• BizBAM is underway. Our Outreach Specialist packets are complete and currently being distributed to participants through one-on-one meetings to review its content, meeting procedures and a technology overview. Be on the lookout for advertisements to generate awareness through the unveiling of BizBAM in the September issue of the Pantagraph’s B2B.

• BizBAM meetings are generating referrals to partner organizations and, most importantly, Bloomington-Normal businesses are being linked to the resources they need. We have had some very candid and informative meetings with early participants. For more information on BizBAM and other business assistance issues, contact Chad Carson at (309) 452-8437 or chad@bnbiz.org.

New Business Recruitment & Development

• We are beginning work on the outline for a warehouse/distribution study. How do we compare to the rest of the Midwest when it comes to W/D prospects? Even though we have three Interstate highways intersecting here, are we a natural fit or do we need other attributes to attract new W/D operations? The study will help us determine that and help us zero in on potential prospects. Once we know what our strengths and weaknesses are, we can begin the process of attracting new projects to the area. Attracting any business to the area is a process similar to selling or marketing any product. In this case, the product is the Bloomington-Normal area and McLean County. The study helps us understand our product and determine the most likely targets, and it helps us deploy our resources most efficiently.

Community Improvement

• The EDC has received word that the McLean County Business Incubator has received a $250,000 request from Senator Dick Durbin. According to the Senator’s appropriations staff, the request has been approved by the appropriations committee.  We are waiting for confirmation on appropriation requests from our representatives in the House. We will provide that information as soon as it is available. 

• The One Voice Task Force will be meeting to discuss potential priority projects for the FY09 budget. The featured speaker of the meeting will be Mayor John Mohr of Lexington. Mayor Mohr will be presenting information regarding the Lexington sewer project. The City of Lexington is hoping to receive federal funds to assist them in implementing the new system. In addition, staff members for our local Congressional delegation will be in attendance to discuss the earmark process with the Task Force. 

• Christina has been working with representatives from Habitat for Humanity, State Farm Bank, State Farm and Community Action regarding a potential redevelopment project on the west side of Bloomington. The project could potentially provide commercial space and affordable housing to the area. A study on the site is in the process of being planned. More information will be available next month. 

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

Program Oversight & Investor Relations

• How do we report our progress? How well are we doing reaching the goals of our strategic plan? The EDC staff reports to the board of the EDC every other month at our regular board meeting.  The EDC classifies its contacts into four distinct categories:

  Targets – The companies and individuals we have decided need our assistance, could potentially locate here or show some propensity for job or capital investment growth. We have several target lists, all with varying degrees of importance and priority.

Inquiries – Targets that have shown some level of interest in the services we have to offer or the characteristics of McLean County or who need data. They turn into:

Clients – People or companies that are interested in more than a small piece of data and that are seriously considering expansion. Our level of services and offerings hopefully puts them “over the top” and causes them to get to the next category:

Project – A company that has moved forward with a project and is creating jobs and/or capital investment.

• All of this work rolls into a report we developed called the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) report that shows what the level of activity for each month has been and the subsequent results of that activity. These are called “leading indicators,” the activities we do everyday to bring new jobs and capital investment to the community, or what one might call the “busy work” of economic development. The results are called “lagging indicators.” These indicators show what the results of the “busy work” have been. In addition, jobs, capital investment measures and the McLean County Index are included.

To see the most recent KPI report click here.

Local Business Assistance

The business retention and expansion program, BizBAM, is a proactive economic development program created by the EDC to address local business concerns.

A BizBAM outreach specialist meets with local companies to discuss issues affecting their operations and creates a custom response to short-term growth obstacles. This input helps the EDC develop strategies for the long-term health of the Bloomington-Normal business environment.

BizBAM outrech specialists are a link to a virtual response team of local not-for-profit, municipal, county and state economic development service providers. You can schedule a BizBAM meeting by contacting Chad Carson at (309) 452-8437 or chad@bnbiz.org.

Bloomington Offset Process, Inc.

Bloomington Offset Process Inc. (BOPI) has been serving businesses and organizations throughout the Midwest since 1947. The company has grown from a small printing firm with sales of under $75,000 to a full-service printing, mailing, fulfillment and e-commerce operation with more than 70 employees and nearly $12 million in revenue.

Tom Mercier, BOPI president and chief executive officer, credits the company’s ongoing success to the organization’s commitment to “investing in capabilities that mirror our customers’ needs as well as in the education and training of our employees.”

As new technology was introduced into the printing industry BOPI was not left behind. The company adopted and mastered various solutions over the years and continued to invest in new equipment at its 50,000 square foot manufacturing facility and 20,000 square foot fulfillment center. The investments include two 40-in., six-color presses and computer-to-plate (CTP), which have expanded BOPI into new service areas, including digital asset management; two HP 3000 variable data printing presses; personalized URL’s; e-commerce solutions; mailing and fulfillment. Mercier says BOPI has the ability to make your marketing programs “sing” with 21st century solutions that will deliver improved communications performance.  

Learn more about BOPI.

John Hanson

This month’s featured board member is John Hanson. One of the newest EDC board members, he joined in June 2007 as a representative of the City of Bloomington, where he is the alderman of Ward 8.

When he is not busy serving the city, Hanson runs Hanson’s Cleaners, a dry cleaning and laundry service provider. A native of Bloomington, he graduated from Bloomington High School and then attended the University of Illinois and Southern Illinois University’s School of Aviation.

In the community, Hanson also serves on the board of directors for the American Red Cross of the Heartland and is involved with the Sunrise Rotary. He is also the vice president of the Illinois State Fabricare Board. In his free time, he enjoys outdoor activities such as flying, fishing, hunting and boating.

Hanson said he would like to see more interaction with local small businesses to provide formulas for longevity.

“It is vital to any community to have some local character in the Main Street business community,” he said.

He believes one challenge the EDC has faced is raising funds. Hanson believes it is a catalyst for further job growth and business retention. The EDC looks forward to working with Hanson and the rest of our board members to meet our goals as we follow through with our strategic plan initiatives.

Large, master planned mixed-use development off of I-55 in Chenoa. The site will comprise industrial, commercial and residential uses and has immediate access to I-55 and Union Pacific Rail lines. Public water/sewer, TIF district. Developer offering build-to-suit options. Perfect for warehousing and distribution facilities.

Learn more about our building and sites locator

EDC Office Has Moved

The EDC is now in its new office at the recently constructed Bank of Illinois building in Uptown Normal. The new address is 200 W. College Ave., Suite 402, Normal, IL, 61761. The new telephone number is (309) 452-8437.

The Bank of Illinois, in conjunction with the EDC, the Burwood Group and the Farnsworth Group (other building tenants) will be hosting several grand opening events in August. Please see the above Upcoming Events section for dates and details.

2007 Economic Development Almanacs Available

The EDC's 2007 Economic Development Almanac is now available. This year's edition features a business start-up guide produced in conjunction with the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Illinois State University.

Almanacs can be purchased through the EDC or most local bookstores for $30 each or five for $100. The 2007 Demographic Profile is also available from the EDC at no cost. For more information, contact the EDC at (309) 661-6332.

I-74 Closing Affecting Le Roy Businesses

After IDOT discovered structural damage to a bridge one mile west of Downs, the westbound traffic on I-74 was re-routed at mile marker 152. This means that all traffic traveling west on I-74 must exit three miles before Le Roy and cannot access I-74 until they complete the detour route that brings them back to the Interstate at Bloomington. Since Le Roy is located at mile marker 149, westbound Interstate traffic cannot get to Le Roy.

Six businesses along I-74 in Le Roy are suffering due to the westbound closure. In most cases, their business has been cut in half.  

Le Roy is still convenient to drive to from the detour; simply turn right on Rte. 136  (travel one mile) then turn left on Rte. 150. It is a five-minute trip from the I-74 exit to Le Roy. Rte. 150 then leads into Bloomington where I-74 can be accessed.

We are asking all local travelers to make the extra effort and drive into Le Roy to support our business community. At this point, IDOT feels that the interstate will remain closed until the middle of August.

Twin Groves Wind Farm Construction Update

Twin Groves Wind Farm, Phase I (High Trail)

• Turbine Towers: The last turbine was commissioned on May 22, 2007 and Twin Groves I became fully operational.
• Construction Activity: The construction crew is in the final stages of clean-up at the turbine bases. The Phase I laydown yard is currently being taken out and restored to its original condition.
• Avian Study: They will be participating in a post-construction Avian Mortality Study with West, Inc. They plan to begin the study in the fall after harvest and will conduct the study for one full year.

Twin Groves Wind Farm, Phase II (Old Trail)

• Laydown Yard: The laydown yard is located at the corner of 3500 East Rd. and 1300 North Rd. Work on the laydown yard is complete, the trailers have been set and work continues to have phone lines and Internet set up. They expect to have everything up and running by July 24th.
• Turbine Foundations: To date, 10 of 120 foundations have been poured. Seven are backfilled and 17 foundation sites have been excavated.
• Access Roads: They are making good progress on the access roads, and to date they are 19 percent complete.
• Township Road Improvements: White Construction continues to work diligently on the main North-South route, 3500 East Rd. One-hundred percent of the culvert work is complete, and 33 percent of the improvements to the road are complete.
• Collection and Distribution Line: The trench work for the underground collection line is 12 percent complete.
• Transmission Line: The overhead transmission line easement area has been cleared and staked. Each tower foundation has also been staked, and the foundation crews are expected to begin pouring concrete the week of July 16th.
• Project Substation: The second phase will have its own project substation located on 3500 East Rd. about a half-mile south of 1300 North Rd. Also, excavation and concrete work has begun on the Twin Groves II substation.
• Turbine Deliveries: There are six complete towers at the Bloomington rail siding, and they continue to receive components everyday. They have two base stations, one lower and one upper mid-section, two nacelles, two hubs and nine blades at the site.
• Turbine Erection: The first base section was set on July 11 and Barnhart continues work on setting the base and lower mid-sections. The main erection crane will be on-site the week of July 23rd.