Friday, December 26, 2014
 
sponsored by

Lincoln & Logan County Development Partnership releases annual report for 2014

Send a link to a friend  Share

[December 26, 2014]  LINCOLN - The Lincoln & Logan County Development Partnership (LLCDP) office would like to extend a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to each of the communities, businesses, and organizations in Logan County.

As 2014 comes to a close, the LLCDP is sharing a 2014 Annual Report, which notes a number of the projects on which the LLCDP office worked this year. Economic development can mean different things to different people. It can take different forms and be measured in different ways. Sometimes it involves big, new industrial or business projects. More often than not, it involves detailed work, extensive research, and network building designed to create a foundation for long-term success. Often times, this latter form of economic development is not very visible - let alone very exciting. Nonetheless, it is a valuable investment in our future. We hope this Annual Report provides a good overview of what has been accomplished and where we’ve focused our efforts in 2014.

Most of the work done to develop the local economic base tends to adhere to the old adage: “slow and steady wins the race.” Much still needs to be accomplished to achieve the strategic outcomes noted in the report. It is hoped this update will provide a good overview of how the LLCDP office is steadily moving forward to meet those outcomes, with the ultimate aim being the improvement of the economy of each of the Logan County communities.

Looking ahead, the LLCDP office sees opportunities to continue the grass-roots efforts begun in 2014, as well as initiate new ones in the coming year. In particular it will focus on building upon the success of the workforce training program put into place as a result of the partnership created between LLCDP, Heartland Community College, the Land of Lincoln Workforce Alliance, and the Accelerated Training in Manufacturing program.

[to top of second column]

LLCDP is also going to see if it can put into practice that old saying about how it is better to teach a person to fish, rather than give him a fish. LLCDP would like to help communities throughout the county consider creating individual economic development commissions, established via the passage of a local ordinance. When like-minded folks join together to work on behalf of their own communities, the results are often much better than when a centralized organization tries to step in. Finally, LLCDP will continue to expand its involvement with the five-county Economic Development District (EDD) of which Logan County is a member (and which also includes Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, and Mason counties). Membership in the EDD affords Logan County the best opportunity for success when seeking federal resources and assistance for larger local projects.

LLCDP will do its best to keep the public informed of what is being worked on and what projects are accomplished throughout 2015. Early next year, LLCDP will also provide an update on the change in Partnership’s bylaws, resulting in a restructuring of the Board. In the meantime, the LLCDP looks forward to serving each community within Logan County.

The mission of the Lincoln/Logan County Development Partnership is to work together to enhance the economic prosperity and quality of life in Logan County.

Lincoln & Logan County
Development Partnership
2014 Annual Report
 (Pdf)


For more information please contact:

Bill Thomas, Interim Executive Director at:
wthomas@teleologic.net
217-732-8739
or 217-648-5077

[Bill Thomas, Interim Executive Director, LLCDP]

< Top Stories index

Back to top