Local business growth is the future of economic development in  Bloomington-Normal. The EDC is aggressively pursuing a strategy that will provide new access to resources for local business acceleration and momentum:

• The retention program will be kicked off in May

• A community development corporation is in the process of being formed

• A mentoring program, Circles of 7, is in the final stages of development and should be available in late May

• The EDC and Illinois State University are busy working on the business incubator.

These programs, when fully developed and implemented, will provide the community with an entrepreneurship infrastructure conducive to creating and developing businesses.  This long-term approach to economic development is more sustainable and cost-effective than business attraction.

Chad Carson, our newest employee, will be leading the charge on many of these programs, particularly the retention program. If he calls you, please take his call because he wants to meet you and provide you with assistance. You can reach him at (309) 663-8095 or chad@bnbiz.org if you have any questions about retention or any of our other local assistance programs.

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-size 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.

• 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 Community Improvement priority is led by Brooke Weishaupt. Undoubtedly, you have heard of our most recent progress with the One Voice campaign. One Voice was designed to support requests made by our units of government and educational institutions for federal funding for specific projects. The projects and a short video regarding our trip can be found at our One Voice Web site, www.1community1voice.org.

The community improvement priority also involves reaching out to every aspect of our community and making sure people understand the economic development process, the services the EDC has to offer and the programs and assistance other government agencies and organizations have in place to assist local government and business. Christina has been working with our rural mayors, elected officials, community groups and organizations to make them more aware of what we have to offer. This service provides for greater communication, coordination and flow of information that will lead to enhanced quality of life, deal flow and, ultimately, increased jobs and capital investment.

Contact Marty Vanags at (309) 663-8095 or mvanags@bnbiz.org if you have any questions about our community outreach programs or government relations.

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 178 new 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.

To help current and future investors understand what these programs are, we will be holding an Investor and Board Member Briefing. More information, including the date and location, will be announced soon. Come hear what we are doing and the progress we are making and meet the staff of our growing and dynamic organization.

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.

Government Relations Services

In order to serve as a coordinator of projects and initiatives that improve and move the goals of the greater community forward, it is essential that the Economic Development Council maintain relationships with all units of government. Therefore, as a component to the EDC's priority of Community Improvement, a government relations program has been developed. The EDC, through its relationships with local, state and federal governments, is working to assist existing and new businesses with obtaining government services, developing specialized legislation and promoting grants and other legislation that will benefit businesses. 

Since the beginning of this year, the government relations program has been off to a busy start. In March, the EDC coordinated the “One Voice” Washington, D.C. Fly-in. A group of 28 community and business leaders met with the local congressional delegation and staff to advocate for federal funding for priority projects in the Bloomington-Normal area. The EDC is also in the process of planning a similar trip to Springfield later this spring to lobby our state legislators. 

In addition to working with state and federal legislators, the EDC, in collaboration with the McLean County Chamber of Commerce, the McLean County Farm Bureau and the McLean County Community COMPACT, has developed a rural outreach program to learn the needs and key issues concerning our surrounding communities and determine how our organizations may be of assistance. Since the program began at the end of March, the group has met with mayors and town officials from Lexington, Gridley, Hudson and Towanda. Each meeting proved to be enlightening and productive. Future meetings with officials in the other surrounding communities are being planned.

As a service to the local community, the EDC helps businesses and individuals get in touch with the appropriate government contacts to assist them with their needs. If you are seeking government relations services, contact Marty Vanags at (309) 452-8437 or mvanags@bnbiz.org.

Sonja Reece

This month’s featured board member is Sonja Reece, 2007 immediate past chair. Reece has been instrumental in the EDC’s growth, serving as chair in both 2005 and 2006.

On the EDC board of directors, Reece represents the Town of Normal, where she serves as councilmember and mayor pro tem. She is employed by BroMenn Healthcare as director of government affairs and property management.

Reece received a bachelor’s degree in medical technology from Millikin University, Decatur, and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Illinois, Urbana. She is a registered medical technologist through the American Society of Clinical Pathologists and a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Reece is very involved in the community, serving on several boards and committees. She is currently chair of the Town of Normal-Illinois State University Administrative Liaison Committee, secretary/treasurer of the United Way of Illinois board of directors, chair of the National League of Cities Information Technology and Communications Steering Committee and a member of numerous other local and national organizations. Reece served as the first female chair in 56 years of the 1991 United Way of McLean County campaign. She has been the recipient of several awards, including the ATHENA award sponsored by the McLean County Chamber of Commerce’s Women’s Division and the Women of Distinction award sponsored by the McLean County YWCA.

Reece said one of the EDC’s major accomplishments has been to bring together the business community to develop a strategic plan that will set the course for several years to come. She said projects such as the One Voice initiative show how the EDC has created a focus of energy and strength to carry critical messages to Springfield and Washington. In the future, Reece said she would like the EDC to continue to strengthen links with state, federal and international resources and form a bigger partnership with existing businesses to get them to help each other grow.

Since joining the EDC board, Reece said she has a far greater appreciation for the process of developing the economy. “We have a great location to attract and retain business,” she said. “If the jobs are available, I believe we can attract the essential skills to fill them.”

This is a large tract of agricultural land owned by the Central Illinois Regional Airport. It encompasses 114 acres and is located south of the runway. Because of overpassing jet noise levels, the land is unfit for residential or retail development, but would be great for industrial use. It is 5.6 miles away from Interstates 55 and 74, and the southern end of the property contains rail access.

Learn more about our building and sites locator

Central Illinois Regional Airport

The Central Illinois Regional Airport (CIRA) at Bloomington-Normal is one of the hallmarks of the community. The airport enhances the area’s quality of life factor in many national rankings and enables ease of travel and access to virtually anywhere in the world just minutes from residents’ and businesses’ doorsteps.

CIRA provides commercial airline service on five airlines – AirTran Airways, American, Delta, Northwest and United – with connecting service through major hubs to worldwide destinations and nonstop service to Orlando, Fla. on AirTran. Beginning August 15, AirTran will also provide nonstop service to Las Vegas.

CIRA completed construction of its new terminal in 2001. The new terminal houses retail shops and eateries, a business center, conference center and five car rental companies. The building is also equipped with wireless Internet. Carl Olson, executive director, said CIRA sets itself apart from other airports by offering free automobile parking and a low-cost air carrier (AirTran), which helps CIRA to be more affordable than surrounding airports.

The airport saw a great deal of growth in the late 1990’s through increased demand for services from large companies in the area. However, after the events of Sept. 11, 2001 and the downturn in the economy, the airline industry experienced several losses. “This has made it challenging at the airport level to maintain and/or increase the amount of air service from our airport,” Olson said. “The airport must remain sensitive to the airline’s financial challenges while still maintaining and operating a top-notch facility.”

In light of these challenges, CIRA has celebrated some recent triumphs. Since 2002, the number of passengers has steadily increased. A record was set for the airport in 2006, when over 500,000 passengers used the airline service at CIRA. Also in 2006, a rewards program where frequent travelers can sign up to earn points was introduced with much success. The recent addition of nonstop service to Las Vegas is another accomplishment.

fDi magazine names North American Cities of the Future

fDi magazine's April/May issue has named Bloomington-Normal as one of North America's "Top 10 Small Cities of the Future."

The Financial Times publication on inward investment's researchers took more than six months to select the "top 10 " shortlists of cities of all sizes with the best strategies and resources for economic development. Courtney Fingar, editor of fDi magazine, said: "fDi magazine's City of the Future rankings reflect an independent panel of judges' views on each city according to seven selection factors.

As part of the selection process, nine judges reviewed nominations from 108 cities on more than 60 criteria designed to assess cities' potential to attract business investment projects."

This is the first time that cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico have competed directly against one another in fDi's Cities of the Future research. As well as naming North America's top 10 major Cities of the Future, the ranking lists the top 10 large, small and micro cities.

The short-listed cities are those that scored most highly in the following areas:

* Economic potential
* Cost effectiveness
* Human resources
* Quality of life
* Infrastructure
* Business friendliness
* Development and investment promotion

fDi magazine's "Locations of the Future" competition has been running for five years and covers almost every region across the world. The methodology is designed to identify those cities that have the basics in place to flourish in the next few years by attracting high levels of inward investment.

The shortlists are created by asking cities to provide data and qualitative information in much the same way investors approach locations during the screening process used to decide which are suitable for capital investment projects. The EDC completed the nomination process for Bloomington-Normal.

Top 10 Small Cities of the Future:

1. Windsor, Ontario - Canada
2. Huntsville, Alabama - United States
3. Albany, New York - United States
4. London, Ontario - Canada
5. Waterloo, Ontario - Canada
6. Colima, Colima - Mexico
7. Bloomington-Normal, Illinois - United States
8. Mobile, Alabama - United States
9. Chatham-Kent, Ontario - Canada
10. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - Canada

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.

EDC Moving to Uptown Normal

The EDC will soon be moving into its new office at the recently constructed Bank of Illinois building in Uptown Normal. Over the past year, the EDC has expanded from two full-time employees to five, and its current location cannot house all the employees in the same office.

Some employees are in the main office the EDC shares with the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, while others are working in the airport business office. The new location will enable the EDC staff to function more cohesively in the same environment and will also allow them to hire additional support staff and interns.

The tentative move-in date is June 1st. The EDC's new address will be 200 W. College Ave., Normal, IL, 61761. The EDC will announce its new telephone number when it is determined. E-mail addresses and the Web site address will remain the same.

Twin Groves Wind Farm Construction Update

The Twin Groves Wind Farm has issued the following update:
Phase I (High Trail)

• Underground Collection System: The basic collection system installation is complete, but there is still some fine-tuning to be done.
• Turbine Towers: To date, 81 wind turbines have been erected. One hundred turbine bases are currently installed, with work being done daily. Fifty-six of 120 turbines are mechanically complete. The anticipated completion date of Phase I remains at the end of this month.
• Substation: The Blue Mound Substation was energized at the beginning of March.
• Power Generation: On Mar. 2, 2007, the Twin Groves Wind Farm began generating power. To date, there are 20 mechanically complete turbines, 13 of which are operating and producing electricity. Some days the turbines will be on and other days they will not be. This is because as additional turbines are ready to be brought on line, all turbines will be temporarily turned off.

Phase II (Old Trail)

• Agreements/Easements: The wind farm is in the process of signing landowners to Lease Agreements, Overhead Transmission Easements and Underground Collection Easements. Currently, 97 percent of the turbine leases are in place (65 of 67), 79 percent of the additional collection system easements are in place (22 of 28), and over half of the six-mile long transmission easements have been obtained.
• Permitting: The Army Corps of Engineers wetlands permit was approved and received Mar. 9, 2007.