 In November this
year, USDA announced that the development partnership received a
$99,000 Rural Business Enterprise Grant to acquire a building to
house a business incubator.A business incubator is a centralized
location for startup businesses to occupy for a period of three
years. The incubator has reduced rents and shared services,
providing startup businesses the opportunity to survive during the
tough first three-year period. National statistics show that small
business startups fail at a rate of 70 percent during the first five
years. However, businesses that go through a business incubator
program have a 70 percent survival rate during the first five years
of operation.
The development partnership anticipates opening the Logan County
Business Incubator in 2011.
In November 2009, the partnership received a $50,000 grant from
USDA to hire a firm to prepare an economic development master plan.
The partnership hired Vandewalle & Associates, represented by senior
planner Scott Harington. Vandewalle and the development partnership
conducted community meetings in May and unveiled the plan to the
public on Sept. 30.
During the May community meeting, Vandewalle facilitated a lunch
kickoff meeting for the plan, with special guest Richard Longworth,
who gave an overview of his book "Caught in the Middle."
The partnership attended Windpower 2010 in Dallas to recruit wind
developers and manufacturers to Logan County. While at the show, the
partnership met with a central Illinois-based company that is now
pursuing a wind project in Logan County.
The partnership has also been working with three other wind
developers who have meteorological towers in place to test
conditions for a potential wind farm. The development partnership is
expecting the first application in January.
Joel Smiley, executive director of the partnership, hosted a
session during the Illinois Wind Working Group state conference.
This was the second year he was asked to speak. The goal was to
promote wind development in Logan County.
The development partnership also hosted its first fundraising
luncheon. The luncheon featured Kevin Borgia from the Illinois Wind
Energy Association. Close to 70 people representing over 25
organizations attended the event at Lincoln College. The event
raised close to $10,000 in funding and in-kind contributions.
The development partnership assisted in the retention of Rusty's
in Lincoln. During a very tight window, the partnership facilitated
discussions between the new and former owners, ensuring the
restaurant's continued service in Lincoln.
In Emden, J's Place was the first business to go through The
Center of Success program that was launched in 2009. J's Place was
also interviewed on ABC in Springfield, promoting the new Logan
County program.
SEI was also recruited to Lincoln. SEI is an umbrella company
that houses several organizations and companies located throughout
central Illinois. The company's goal is to go from 25,000 square
feet to 100,000 square feet within 18 months. SEI located at the
former PPG facility.
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Helitech broke ground in June and completed construction in
October. Helitech performs waterproofing restoration and repair. The
St. Louis-based company is using the new Lincoln office to
consolidate several operations.
The partnership hired Bethany Henry 10 hours per week to perform
clerical and bookkeeping services.
The executive director conducted a series of interviews on CNN
Headline News that ran 24 hours a day for 10 days in Logan and
Sangamon counties. Two more interviews will run the last week of
December through the first week in January.
The partnership launched its first manufacturing council in 2010.
The purpose of the council is to bring manufacturers together for
networking and information relating to their business. Speakers in
2010 included state Rep. Rich Brauer; Jeff Torcelli, regional
manager from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity;
and James Senica, senior funding manager from the Illinois Finance
Authority.
The development partnership explored a potential brownfield
application for Lincoln and Logan County and will look again at the
potential opportunity in 2011. Once a brownfield is declared,
federal dollars are used to plan and perform cleanup of
environmental hazards such as lead paint and asbestos from older
buildings. Regardless if there is a brownfield designation in place,
property owners still must abide by environmental laws. The only
difference is that the brownfield designation provides federal grant
assistance.
The partnership underwent its first-ever audit, conducted by
Kerber Eck and Brackel. The audit demonstrated the partnership's
commitment that its funding is accountable to the community.
The partnership also converted its financial books over to CFA in
Lincoln. This move continues the commitment to accurate accounting.
Through Lincoln Rotary, the partnership's executive director
coordinated two community food drives.
[Text from file received from
Lincoln & Logan County
Development Partnership]
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