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Downstate Summit: Creating a Common Voice for Illinois Economic Development

Discover the impact of the Downstate Summit held by ECIDC in Illinois. Explore key issues, survey results, collaboration motivations, and how you can contribute to the state's economic growth.

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Downstate Summit: Creating a Common Voice for Illinois Economic Development

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  1. Downstate Summit: Creating a Common Voice Jean Anne Grunloh and Brian Moody ECIDC Executive Director ECIDC Vice President Presented to 23rd Annual Rural Community Economic Development Conference March 7, 2012 Peoria, Illinois

  2. Overview • Who is ECIDC and Why Did We Host a Downstate Summit? • Who Were Our State-Wide Partners and Sponsors? • Results from the Inaugural Event • Motivations for On-Going Collaboration • What is Being Done to Carry Forward the Initiative? • How Can you Add your Voice to Downstate?

  3. Who is ECIDC?

  4. Why Hold a Downstate Meeting? • Support revitalization of a Downstate Caucus • Bring together development leaders to find a common voice on key economic development issues • Develop a “pro” Illinois message “Invent your future. If you don’t someone else will. You can count on it.” ~ Lou Tice

  5. Statewide Partners • Guest Speakers • Event Sponsors • Key Development Issues

  6. Motivations for Collaboration • Continued Population Declines in Downstate Rural • Rural Areas will Lose Representation • Non-metro Depends on Metro for Jobs • Elderly Need Access to Health Care • Youth Desire Access to High-Paying Employment • Metro Businesses Rely on Non-metro for Customers • Metro Businesses Need Dependable Work Force • Difficult for Small Governments to Provide Services • Small Governments Benefit from Regional Economies of Scale Center for Governmental Studies

  7. Who Attended?

  8. Downstate Summit Attendees were Surveyed for: • Need for a downstate meeting • Top three economic development issues • Value of Supporting a Downstate Caucus • Importance of Collaboration • Use and Value of TIF Districts • Use and Value of Enterprise Zones • Willingness to serve on a task force

  9. Survey Results -Executive Summary Available at:

  10. Survey Results - Key Takeaways • Need for a downstate meeting • 100% of respondents requested annual event • Top economic development issues • Lack of skilled workforce • Continued population decline • Adequate infrastructure • Job creation is key • Value of Supporting a Downstate Caucus • 100% of respondents supported revitalization of bipartisan downstate caucus

  11. Survey Results - Key Takeaways • Importance of Collaboration • Opportunity exists for more meaningful collaboration between communities and regions of the state • TIF Districts vital tool for rural communities • Effective to stimulate economic development • Average project ranging from $100,000 - $1,000,000 • Enterprise Zones instrumental for many • 58% of EZ communities to be negatively impacted within 5 years without extension of legislation – 47% in less than 2 years • Willingness to serve on a task force • 125 volunteered for future committees

  12. Making Illinois More Competitive:Summit Breakout Session • Form sub-groups to develop action items • Positive narratives and better collaboration in marketing and messaging • Communicate to legislators vital role of TIF and EZ in downstate communities • Develop regional strategic initiatives • Identify effective models and align existing organizations and groups

  13. Making Illinois More CompetitiveTask Force - Next Steps • Host meeting of volunteers for committee • Identify assets & resources of volunteers • Link & leverage to create new opportunities • Develop initial Strategic Action Plan and various Strategic Initiatives to implement action

  14. What’s Ahead? • Steering Committee • Task Force Chairs • Steering, Communications, Enterprise Zones, TIF and Making Illinois More Competitive • 2nd Annual Meeting, Fall 2012 • Look for more details to come “Education – Leadership – Action”

  15. How Can You Add Your Voice? • Visit downstatevoice.org and create a user account (help us build a data base of downstate leaders) • Join a Task Force • Communicate a Pro-Illinois Message – Share Success Stories • Attend the Fall 2012 Downstate Meeting • Encourage your legislators to Revitalize a Downstate Caucus

  16. Questions?

  17. For Further InformationContact: Jean Anne Grunloh Brian Moody ECIDC Executive Director ECIDC Vice President & jgrunloh@lakeland.cc.il.us Executive Director, Tuscola Economic Dev. Inc. brian.moody@tuscola.org East Central Illinois Development Corporation 1204 Network Center, Effingham, IL 62401 217-540-3517 www.ecidc.com or downstatevoice.org

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