Smiley lists economic partnership's recent accomplishments in news brief

[June 20, 2009]  The Lincoln & Logan County Development Partnership plans to send out a monthly press release to keep the community more informed. Joel Smiley, executive director of the development partnership, has provided the following:

It is official that the partnership has assisted in attracting two major retailers to Lincoln.

Peebles Clothing will move into the former Goody's location, and RP Lumber will remodel the former Kroger and CVS buildings. Both should be in Lincoln by the end of August. We are still waiting for the official press release from both companies. The Peebles press release will be on June 22.

Logan County CEDS program is moving forward.

The major CEDS (Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy) community meetings were completed; however, a few communities did not participate in the meetings. We will meet with their city councils over the next month. In the interim we will be meeting with the Peoria EDC to submit our CEDS document. The final document will be sent to the EDA in Chicago for final approval.

The business incubator program is still on track to begin at the end of summer.

We are identifying potential locations and working on the format and business plan. The business incubator will enable business startups to locate throughout Logan County. The program enables the business owners to enter the properties at a reduced rent for the first three years, enabling them to reduce costs and giving them a better chance to survive. The program will also assist in filling vacant space throughout Logan County.

The partnership is trying to focus energies on smaller communities throughout Logan County.

The partnership made a site visit to Emden to meet with Ivan Rademaker and also gave a council update and presentation to the Mount Pulaski City Council.

The partnership will be creating a Web site newsletter as well as updating the current Web site over the next few months.

This effort will increase communication to prospects, the business community and the general public.

The SCORE program is moving forward and should be operational by the end of July.

SCORE is a national program geared at counseling small businesses in areas including marketing plans, business plans, budgets and identifying resources. The Logan County SCORE office will assist both startups as well as local businesses in need of assistance.

[Text from file received from Joel A. Smiley, Lincoln & Logan County Development Partnership]