Successful Five-Year Jacksonville, Illinois, Region Investor Campaign Wraps Up

The Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation (JREDC) is nearing the end of a successful five-year investment campaign. It’s through the generous financial contributions of our investors that JREDC is able to progress its mission to create, expand, recruit and retain job opportunities for Morgan and Scott Counties. 

Through the investor campaign, seven new investors have been added to the “family,” and current investments surpass 2022 totals by more than $16,000. Eleven continuing investors increased their investment amounts.

“As we near the end of our five-year investment campaign, I am encouraged by the continued and increased support of our current investors, as well as individuals and businesses new to our family of investors,” said Kristin Jamison, JREDC President. “Investments in JREDC allow our organization to boldly continue our work to strengthen the Jacksonville region.”

Investors’ commitment to the community facilitates attracting and retaining quality businesses and workforce. Business owners directly benefit when the economy and quality of life are elevated. Attracting new businesses and helping current businesses expand leads to more jobs, a broadened tax base and enhanced services for the benefit of the whole community.

“Many of our investors gathered during JREDC’s Annual Investors and Board of Directors Meeting in mid-February, and the conversation was extremely positive,” said Jamison.

Returns on investment for workforce and housing have been particularly promising. Through continued efforts, yet another pathway to meaningful careers has opened up for high school students in the Jacksonville, Illinois, area. JREDC worked with Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce, Reynolds Consumer Products and Jacksonville School District #117 officials to develop an experiential learning program at Reynolds to teach and promote the skills needed in today’s manufacturing sector. Reynolds Consumer Products’ two Jacksonville plants employ over 1,000 employees from the region.

JREDC worked with Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) to help plan new housing stock opportunities as part of an overall Community Revitalization Strategy. There is also a continuing focus to improve the region’s already impressive quality of place through high-speed, fiber internet service and downtown improvements. JREDC’s work as a Community Navigator facilitated over $3 million in local, state and federal grants to small businesses in Morgan, Scott and Cass Counties. In further revitalization efforts, former MacMurray College properties were added to the Enterprise Zone.

To provide a consolidated approach to promote the city as a top choice to visit, work and live, five Jacksonville-related organizations unveiled an all-new brand identity that aligns the groups. JREDC, Jacksonville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Jacksonville and the City of Jacksonville collaborated to brand the Jacksonville area as a premier destination for shopping, dining, outdoor recreation and industry.

“There is a positive momentum in the Morgan and Scott County region with increases in construction and sales tax receipts, and we are all committed to continuing our work critical to achieving greater success,” said Jamison.

Read JREDC’s Annual Report to review the Regional Economic Development 5-Year Plan. More information about becoming an investor can be found here.

Jacksonville Region Economic Development

JREDC is your time-saving connection to resources to accelerate your project by providing the facts and figures businesses need: statistical data, general community data, topic-specific information and comparative data. Email JREDC or phone 217.479.4627 for specific information on available buildings and sites, financing and incentives, labor market information, tax information, demographics, traffic counts, retail sales data, economic indicators and trends and zoning information.

JREDC’s Employment Opportunity page is a no-cost resource analytically proven to be a valuable “one-stop-shop” benefiting local employers and job seekers alike. 

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