not only safer, but also help reduce high labor costs associated with using ineffective solvents and costs of the disposal of dangerous chemicals.

Some of the unique brand names chosen by Sliney include
Bean-e-doo adhesive remover, Kernel Clean surface and window cleaner, Ickee Stickee Unstuck Graffiti Remover and Soy Smooth hand lotion. Customers of the environmentally responsible products include government agencies and foreign restoration companies.

Franmar is a growing company in an industry that is seeing more and more exposure as environmentally-friendly products are becoming the preferred choice by consumers. The company's production business is long established in Bloomington-Normal, and we are excited to watch their soy and corn-based product growth, figuratively and literally!

To learn more about Franmar Chemical, visit www.franmar.com.

This building is a former Lifeline facility, located right off of US-51, less than a mile from the I-74 interchange. It has a heated garage area, offices and conference areas. Zoned B-1, general commercial.  Tons of possible uses. Contact John Albee, (309) 665-0787.

Learn more about our building and sites locator.

City of Bloomington - Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts

What a great year it has been for the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts (BCPA)! The Center, which celebrated its grand opening on September 16, 2006, has quickly become a major regional attraction. In its first year, the BCPA has welcomed over 74,000 visitors to more than 300 events. The events have attracted ticket buyers from almost 300 communities throughout Illinois. The BCPA has also been in high demand for area organizations that have booked everything from performances to holiday parties.

The BCPA is the main anchor of the Cultural District in the north end of Bloomington’s downtown, offering performing, visual arts and arts education facilities as well as additional green space and improved parking. Initial plans included a limited $3.5 million renovation of the Temple as part of a total $15 million project. In 2000, the City Council approved a ¼-cent sales tax increase to fund the project. That tax initially provided $1.5 million annually through 2010 to the District. In 2003, the City Council authorized an extension of the sales tax support to the Cultural District through 2025 to enable a larger scale project and the issuance of 20-year bonds to finance it.  In addition, $175,000 has been earmarked in the FY 08 federal budget for BCPA from Congressman Jerry Weller.

For more information regarding the BCPA, visit www.artsblooming.org.

*Information for this article was provided by the Bloomington Center for Performing Arts.

Call for One Voice projects

It’s that time again! The One Voice Task Force is looking for projects to support for the FY 09 fiscal budget. In March, the OVTF will be going to Washington, D.C. to advocate for funding of our priority projects. Last year, three out of the four One Voice projects received federal and state funding requests. Those projects included: Normal Multi-Modal Transportation Center, the Bloomington Cultural District and the McLean County Business Incubator.

For a project to be considered it must meet the following criteria:

• Formal request for funds to the federal or state legislators
• Economic impact in McLean County
• Improve the quality of life

All projects must be submitted to the EDC no later than November 1st, 2007. For more information, please contact Marty Vanags at mvanags@bnbiz.org or (309) 452-8437.

Uptown Normal offering walking tours

Beginning in September, there will be regularly scheduled walking tours of Uptown Normal on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. The tours will leave from the Uptown Renewal Office (108 E. Beaufort) at noon. Town Council and staff will be available on the tours to answer your questions. Tours are also available by appointment. For more information, contact Nora Dukowitz at
(309) 433-3420 or ndukowitz@normal.org.

EDC starting Toastmasters group

The EDC is starting a Toastmasters International group. At Toastmasters, members learn better communication skills by speaking to groups and working with others in a supportive environment. At each meeting, members give impromptu and prepared speeches and receive constructive evaluation from their peers.

Toastmasters helps employees give better sales presentations, improve their management skills, work better with other employees, effectively develop and present ideas, offer construction criticism and accept criticism more objectively.

The EDC will be holding two informational sessions: Tuesday, October 16 and Thursday, October 18, both at 5:30 p.m. at the Bank of Illinois. If you are interested in attending the meeting, please contact Brooke Weishaupt at (309) 452-8437 or brooke@bnbiz.org. To learn more about Toastmasters, visit www.toastmasters.org.

Twin Groves construction update

Twin Groves Wind Farm, Phase I
The last turbine was commissioned on May 22, 2007 and Twin Groves I became fully operational. Horizon Wind Energy is in the process of reducing the number of lights on the turbines from 86 lit turbines to 25. An Avian Mortality Study will begin in the fall after harvest and will take one full year.

Twin Groves Wind Farm, Phase II
Thirty-seven of 120 turbine foundations have been poured, and access roads are 45 percent complete. The second phase will have its own project substation - the underground conduit is 38 percent complete, foundations are 95 percent complete, grounding cable is 40 percent complete and steel erection is 80 percent complete. There are 27 complete towers on site, and components are being received everyday. Fourteen of the turbines have been erected.