Lincoln &
Logan County Development Partnership kicks off $100,000 campaign
prioritizing CEDS development
[DEC. 15, 2005]
The room full of elected officials, business
leaders, and city and county directors could have spent their time
quietly sitting back enjoying the accomplishments of the past year.
Nearly everyone there has earned a debt of appreciation for the way
they pushed themselves to get monumental tasks done over the last
year and more. It was a year of great economic movement for Lincoln
and Logan County that required lots of cooperation between
governments and agencies.
But that wasn't in the air. Instead, the prevailing wind was
excitement toward the future. What next? Even before the meeting
began, in the moments spent gathering breakfast, information bits
were flying like a football in full play from one player to another
-- evidence of committed and excited team players.
Speakers included Ron Schilling, president of the Lincoln and
Logan County Development Partnership; Rob Orr, director of the
partnership; Bobbi Abbott, Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce
director; and Bill Glaze, president of the Logan County Regional
Planning Commission.
In about a half-hour of fast talking, the four speakers laid out
the plans that the development partnership, chamber and planning
commission have set in motion that will keep the growth going, as
well as building and continuing support of existing businesses in
the year 2006.
$100,000 campaign in 2006
The morning was marked by the announcement of a $100,000 campaign
to increase support for economic development. Schilling announced
that the development partnership has identified that this is the
time to meet specific county needs. They hope to capitalize on
recent successes and the current spirit of cooperation between
governments and agencies.
Schilling detailed how the funds would be used to continue the
momentum of what Logan County already has started and that which is
needed to keep it going. He identified that a comprehensive plan,
geographic information system and comprehensive economic development
strategy all work together for economic growth.
The first two plans are already in process. The Logan County
Regional Planning Commission has undertaken a comprehensive plan
under the supervision Bill Glaze and Bill Martin. Glaze is the
commission president and mayor of Mount Pulaski, while Martin is the
Atlanta mayor.
The geographic information system is under development and is
being handled through the Logan County Board, under the supervision
of Bret Aukamp, county highway department engineer.
The county needs a comprehensive economic development strategy.
After requesting help from Sysco and receiving a letter back that
said, "We'd like to help, but you don't have a CEDS," according to
Schilling, "That brought it home; we knew we needed to get it done."
This would be true of any other big business that might come here
as well, Schilling said. The comprehensive strategy is also
necessary to have in place to get federal government funding.
While the CEDS development constitutes the largest portion of the
$100,000 goal, it is the highest priority, Schilling said.
The cost is estimated at $50,000, but there are $25,000 matching
grants available that the county hopes to secure, leaving $25,000 to
be paid for.
Other new funds raised through the campaign would be directed for
purpose-driven expenditures, such as $20,000 for site development
assistance and $10,000 for specific business development market
studies.
The not-for-profit organization plans to renew the campaign for
the next three years to get the county to the place where it should
be and where it can compete with other counties.
Bobbi Abbott announced that a new committee is in formation that
will focus on meeting the needs of and promoting existing
businesses. She said statistics show that 80 percent of new jobs
come from existing business expansions.
She also explained that developers seeking new locations often
stop by businesses to get a reading of the area. So, current
businesses serve as important ambassadors for future businesses.
The breakfast was held at the Integrity Data Business Suites, 110
N. Kickapoo St.
