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| AGI Media, A MedWestvaco Company - Wins 2007 Harold Cox Award For Industry of the Year JREDC Kickoff Breakfast to Officially Annouce and Launch It's New "Building ON Success" Campaign Local Firms Pan Gov's Gross Receipts Tax - Proposed Tax Would Halt Economic Growth Passavant Area Hospital - 2006 Harold Cox Award for Industry of the Year Good News for Jacksonville Region New Investment - New Expansion - New Jobs Local Economic Development Professional Elected to IDC Statewide Board JRECD Returns from Boot Camp Jacksonville, Illinois Ranks in Top 200 List of America's Dreamtowns There is Something New Coming to the Neighborhood - Applebee's JREDC Co-Sponsors 2006 Career Fair/Expo EMI Announces Additional Distribution Line and Jobs! JREDC Relocates! Congratulations to the 2005 Harold Cox Award for Industry of the Year Winner Population in Morgan County Increases Jacksonville Entrerprise Zone Instrumental in the Creation of 200 Jobs in 2005 Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corp. Workforce Availability Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corp. Employment Figures Positive for Morgan & Scott County Innovative Tread Replacement (I.T.R.) 2004 Harold Cox Industry of the Year Rural Economic Development "Yesterday's Success...Today's Trends...Tomorrow's Vision" JREDC Earns Accreditation and National Marketing Awards Wausau Supply Company Continues Growth  AGI MEDIA – A MEADWESTVACO COMPANY2007 HAROLD COX AWARD FOR INDUSTRY OF THE YEAR NEWS RELEASE - FEBRUARY, 2008 JACKONVILLE, IL– The Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation (JREDC) takes pleasure in announcing that AGI Media has been selected to receive the 2007 Harold Cox Award for Industry of the Year. JREDC representatives will present the award to Amy Peters, AGI Human Resource Manager during the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting which was held in January. The Industry of the Year Award has been presented since 1990. In 1996 after the death of Harold Cox, a leader in economic development, the award was renamed to honor both Harold and the industry that exhibits outstanding business development and activity that enhances regional economic viability. The Existing Industry Committee of the Jacksonville Regional EDC, reviews nominations and selects the award recipient based on their capital investment, growth, workforce development, community and regional partnerships and service efforts as well as their industry leadership. AGI Media is a leading global provider of media packaging and services. They supply the music, video, multimedia, software, electronic games, disk media promotion and gift card markets with unique packaging solutions. AGI produced projects have garnered numerous GRAMMY and ALEX nominations and awards for packaging excellence. Last year, AGI made capital investments in equipment, facility updates, renovations and improvements totaling over $1 million. This investment resulted in the creation of 50 new jobs. AGI takes pride in the fact that a majority of the updates and renovations were done by local businesses. AGI employees participate each year in the United Way campaign. AGI also supports the Salvation Army during the holidays and sponsors community events such as the Special Olympics, Rotary Charity Golf and an array of athletic programs.  AGI encourages their employees at all levels, to provide meaningful input in the administration of all programs – from safety and quality to training. AGI Human Resources Manager Amy Peters said “The employee’s hard work, ingenuity and loyalty are what make our business a success and have made this expansion possible.”Congratulations to AGI Media and their associates for winning this prestigious award! Back to top.
JREDC KICKOFF BREAKFAST TO OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCE AND LAUNCH IT'S NEW "BUILDING ON SUCCESS" CAMPAIGN NEWS RELEASE JACKONVILLE, IL– The Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation (JREDC) will hold a Kickoff Breakfast to officially announce and to launch its new Building ON Success Campaign. The campaign is a fundraising effort to support the JREDC’s next 5 year economic development initiative that begins in 2008. “We have named our new campaign – “Building on Success” – because we are going to use the knowledge gained, the lessons learned, the mistakes made and the successes accomplished during the past 5 years as a foundation to build upon as we take Morgan and Scott counties to the next level of economic development”- says Terry Denison, President of the JREDC. “I like things just the way they are” – is a normal statement made by “CAVE” people (citizens against virtually everything). However, change is a constant. Things have been, are, and always will be changing. As a region, we are either falling behind, (if we do nothing,) or we move ahead, sustain our momentum and continue our commitment to be outstanding in a crowded competitive environment. Economic development does not just happen! It is a highly competitive business. In order to be successful, Morgan and Scott County must have, and, must support a formal economic development organization (the JREDC). As promised, over the past five years the Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation has successfully impacted the economic well-being of Morgan and Scott Counties by substantially increasing capital investment, attracting new employers and supporting the efforts of existing businesses to expand. For the $1.6 million invested with the JREDC, a return on investment of $100 million has been realized. Over the next five years, the JREDC plans to build upon past success and the skills and knowledge gained to increasingly improve the economic health of the region with more new employers, providing existing employers with increased support for retention and expansion, and again increase capital investment. In conclusion, Terry Denison stated – “Our challenges are formidable and our goals are aggressive, but, we have proven that we can fact any challenge and meet our goals”. The purpose of the Kickoff Breakfast is to thank JREDC’s past investors, report on our past five year goals and to announce our plans and goals for the next five years. The highlight of the breakfast will be keynote speaker Mr. Jack Schultz. Mr. Schultz is a premier authority in economic development and is recognized for his ongoing research and vast knowledge of rural America. Jack has made a career of studying why some communities boom while others slowly die. ATTENTION MEDIA: After the Kickoff Breakfast, Mr. Schultz and the Board Members of the Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation will be available for questions and interviews. Back to top. PLOCAL FIRM PANS GOV'S GROSS RECEIPT TAX - PROPOSED TAX WOULD HALT ECONOMIC GROWTH, DRIVE FIRMS OUT OF STATE BY KATE RAMSAY - Journal-Courier JACKONVILLE, IL– Ten area business leaders spoke out against Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s proposed gross receipts tax at a press conference Tuesday morning. The tax, they said, which would be levied on every transaction by companies with more than $2 million in gross receipts, would halt economic growth statewide and drive companies out of Illinois. Also troubling, they claim, is that Illinois families aren’t aware of the effects the tax will have on them. Ginny Fanning, president of the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce, said an Illinois family of four will pay an extra $2,000 a year for goods and services under the gross receipts tax.  Richard Brahler, owner of Brahler’s Truckers Supply Inc., speaks out against the proposed state gross receipts tax along with other local business owners Tuesday morning at the Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation offices.Back to top. PASSAVANT AREA HOSPITAL 2006 HAROLD COX AWARD FOR INDUSTRY OF THE YEAR JACKSONVILLE, IL – The Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation (JREDC) takes pleasure in announcing that PASSAVANT AREA HOSPITAL has been selected to receive the 2006 Harold Cox Award for Industry of the Year. JREDC representatives will present the award to Chester Wynn, Passavant President and CEO during the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting which is being held tonight. The Industry of the Year Award has been presented since 1990. In 1996 after the death of Harold Cox, a leader in economic development, the award was renamed to honor both Harold and the industry that exhibits outstanding business development and activity that enhances regional economic viability. The Existing Industry Committee of the Jacksonville Regional EDC, reviews nominations and selects the award recipient based on their capital investment, growth, workforce development, community and regional partnerships and service efforts as well as their industry leadership. Passavant has consistently made capital investments in their facility, last year alone over $4 million. Passavant employs over 825 people which places them as one of the top 10 of major employers for our region. Passavant Hospital provides a number of free health education programs and screenings to the community. In cooperation with the Health and Community Agencies Committee of the Chamber, Passavant sponsored a new fitness event in Community Park, which they hope will be an annual event. They are also active sponsors of numerous events and other non-profits in the community, such as the Tri-County Relay for Life, West Central Mass Transit District, Senior Bus, Play for All Park, Jacksonville Symphony Society, and the Jacksonville Theatre Guild. Passavant’s employees participate each year in the United Way campaign, and this year exceeded their goal. Passavant has taken a role in industry leadership by installing a new Picture Archiving Communications System (PACS), which allows physicians and surgeons access via computer to patient x-rays, CT, MRI, Ultrasound and Nuclear Medicine anytime and from anywhere. Passavant has received numerous awards and recognition, among them, is the 2006 Distinguished Hospital Award for Patient Safety. Passavant is one of only 124 non-teaching hospitals in the country to receive the award, and one of only 11 hospitals in Illinois. Passavant continually strives to provide competitive compensation and an excellent benefits package to its employees. Passavant’s employees are complemented by a caring medical staff, and a committed group of volunteers. They are all “Friends Caring for Friends.” Congratulations to Passavant Area Hospital and their associates for winning this prestigious award! Back to top. GOOD NEWS FOR JACKSONVILLE REGION NEW INVESTMENT – NEW EXPANSION – NEW JOBS JACKSONVILLE, IL – Jacksonville Mayor Ron Tendick, Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation (JREDC) President Terry Denison, and AGI Media Plant Manager Matt Dickman are very happy to announce another expansion at the AGI Media facility. AGI Media, a MeadWestvaco Company, is a leading global provider of media packaging and services. They supply the music, video, multimedia, software, electronic games, disk media promotions and gift card markets with unique packaging solutions. AGI produced projects have garnered numerous GRAMMY and ALEX nominations and awards for packaging excellence. Currently underway, is a $1,000,000 investment in equipment, facility updates, renovations and improvements. This investment brings with it 25 - 35 NEW JOBS! Applications for experienced printing press operators, bindery operators and other manufacturing positions are already being accepted. Presently, at the Jacksonville facility, AGI’s employment average is 105 - full time and seasonal employees. Enterprise Zone benefits are helping make this project possible. AGI Media Plant Manager, Matt Dickman, said “We want to say thanks to our partners, the JREDC and the City of Jacksonville, who have been very helpful with this expansion project. I also want to compliment and thank the employees here at our AGI plant. Their hard work, ingenuity and loyalty have helped make this expansion possible. We wouldn’t be where we are today without them.” Terry Denison, JREDC President, said “This is a great example of what we have said many times before – most of a community’s economic growth comes from its existing industries.” Denison also noted that “Good employees make a company. Companies stay and grow where they have a good work force, where they are appreciated and where their cost of doing business is reasonable. We think that the Morgan and Scott County region is that kind of community.” Back to top. LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONAL ELECTED TO IDC STATEWIDE BOARD  MICHAEL R. LANE - ILLINOIS DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL –Springfield, IL - Terry Denison, President of the Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation (JREDC), was recently elected to the Illinois Development Council (IDC) Board of Directors for a 2-year term. The IDC is a not-for-profit association focused on providing legislative advocacy, education and marketing opportunities for economic development professionals throughout Illinois. Denison has served as President of JREDC since October 2005. Previously, he served as the Executive Director of the Lawrence County Industrial Development Council in Lawrenceville, Illinois for 14 years. While in Lawrenceville, Denison was instrumental in the creation of 1,800 new jobs and reducing the unemployment rate from 15% to 6%. According to IDC Chairman of the Board Craig Coil, "Terry's experience brings valued leadership to the activities of the Illinois Development Council." Terry Denison is a 1991 graduate of EDI (Economic Development Institute), an honors graduate from U.S. Army Leadership Training Schools and holds a B.S. from Western Illinois University in Agricultural Education. Terry is now serving as the immediate Past President of the Illinois Enterprise Zone Association. He is also a Rotary-Paul Harris Fellow and is involved in many community organizations. Back to top. JREDC RETURNS FROM BOOT CAMP  JACKSONVILLE REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION – The staff of the Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation (JREDC) has just returned from “Boot Camp” – Economic Development Boot Camp, that is.Jearrie Wood, Bonni Prather and Terry Denison along with JREDC Board Vice Chairman Chuck Frost recently attended an Economic Development Boot Camp sponsored by Soyland Power Cooperative, Inc. Mr. Aaron Ridenour, Marketing and Business Development Manager, facilitated the event. The Boot Camp was presented by CH2M Lockwood Greene. They are well known and well respected world class private consulting firm. Lockwood Greene is known for taking a project from a concept to full operation. Economic Development Organizations from six communities in Central Illinois participated in the Boot camp: Jacksonville representing Morgan and Scott County; Rushville-Schuyler County; Carthage-Hancock County; Pittsfield-Pike County; Mattoon/Charleston-Coles County and Greene County. The purpose of the event was to educate, discuss and review some of the key elements of economic development. The major focus for participants was to learn what companies look for and require in a formal proposal from a community. “Our business is the most competitive one in the world. There are thousands of organizations like ours that are all after the same thing. Anytime we have the opportunity to improve our efforts, we want to take advantage of it. We won’t win every proposal, but, it won’t be because we didn’t try our best”, said Terry Denison, President. The JREDC submitted a formal proposal on a fictitious manufacturing prospect named “Project Lean”. Vice President Bonni Prather took the lead in preparing the formal proposal with the assistance of Jearrie Wood and Terry Denison. During the critique portion of the event, the JREDC received an “A-Excellent” grade. And, during the morning seminar portion at the event, the JREDC’s proposal was highlighted as being the way proposals should be prepared and presented. Everyone at the JREDC is delighted and honored to have received such a nice compliment and good grade. “I was pleased to be a participant in the event and am proud of our staff. They have proven to be an excellent team and demonstrate a high level of organization and professionalism” said Vice Chairman Chuck Frost. We thank Soyland Power for arranging the Economic Development Boot-Camp! Back to top. JACKSONVILLE, IL RANKS IN TOP 200 LIST OF AMERICA'S DREAMTOWNS JACKSONVILLE REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION – In the August 7, 2006 edition of bizjournals.com, Jacksonville, Illinois placed 199th based on its small town quality of life in America. The goal of the study was to identify America’s most attractive micropolitan area. Bizjournals.com identified 577 micropolitans. A micropolitan consists of a county or cluster of counties that are economically dependent on a central city, town or village and has between 10,000 and 50,000 residents. Each of the micropolitans were rated in these 12 categories; population growth, income growth, per capita income, small business growth, small business concentration, management or professional jobs, ease of commuting, affordable housing, low taxation, college degrees, advanced degrees and proximity to major metropolitan area. Based on information from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, bizjournals.com was able to identify and rank communities where the economy is strong, traffic is light, the cost of living is moderate, adults are well-educated, and access to big-city attractions is reasonably good. Back to top. THERE IS SOMETHING NEW COMING TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD - APPLEBEE'S JACKSONVILLE REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION – Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar is coming to Jacksonville!! The JREDC was instrumental in helping bring the new Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar to Jacksonville. The process started when JREDC President Terry Denison received “insider” information about Applebee’s possible interest in Jacksonville in early November, 2005. A determined campaign which encompassed almost 9 months was initiated. After numerous phone calls and e-mails, we were able to convince them that Jacksonville should be the location of their next new restaurant. Over the next several months, a site selection process was conducted. The desired location was the east lot in front of the Hampton Inn on West Morton. In addition to the site selection process, the JREDC also served as the liaison for licensing requirements, building permits, public relations contacts and other location needs. We are pleased to learn that most of the employment opportunities would be offered to the local area and the number of employees should be in the 50-60 range. Obviously, the JREDC is excited about this new business. This was also Terry’s first successful new recruit since taking over the reins of the JREDC. And it is our feeling that this is just the first of many more successful projects for the Jacksonville Region!
Back to top. JREDC CO-SPONSORS 2006 CAREER FAIR/EXPO JACKSONVILLE REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION – The 2006 Career Fair and Job Expo was held at Illinois College’s Bruner Fitness Center. The Expo offered the opportunity for job seekers to meet and talk with more than 90 national and local employers. This year, national companies such as Walt Disney World, Archer Daniels Midland, Wells Fargo, Abercrombie & Fitch and Tommy Hilfiger were featured. Local employers included among many, Passavant Area Hospital, Hertzberg New Method, Blue Cross-Blue Shield, Pathway Services, Home Depot and Lundia. All branches of the military, as well as the Illinois State Police were also available to discuss opportunities. The Illinois Department of Employment Security spearheads this event annually and was pleased to have so many exhibitors. Admission was free and there were over 300 job seekers in attendance. Job seekers were encouraged to bring along their resumes and network with prospective employers. Employment opportunities included a variety from entry level to salaried positions. Additional sponsors of the event included; Illinois College, MacMurray College, Lincoln Land Community College, Illinois Department of Human Services, Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce, West Central Mass Transit District and WLDS/WEAI Radio.
Back to top. EMI ANOUNCES ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION LINE AND JOBS JACKSONVILLE REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION – According to a recent article, EMI recently announced that a separate distribution company, and part of the EMI family, Caroline Distribution of Memphis, has relocated to Jacksonville. The move to Jacksonville is expected to be up and running by the end of the summer. EMI is anticipating hiring about 25 new full time employees! Congratulations on your growth! Back to top. JREDC RELOCATES JACKSONVILLE REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION – The JREDC, which has been housed in the Jacksonville Municipal, Building has moved! For over 10 years, this office has been housed in the Municipal Building. The City of Jacksonville generously provided an 800 square foot office area. However, with the addition of another staff member in 2002, and an increase in our program and marketing activities, we have outgrown our office. Although we were able to utilize every available square foot of the space in the Municipal Building, we needed more space to adequately accommodate visitors, staff offices and projects. We are grateful to the City of Jacksonville for their hospitality over the years. Although we had searched for available space for some time, we had not been successful in finding the perfect fit. It was late-December when the JREDC was approached with a possible office location in the US Bank Building. It was perfect, located on the 1st floor with all the amenities we were looking for! After completing lease negotiations, security clearances and remodeling, our space was ready and we began the moving process. The staff and the Board of Directors again offer a special thank you to the City of Jacksonville for all their hospitality and many thanks to the various city employees who assisted us with our move. We’re very pleased with our new space and wish to thank Jon Erickson and US Bank for their generosity. We look forward to continued success in our new offices.
Back to top.  CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2005 HAROLD COX AWARD FORINDUSTRY OF THE YEAR WINNER JACKSONVILLE REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION – It is with great honor that we proudly present the 2005 Harold Cox Award for Industry of the Year to Westermeyer Industries, Inc., Bluffs, Illinois. CONGRATULATIONS! In September of 2001, with over 11 years of experience, an office in his home, and a 400 square foot backyard workshop - Westermeyer Industries was launched. With 2 employees and 6 months later, Westermeyer had all the necessary systems in place, and 2 months later had their first order. The business quickly outgrew the workshop and was relocated to a 1,000 square foot shop on his parents farm. In 2002 Westermeyer Industries broke ground for a 6,000 square foot facility. They moved into their new facility in April of 2003. Business continued to grow and by 2004 they realized a 300% growth in sales. Employment went from 5 to 20. In 2005, an additional 4,000 square feet was added to their facility to accommodate another 80% increase in growth and an additional 5 temporary employees were hired by Westermeyer. With the anticipation of another 50% growth in 2006, Westermeyer has broke ground for another addition that will add 20,000 square feet to their facility. When complete the facility will have grown to 30,000 square feet! Westermeyer’s $1.2 million in investments over the past 3 years, and their anticipation of hiring an additional 20 employees, made the Industry of the Year selection process an easy one! Past Recipients of the Harold Cox Award for Industry of the Year 1990-2004 1990 - John Deere Life, Mobile Chemical, Bound to Stay Bound 1991 - EMI Manufacturing, GTE 1992 – Kraft Food Ingredients, Passavant Hospital 1993 – National Starch & Chemical, Jacksonville Correctional Center 1994 – Production Press, Nestle 1995 – EMI Manufacturing, Landes Trucking 1996 – National Starch & Chemical 1997 – Tenneco Packaging 1998 – Illinois Road Contractors 1999 – Eli Bridge Company, Brahlers Truckers Supply 2000 – MYND (CSC) 2001 – ILL-MO Products 2002 – Pactiv 2003 – Jacksonville Machine 2004 – ITR, Inc. Back to top. POPULATION IN MORGAN COUNTY INCREASES JACKSONVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE – The U.S. Census Bureau has compiled the following information about daytime population. The population in Morgan County increases by 1,740 people each day due to the additional number of people coming here to work. Morgan County increases by 4.8% and is one of only 25 counties out of a total of 102 counties in Illinois to see an increase. For the City of Jacksonville, the daytime population increases by 5,891 or 31.1%. These are people, including workers, who are present during normal business hours, in contrast to the resident population present during the evening and nighttime hours. This is tremendous news for Jacksonville’s economy. The out-of-towners serve as a bonus buying source which is a real opportunity for local retailers and professionals. These commuters are eating, shopping, and using local services. From this, we see that Morgan County is a regional center, and that is one more good reason to own a business here. This data has been compiled from the 2000 Census and is available at www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/daytime/daytimepopcalc.html Back to top. JACKSONVILLE ENTERPRISE ZONE INSTRUMENTAL IN THE CREATION OF 200 JOBS IN 2005 JACKSONVILLE, IL – “2005 was another good year for the Jacksonville Enterprise Zone” said Terry L. Denison, Executive Director of the Jacksonville REGIONAL Economic Development Corporation. The total amount of new construction projects, which are based on permits which are issued by the Community Development Department for the City of Jacksonville, and reports from the Morgan County Planning Commission, was over 32 million dollars. Of that total, 22% (7.2 million dollars) of the permits issued were for new construction projects located within the Jacksonville and Morgan County Enterprise Zone. 14% of these projects were for residential projects; 18% were for commercial projects and 68% were for industrial projects. He continued to say that “The commercial and industrial new construction projects accounted for approximately 200 new jobs for the Jacksonville region.” An Enterprise Zone provides Real Estate tax abatement; sales tax exemptions; job tax credits; income tax deductions and other state tax incentives. Jacksonville received their grant of approval for an Enterprise Zone by the State of Illinois in March of 1990. The original Zone encompassed the downtown area and a part of the northeast section of Jacksonville. The Zone was expanded a few years later to include additional industrial, commercial and residential projects in other areas of the city. Then, in 2002, the Zone was expanded to include an industrial area along the Illinois River in Meredosia. The Jacksonville Enterprise Zone seeks to attract new industry, expand existing business and promote neighborhood revitalization and development. Back to top. JACKSONVILLE REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP. WORKFORCE AVAILABILITY JACKSONVILLE, IL – Workforce availability is one of the main concerns of any business considering expanding or locating in any community. It is also one of the first questions asked by prospects who are looking at our region. Recently, the Jacksonville REGIONAL Economic Development Corporation, under Assistant Director Bonni Prather’s direction, conducted an “Employee Residence Analysis Summary” Report. She contacted major employers in the Morgan, Scott and Cass County areas. They were asked to provide a count of their employees by zip code. The data was then summarized to provide a total count by zip code, regardless of the employer. The analysis determined that employees working in this tri-county area reside primarily in the following 16 county areas: Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Fulton, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, Mason, McDonough, Menard, Morgan, Pike, Sangamon, Schuyler and Scott. Labor data obtained from the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) demonstrated that there was a total available labor force of 288,000 people in this 16 county area. And over 12,000 of these people were unemployed and looking for work. The implications for prospective companies looking at our area, as identified by this study, is that a large quantity of available workers can be found within a reasonable commuting distance. Bonni concluded by saying “The report summarized the available labor force numbers, but, what it can not demonstrate is what good, loyal and hard working people we have in our area. They are trainable and ready to go to work.” Back to top. JACKSONVILLE REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP. EMPLOYMENT FIGURES POSITIVE FOR MORGAN & SCOTT COUNTY JACKSONVILLE, IL – 2005 was a year of positive gains in employment for Morgan and Scott Counties. In January, 16,610 residents of Morgan County were employed and 2,638 residents of Scott County were employed. At the end of the year, 18,230 residents of Morgan County were employed and 2,900 residents of Scott County were employed. Combined together, that is a positive gain of almost 1,900 new jobs for our region. Most of these new jobs were created by companies that already call this region “home” stated Terry Denison, Executive Director of the JREDC. “We appreciate each one of them and everyone should be thankful that they have chosen our region to do business in and to provide job opportunities for our residents.” From a historical perspective, the highest “average” number of employed residents in Morgan County was 18,353 which occurred in 1990. For Scott County, it was 2,832 in 2000. Accordingly, it appears that both Morgan and Scott Counties are near their “best” for previous employment numbers. This is positive news for our region. Terry concluded by saying “And, with the opening of Home Depot, the Hampton Inn and a couple of other prospects which the JREDC is working with, 2006 looks to be even better!” “We have a great region and with everyone’s help, we will make it even better.” Back to top. INNOVATIVE TREAD REPLACEMENT (I.T.R.) 2004 HAROLD COX INDUSTRY OF THE YEAR JACKSONVILLE, IL (January 2005) The Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation takes pleasure in announcing that Innovative Tread Replacement (I.T.R.) Inc. has been selected to receive the 2004 Harold Cox Award for Industry of the Year. EDC representatives will present the award to ITR’s Controller Mike Coop during the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting on Thursday, January 29. Following are highlights of ITR’s recent accomplishments: Growth: ITR has experienced very strong growth the past few years. The company realized that the trucking and transportation industry in Illinois and surrounding states have been hit extremely hard by rising costs. Tires are the third largest expense to trucking companies after payroll and fuel. ITR sought ways to assist fleet managers and truck owners by reducing their overall tire costs with a high quality, low cost tire retread alternative. To do so, management looked in the United States and overseas to find the best materials and equipment to manufacture superior products to meet its customers’ needs. The first step was to secure state-of-the-art equipment that was necessary to bring the quality of a retreaded truck tire to the same level of quality as a brand new tire. The next step was to locate suppliers for raw materials that could provide rubber compounding and technology to supply increased mileage while keeping the acquisition price in line with the market. A long term supply agreement with two premier suppliers has been secured. Marangoni S.P.A. of Verona, Italy supplies their proprietary Ringtread rubber and Kayel Rubber Products of Penang, Malaysia supplies the Flattread rubber for two distinct product options that have truly set ITR apart from its competition. Quality Improvements: The recent quality improvement that is most evident is the addition of a special piece of equipment call the Spectra ITTS3000. It is a specially built piece of equipment that uses laser shearography to scan each tire before manufacturing to ensure that there is no hidden damage that could later result in a failure on the road. The process time is under 3 minutes per unit, so it does not cause a bottleneck in the manufacturing flow and every tire can be scanned to ensure new tire quality. Additionally, after the tires have been manufactured and approved by our final inspectors, another pressure test is conducted on each tire in a specially designed chamber. Each unit is inflated to pressures of 30, 60 and 90 pounds per foot during the test to guarantee its integrity. These two tests combined with our trained inspection staff’s careful scrutiny makes ITR’s retread the best in the market. Community Service: The company has just established its home in Jacksonville due to a fire in late 2003, so involvement in community service has been limited thus far. ITR’s parent company, Brahler Industries, sponsors Bowl for Kids’ Sake, Our Saviour Parish Dream’s Campaign, Morgan County CareTrak Program, Jacksonville Police Department K-9 Unit, the Salvation Army and several local high school events. The company also participates in the JREDC Building Tomorrow campaign and has an employee on the JREDC’s Board of Directors. Teamwork/Employee Involvement: The key to having a good team headed for the same goal is breeding an environment of good communication between management and employees. This is something ITR strives for everyday and hopes to continue to improve. Management does not believe in a philosophy of “business as usual” and is ever striding towards new, innovative and more efficient ways to operate. Employees are invited to participate in decision making to a great extent and also to share ideas they may have. This inclusive approach places an emphasis on teamwork and creates a good work environment. ITR is a great place to work because it is a young, growing company that is on the cutting edge of its industry! Greatest Achievement: Through good planning and problem solving, ITR was able to overcome the fire that claimed its home in October 2003. In less than 90 days the company was able to move from Granite City, Illinois to Jacksonville, convert and tool the “Eastgate Spec Building” and begin production. If this task was not difficult enough, the company was about to begin a manufacturing process change at the time of the fire. As the new factory in Jacksonville was being brought on line, new materials were being ordered, employees were being trained on new equipment and processes, and the sales force was becoming acquainted with a new product line to sell. When the Jacksonville factory began production, employees were well prepared to manufacture the new product and introduce it to the marketplace. These were both monumental tasks and were completed without any significant loss of business. It was a great effort by the whole ITR Team. The completion of the offices and warehouses should be finalized within the next 30-60 days after which time ITR plans to host an open house. As a result of the accomplishments above, the Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation is pleased to add ITR to the distinguished list of previous winners. Congratulations to ITR and their associates for winning this prestigious award! Industry of the Year Award Winners 2004: Innovative Tread Replacement (I.T.R.) 2003: Jacksonville Machine, Inc. 2002: PACTIV Corporation 2001: Ill-Mo Products Company 2000: Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) 1999: Brahler’s Trucker Supplies / Eli Bridge Company 1998: Illinois Road Contractors 1997: Tenneco Packaging 1996: National Starch & Chemical Company 1995: EMI Manufacturing (USA)/ Landes Trucking 1994: Nestle Beverage Company/ Production Press 1993: Jacksonville Correctional Center / National Starch & Chemical Co. 1992: Kraft Food Ingredients / Passavant Hospital 1991: Capitol-EMI Manufacturing, Inc. / GTE 1990: John Deere Life / Mobil Chemical / Bound to Stay Bound Back to top. RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT "Yesterday's Success...Today's Trends...Tomorrow's Vision" JACKSONVILLE, IL (September 23, 2004) The Jacksonville region honored 40 years of economic development September 23 at Illinois College with the more than 120 on hand given a vision of what to expect for the next 40. The event was highlighted by the recognition of the original founders and investors of Jacksonville Area Industrial Corporation. The four surviving founders of JAIC - John E. Bellatti, T.C. Rammelkamp, Elmer B. Lukeman and Don Atkins - were honored as well as more than 30 local companies who invested in economic development in 1964 and remain committed today. "Jacksonville has always been fortunate to be a community interested in the town and interested in the city's welfare," said T.C. Rammelkamp, JAIC's first president. Jack Schultz, CEO of Effingham-based Agracel and author of "Boomtown USA, The 7 Keys to Big Success in Small Towns", provided an invigorating vision of what the Jacksonville region can accomplish with a unified effort. Jeff Finkle, President and CEO of the Washington D.C.-based International Economic Development Council, laid out the good and bad of the current economic trends of Rural America. Jeff Finkle also awarded accreditation to the JREDC and presented the organization with three national maketing awards from the IEDC. JREDC is one of 26 economic development organizations accredited by IEDC in North America and the only current group accredited in Illinois. JAIC was incorporated in 1964 with the goal of creating jobs through recruitment of new industry and assisting the growth of existing companies. To that end JAIC helped attract such companies as EMI Music Operations (formerly Capitol Records), Nestlé (formerly Carnation), United Gilsonite Laboratories and BlueCross BlueShield to name but a few. In 1991 the city of Jacksonville, the village of South Jacksonville, Morgan County, the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce and other stakeholders formed the Jacksonville Area Economic Development Council (JAEDC) to coordinate the local economic development efforts under a broader mission. The two groups merged in 2000 to form the Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation - a "one-stop shop" for industrial development in Morgan and Scott counties. A special thanks to those companies who were founding members of Jacksonville Area Industrial Corporation in 1964 and whom remain investors in JREDC today:
Great leadership has been key to our long-term success. Thanks to those who have served in a leadership role during the past 40 years:
Back to top. JREDC EARNS ACCREDITATION AND NATIONAL MARKETING AWARDS JACKSONVILLE, IL (September 23, 2004) The president and CEO of the International Economic Development Council awarded accreditation and three national marketing awards to the Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation Thursday as part of the group's 40th anniversary Breakfast Symposium at Illinois College. Jeff Finkle recognized JREDC as one of 26 economic development organizations accredited by IEDC in North America and the only current group accredited in Illinois. To achieve the status of an Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO) a comprehensive peer review process is undertaken involving documentation review and an onsite visit. Each phase is designed to evaluate information about the structure, organization, funding, programs, and staff of the economic development organization. JREDC was also awarded first place nationally in three marketing categories by IEDC. The 2004 International Economic Development Council Promotional Awards were presented in recognition of JREDC's "CD Case" Memento, "2003 Annual Report: A Building Year" and "2003 Chicago Allies Reception" Special Event. JREDC has won 8 IEDC marketing awards since 2001. The memento reflects Jacksonville's unique standing as the home of EMI Music Operations‚ North American Distribution Center. The Special Event for Chicago allies at Roosevelt University attracted corporate real estate brokers and site selectors along with utility, railroad and state government allies. Based in Washington, D.C., IEDC is the largest membership association serving economic and community development professionals in the world with more than 4,000 members. For more information visit www.iedconline.org. Back to top. WAUSAU SUPPLY COMPANY CONTINUES GROWTH JACKSONVILLE, IL (Austust 2004) A dozen state and local dignitaries broke ground with Ron Klimisch, owner of Wausau Supply Company, to mark the company's second expansion in as many years. Headquartered in Wausau, WI with the local facility opening in 2002, the company is a wholesale distributor of building materials to retail lumberyards in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The expansion project will introduce the customized painting of fiber cement siding to the Jacksonville facility. This finishing operation will compliment the existing warehouse and distribution facility. Employment Currently employing 10 workers for warehousing and distribution, Wausau Supply Company expects to grow its employment to 25 for the Jacksonville facility with the addition of the finishing process. Initially, four new employees will be hired within the next year. Building/Investment Statistics Wausau Supply is expanding their Jacksonville facility by an additional 38,400 square feet to bring the total building size to 134,400 square feet. This is the second expansion since the original building was constructed in 2002. The latest project represents an investment in building and equipment of at least $1.5 million. Based on anticipated future market growth, the facility may expand ultimately to 200,000 square feet on its 25-acre site. Construction Information H&H Construction of Carlinville will serve as the general contractor and built the original facility along with the 2003 expansion as well. Evan Lloyd Associates, Inc. of Springfield will serve as the architect, with electrical and plumbing work provided by Jacksonville's Gano Electrical Contracting and Doyle Plumbing and Heating respectively. Local Project Assistance The City of Jacksonville will extend sewer lines along Woods Lane from Morton Avenue to Route 104 to accommodate Wausau Supply's expansion as well as any future residential growth in the area. Back to top. |
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