Local CEO’s take the L.E.A.D. on economic development in Lincoln

 

[October 17, 2019] 

On Tuesday evening Lincoln College President Dr. David Gerlach and Graue Inc. General Manager Chris Graue addressed the Lincoln City Council regarding a new economic development organization being formed in the city.

Gerlach began by sharing information about how the group came together. He noted that there were ten individuals who had come together with concerns about the economic growth of the community. All ten had invested time and money into creating an outline for an economic development organization to return to Lincoln.

The local CEO’s who are involved with the project include Dolan Dalpoas of Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, Patrick Doolin of Integrity Data, Lynn Paulus of Hotel Ventures Management of Illinois, Steve Aughenbaugh of State Bank of Lincoln, Eric Olson, plant manager of Eaton Corp., Clyde Reynolds of Keystone Risk Management, Eric Burwell of Burwell Management Company, Blinn Bates owner of Woods & Bates Attorneys at Law, Graue and Gerlach.

Gerlach said that the group had exhibited a sense of alarm about the condition of the community from an economic standpoint. They had also sought input from others about what was needed, including from Lincoln City Administrator Beth Kavelman and Mayor Seth Goodman.

The end result, a new organization was formed and is officially named Lincoln Economic Advancement and Development, Inc. (L.E.A.D.).

To kick start the project, each of the ten CEO’s had pledged funding for the new organization. To date, the group is in the process of making application for a 501c3 non-profit status and are hiring a consultant to interact with community leaders, evaluate the economic conditions of the community and offer leadership on how to take the first steps toward economic growth.

Gerlach said to date the money raised is about $152,000. The 10 CEO’s have made three-year commitments for annual investments into the organization and the group plans to hire one employee – a CEO or director who will do the lion’s share of the work toward economic growth in Lincoln.

Gerlach noted a book he had read and a quote from John Quincy Adams, “Who will fill the void of the loss of economic development in this community?’ And Adams answered it with, “We the people.’’ ‘And so I reached out to a number of ‘we the people’ and ‘we the people’ are working to address the decline and loss of business,” he said.

Gerlach stressed that this would be a private organization that would fund itself through donations. He said that the city would not be asked to contribute financially to the new organization. He told the council that what he was going to ask them to do was to write a letter of support or endorsement for the new organization.

Steve Parrott would later ask why the group needs a letter of support. Gerlach said primarily it was needed to submit with the 501c3 applications. It was also noted that the 501c3 takes time, and can be difficult to acquire. Gerlach and Graue both said that none of the investors were doing this for the tax breaks and all were aware ahead of time that those tax breaks might never happen.

Graue also spoke, beginning by paying respect to Dr. Gerlach, and saying that it had been Gerlach’s idea and his efforts that had brought the group together. He added that Gerlach as well as the others have a “genuine concern and a want to make Lincoln a better place to live. A place where people want to bring their families, raise their families, and hopefully do business. We’ve all seen the repeated news stories about different things happening in town – different businesses leaving, different businesses closing, we want to try to stop that.”

Graue said that the need was for a resource for those looking to Lincoln. He said that there needs to be one central location where someone can call and say they are looking for a new location, they need a warehouse, whatever, but it needs to be one source that has a variety of answers and can talk about options offered by this community.

When the two were finished, Alderwoman Kathy Schmidt spoke first thanking the group for taking the initiative. Ron Keller echoed that, then asked if the group has a vision and project goals in mind at the moment.

Gerlach said that each one had ideas, but the bigger picture is not yet formulated. He said that it would be the job of the consultant to make an assessment of the community and the need, and offer professional opinions on projects and goals for the future. Gerlach went on to say that the CEO’s investing have pledged a total of $92,000 per year for the next three years. The group has additional money now for the consultant and expects to pay about $60,000 for that one time service.

He said that the goal is to raise funding for an annual budget of about $150,000. The director of LEAD will receive an annual salary that Gerlach says is comparable to other areas, and will essentially be the only paid employee.

Gerlach added, “We have what it takes (for economic growth). We have the highway, rail, the workforce and inventory (available spaces and properties). He said that not everything has been completely thought out as of yet, that the group is “building as we go.”

Tracy Welch applauded the effort of the LEAD but warned that with it would come with some skepticism. He warned the group to be prepared for some negativity but then added that perhaps it would go better for them because they were not involving local government entities.

Gerlach said that he has spent five years now in Lincoln and he loves the community and what it has to offer. He said that right now the town has “the dust cloud of the Charlie Brown cartoon kid over this city.” The LEAD needs to help shake off that cloud and let people see that they have nothing to hide and that they are passionate about what they are trying to accomplish.

Graue added that the meetings were open to all and he encouraged the city council members to attend at any time and form their own impressions of what the group is trying to do.

Gerlach said that there would probably be another meeting within the next month. He added that there will be “community ask” letters going out seeking three-year pledges from members of the community. Additionally, Gerlach shared that the consultant will utilize students from Lincoln College in his research and data compilation, giving those students some valuable experience in the process.

During his time of addressing the council Gerlach spoke passionately about the community. “This is a place that way back when used to be something special, and I think it still is. So we, as a group, are passionate, and I think you all are also. We’re going to fumble, we’re going to struggle, but we are going to be successful.”

At the end of the presentation, the council agreed that the request for a letter of support should be put on the October 21st voting agenda.

[Nila Smith]