Southern Illinois Economic Development

02/22/2021

COMMUNITY COLLEGES

Because the Community Colleges have a unique geographic and social position in our communities they have the potential to serve as catalysis' to stimulate many initiatives and to play a significant role in contributing to the initiatives of others. To educate and train students in the knowledge and skills necessary to make a living becomes meaningless and self-defeating if the jobs and opportunities do not exist. Southern Illinois' most valuable exports have for a long time been coal, grain and our most highly educated young people. It's time to stop the "brain drain" and to start making more productive use of our human and natural resources.

In partnership with other institutions, the Community Colleges have the capacity to undertake community development initiatives such as:

• Research and Development
• Economic Development "Think Tanks"
• Facilitator for Chamber's-of-Commerce Networking
• Database for marketing information
• Business plan development services
• Marketing information
• Leadership Training
• Citizenship Training
• Life-skills Training
• Volunteer Activities

If the Community Colleges will expand the "common market" concept and direct their staff and facilities toward economic development they could have an impact that would dramatically change the context of development efforts of other agencies and institutions.

The Community Colleges are an untapped resource for research and development. The practical creative potential of staff and students needs to be released into the market place.

The leadership potential within the Community College network lies unused, restricted by a too narrow understanding of the mission of the colleges. There needs to be as much emphasis on "community" as there is on "college".

02/22/2021

Economic Development and Community

If economic development is to be effective and lasting, it must arise from the land itself and from the skills, interests, and intellect of the people.

Economic activities must align with the needs and wants of the people, their very life-style, if they are to become stable and permanent. To reach a higher order of prosperity, Southern Illinois communities must be united in their efforts and goals.

The wheat farms of Kansas, the cattle ranches of Texas, the fishing villages of Maine, are examples of economic activity giving identity to a region and to its people. Economic activities and life-style pass from generation to generation, giving livelihood, identity, and purpose to their citizens.

Economic development that does not “fit” the culture and resources of a region will always require more inputs to maintain it. Inputs in the form of tax breaks, low wages, free or low cost land, employee training at public expense, and other community concessions are required to keep the businesses in operation. When the concessions are withdrawn the business will move on to another location willing to supply the required inputs.

We have tried to attract outside business and industry to Southern Illinois for over 70 years with little overall improvement to our economy. Every time I hear of a SI community using TIF to attract business I am reminded of the ugly child whose parents tied a pork chop around their neck to get the puppies to play with them. Is Southern Illinois so unattractive that we must tie TIF round our neck to attract attention?! . What’s wrong with Southern Illinois that we should have to pay businesses to invest here?

Economic development that arises from the land and skills of the people will become permanent as the people acquire proficiency and pride in their work. We have a good land—full of good, hard-working people. If communities would establish an economic foundation based on native resources and skills, then business and industry would seek them out and not the other way round.

We have coal, limestone, and fluorspar; apple and peach orchards; vineyards and wineries. We raise corn and soybeans. We have two of the world’s great rivers, and the Shawnee National Forest. We have a beautiful land. We are the prize to be won, not beggars going hat in hand to anyone with a job to offer.

Southern Illinois would do better if we looked to our own resources and people than to continue our ineffective efforts of trying to entice businesses to relocate in Southern Illinois. Its time to try another way!

WE DO NOT DEMAND ENOUGH OF OURSELVES. WE THINK TOO SMALL AND SETTLE FOR TOO LITTLE.

02/21/2021

Intellectual Infrastructure

Successful community development requires policies and strategies that transcend narrowly defined economic development programs, measured only on a financial scale. Community development also involves, values, life-style, personal development, education and training, physical infrastructure, economic stability and quality of life considerations.

Southern Illinois communities must work with area colleges and universities to improve the "intellectual infrastructure" of the community. Successful communities of the future will use educational and training program to bring together entrepreneurs, businesses, academia, financiers, and others to promote new business development. The combined energy and imagination of business leaders and college and university personnel working together can create an entrepreneurial environment.

The ability of a community to seize the initiative and accept responsibility for its actions is the most dynamic and certain means of development. The future of any community depends upon the enthusiasm, creativity and dedication of its citizens. Community growth follows personal growth. Education and training will awaken the self-confidence and enterprise necessary for personal and community improvement.

02/21/2021

02/12/2021

"Why Regions Matter

How can regions participate in and take advantage of today's knowledge-based innovation economy? This ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION website provides tools to facilitate relevant insights and help answer the fundamental questions underlying regional development in today's changing economy.

The purpose of these tools is to help a region guide strategic discussions about where to invest scarce resources to build prosperity for the next generation. More specifically, these tools enable regional leaders to focus on 2 sets of core assets that create prosperity: brainpower and innovation." eda

Every town and every county in Southern Illinois should have a 100 year strategic plan detailing its economic development goals and how they intend to achieve them.

02/08/2021

COMPETITION OR COOPERATION

When I was in high school in the mid 1950's, the South Seven Conference was the arena for athletic dominance in Southern Illinois. Team members have changed since the 50's, but then it included; Marion, Herrin, Harrisburg, Benton, Centralia, Mt Vernon, and West Frankfort.

Athletic competition morphed into animosity and spread into politics and commerce. That animosity grew over the decades and became a major barrier to regional economic development. Only in very recent years, have community leaders began to realize that Southern Illinois does not have the population or economic and cultural base, or political clout for any one community or county to succeed at the expense of others.

Even though community leaders have begun to realize that economic development must be a regional undertaking, the old attitudes of rivalry and jealousy still prevent the cooperation and good will that must be established before progress can be made.
Competition must give way to collaboration and cooperation. Jealousy must be replaced by good will. Southern Illinois will succeed as a region or it will remain an economic and cultural backwater as a region. It's time to try another way!

Political leadership is the missing element in our decade's long pursuit of economic development.

01/24/2021

Economic Development and Community

If economic development is to be effective and lasting, it must arise from the land itself and from the skills, interests, and intellect of the people.

Economic activities must align with the needs and wants of the people, their very life-style, if they are to become stable and permanent. To reach a higher order of prosperity, Southern Illinois communities must be united in their efforts and goals.

The wheat farms of Kansas, the cattle ranches of Texas, the fishing villages of Maine, are examples of economic activity giving identity to a region and to its people. Economic activities and life-style pass from generation to generation, giving livelihood, identity, and purpose to their citizens.

Economic development that does not “fit” the culture and resources of a region will always require more inputs to maintain it. Inputs in the form of tax breaks, low wages, free or low cost land, employee training at public expense, and other community concessions are required to keep the businesses in operation. When the concessions are withdrawn the business will move on to another location willing to supply the required inputs.

We have tried to attract outside business and industry to Southern Illinois for over 70 years with little overall improvement to our economy. Every time I hear of a SI community using TIF to attract business I am reminded of the ugly child whose parents tied a pork chop around their neck to get the puppies to play with them. Is Southern Illinois so unattractive that we must tie TIF round our neck to attract attention?! . What’s wrong with Southern Illinois that we should have to pay businesses to invest here?

Economic development that arises from the land and skills of the people will become permanent as the people acquire proficiency and pride in their work. We have a good land—full of good, hard-working people. If communities would establish an economic foundation based on native resources and skills, then business and industry would seek them out and not the other way round.

We have coal, limestone, and fluorspar; apple and peach orchards; vineyards and wineries. We raise corn and soybeans. We have two of the world’s great rivers, and the Shawnee National Forest. We have a beautiful land. We are the prize to be won, not beggars going hat in hand to anyone with a job to offer.

Southern Illinois would do better if we looked to our own resources and people than to continue our ineffective efforts of trying to entice businesses to relocate in Southern Illinois. Its time to try another way!

WE THINK TOO SMALL AND SETTLE FOR TOO LITTLE.