Thursday, March 29, 2012

Enbridge Expanding Flanagan South Pipeline Project


FLANAGAN — An oil pipeline project that will stretch from Flanagan in Livingston County to Oklahoma will carry an increased load of Canadian oil, according to plans announced by Enbridge.
The Canadian oil firm said Monday it plans to upsize the Flanagan South Pipeline from its initial design of a 30-inch pipeline to a 36-inch pipeline capable of carrying 600,000 barrels per day.
The expanded project would boost the price tag of the pipeline from $1.9 billion to $2.9 billion, according to Enbridge. Construction is expected to begin next year and be completed in 2014.
Enbridge spokesman Joe Martucci said the pipeline would generally follow the existing Spearhead pipeline built in the 1960s.
In Central Illinois, the project would cut through LaSalle, Livingston, Woodford and Tazewell counties before heading southwest to Quincy and into Missouri on its way to Cushing, Okla.
Livingston County Board member Carl Borngasser views the project as a possible economic boost for the area.
“I hope there’s new jobs with it because we do need them,” said Borngasser, who said he supports the project.
The project will carry crude oil as part of a larger pipeline between Alberta, Canada, and the Gulf of Mexico.
According to Enbridge, a proposed pipeline between the Flanagan terminal and an oil hub in Patoka in southern Illinois remains on hold because of economic conditions.
In 2010, an appellate court upheld a decision by the Illinois Commerce Commission granting Enbridge permission to build the Central Illinois pipeline.


Read more: http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/enbridge-expanding-flanagan-south-pipeline-project/article_407e0298-792c-11e1-a9dc-001a4bcf887a.html#ixzz1qXr70su2



The pipeline expects to employ 1000 people for the Illinois portion of the pipeline - GLCEDC

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Spuds Inc. Featured in Huffington Post Small Business Spotlight

The new business start-up in Dwight, IL - Spuds Inc., LLC. is featured in an article on the Huffington Post website.  The article details the personal tragedy of Tim and Jill Wymore that led them to start their own line of plastic-free products for children.  The story can be found at here.

The GLCEDC and three local banks participated in a mortgage on the Spuds Inc. facility to allow them to free up cash for their launch. You can support this local business by buying their products online.  Learn more about Spuds Inc. by visiting their website www.spudsinc.com.

Enterprise U Application Deadline March 16

Register now for the Enterprise U program co-hosted by the GLCEDC and being held at Kankakee Community College.  The application deadline is March 16.  The application can be found at www.enterprise-u.com.  New entrepreneurs and small business owners will benefit from the small business "boot camp".  Even if you do not want to submit a business plan in the competition, you can register for the program.  These classes will benefit any small business.  Courses include:


  • Pre-Business Workshop—April 5, 2012 6–8 p.m.
  • Business Plan Writing Workshop—April 12, 2012 6–8 p.m.
  • Business Recordkeeping—May 10, 2012 7–9 p.m.
  • Legal Issues for Small Business Owners—March 22, 2012 6–8 p.m. 
    Room D124
  • Business Marketing—April 26 2012 6–8 p.m.
  • How to Apply for a Small Business Loan—May 3, 2012 6–8 p.m.
  • Moving Your Business to the Next Level—April 11, 2012 6–9 p.m. Room D124
  • Social Media Marketing for Small Business—April 18, 2012 1–5 p.m. Room D123, LECT9046.A

Monday, March 12, 2012

Submit your Letter: Fight for Dwight Prison Information

Keep up to date on the public record of letters, recommendations, and meeting schedule by following the link to this state website:

http://www.ilga.gov/commission/cgfa2006/Resource.aspx?id=7

When your letter is submitted and received by the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, it will appear on this website.  To ensure that your letter is entered into the official public record, address and send your letter to CGFA as detailed below. (Information is from the CGFA website.)

To submit public comments or to register to be put on the agenda to give oral testimony, please contact:
Mail:
Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability
ATTN: Facility Closure
703 Stratton Building
Springfield, IL 62706

Or

Email:
facilityclosure@ilga.gov

Please include:
Name:
Facility Being Closed:
Your Position:   (Proponent, Opponent, or No position)
The type of Testimony you would like to give:   (Oral Testimony at the hearing, Written Statement Filed, or Record of Appearance Only)
Email (if you would like confirmation):

If you are wanting to provide oral testimony, please include:
Your relationship to the Facility:   (Employee, Client, Family of Client, Concerned Citizen, Advocate, etc.)
Organization (if applicable):
Title (if applicable):

To better ensure your name being on the agenda, please remit your request to give oral testimony 2 business days prior to the public hearing. Oral testimony can still be given if your name is not on the agenda. Please limit testimony to 2 minutes.


Friday, March 9, 2012

GLCEDC Attends an Economic Development Conference

As rural Illinois works to overcome the challenges brought about by the recession, community leaders must adjust their strategies to take advantage of new opportunities. GLCEDC Economic Development Specialist Tim Neubeck was one of more than 300 elected officials and community leaders from around Illinois and neighboring states to participate in 23rd Annual Rural Community Economic Development Conference where he gained new insights into the strategies needed in today’s economic development environment. The conference was hosted by the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs in conjunction with the Governor’s Rural Affairs Council, chaired by Lt. Governor Sheila Simon, and Rural Partners. 

Lt. Governor Sheila Simon opened the conference and discussed how local communities were doing more with less. Simon stated that Illinois is making great progress in the areas of broadband access and local foods and emphasized the need for rural communities to collaborate on solutions to the challenges they face. David Oppendahl from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago discussed the role of agriculture in the Midwest’s rural economy and David Terrell. Deputy Chief of State for the Lt. Governor of Indiana presented information on the Stellar Communities Program, a multi-agency partnership designed to fund comprehensive community development projects in small communities in Indiana.

Breakout sessions included presentations on the effective use of TIF programs, downtown redevelopment, historic preservation, local foods, and involving youth in community development. Additional sessions featured the Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen, a commercial kitchen owned and operated by a center supporting people with disabilities; local foods, connecting rural hospitals with broadband. Don Macke from the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship discussed the use of wealth transfer and community foundations to support entrepreneurship.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Planning and Funding your Business


Planning & Funding your Business 
SCORE sponsored workshop to be conducted at the Bloomington Library on March 15th
at 6:30 PM.  Free.

Planning and funding your business are intimately tied together. Luckily one document forms the basis for both - the Business Plan. Learn the components of the plan and how it influences your success in attracting investors - including loan institutions - and in launching the business.  Hear from a loan officer what goes into approaching the loan insti- tution and find out what infor- mation a bank will typically require and what they are look- ing for. This discussion will also touch on some of the various government programs such as Small Business Administration and how they can help you obtain bank financing.

For more information, please contact SCORE at 309-664-0549.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

More Press on Dwight Prison Closure

Here are a few additional links to news articles covering the Fight for Dwight rally:


800 rally to stop closure of Dwight prison

Chicago Tribune 


Dwight prison supporters look to future

Morris Daily Herald 


Leaders Issue Call to Action at Dwight Prison Rally

CIproud.com

Prison supporters fill high school gym

WJBC News

Dwight rallies 'round DCC

Pontiac Daily Leader

See all stories on this topic »

Energy Incentives and Programs


DCEO is offering up to $13 a lamp incentive for retrofit T8s and new T8 and T5 fixtures between June 1, 2011 and May 15, 2012. 

ComEd Smart Ideas is offering an additional $2 per lamp bonus incentive for T12-to-T8 retrofits between September 1, 2011 and March 31, 2012. 

Ameren Illinois ActOnEnergy The 10% T12 phase-out bonus extended to May 31, 2012.  Complete by March 31, 2012 and get a 10% early completion coupon.

NICOR Announces New Program

Nicor Gas has launched a new program to help redevelop and revitalize communities through building upgrades.

The Nicor Gas EEP Economic Redevelopment Program focuses on serving communities that are in need of economic redevelopment, as well as businesses and organizations that create jobs, offer social services or provide affordable housing. The program offers financial incentives and extensive technical assistance, helping building owners with every step of the process from evaluating energy efficiency needs to applying for rebates and finding qualified contractors. 

Projects that complete the recommended energy efficiency upgrades can qualify to receive up to $100,000 in rebates.  The program also offers extensive technical assistance (valued at up to $20,000) to help building owners through every step of the process.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE? 
  • Commercial, industrial and large multi-family buildings served by Nicor Gas.  Public-sector buildings are not eligible.
  • Projects located in, or promote economic development in, Enterprise Zones, TIF districts, or other economically challenged areas
  • Other projects that could qualify are those that create jobs, offer social services, rehabilitate brown fields or vacant buildings, or provide affordable housing. 
  • Qualifying facilities should be at least 10,000 square feet.

To apply for this program or for more information, please contact the Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Economic Redevelopment Team at 773.328.7040 or erp@cntenergy.org or visit http://nicorgasrebates.com/programs/economic

The Fight for Dwight

Here are a few links of press reports for the community rally held Monday March 5 to kickoff the fight to save Dwight Correctional Center.  The GLCEDC is working with Mayor Wilkey and Administrator Kevin McNamara to measure the economic impact the closing would have on the local economy and communicate the impact to the community, the State Legislature, and the Governor.


Strategy emerging to keep Dwight prison open
Bloomington Pantagraph
Supporters rally for Dwight prison
MyWebTimes.com
Report: Closing Dwight Correctional Center could cost area $45M
Bloomington Pantagraph

Monday, March 5, 2012

Illinois is Top Ten in Corporate Locations/Expansions


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2012


Governor Quinn Announces Illinois Among Top 10 States for Corporate Locations in National Survey
Illinois Gains Over Last Year’s Ranking

CHICAGO – March 1, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today announced that the state of Illinois and Chicago have been named among the top 10 locations for new and expanded corporate facilities. Illinois ranked seventh among states, an improvement over last year’s eighth place ranking, and Chicago second in the metropolitan areas category in the annual analysis by Site Selection magazine, one of the nation’s premier corporate real estate and economic development publications.

“We are committed to creating jobs and working hard to make Illinois an even more attractive place to do business not only in the Midwest, but globally,” Governor Quinn said. “We have an aggressive long-term strategy for bringing quality jobs to Illinois, which includes innovation, exports and foreign investment, business-friendly legislation, and addressing infrastructure needs. We will continue to do everything we can to further our economic growth and create jobs in Illinois.”

In 2011, Illinois had 216 corporate facilities locate or expand in the state. Illinois joins Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia on the list of the top ten states with the most locations and expansions. With 167 projects, the Chicago-Naperville-Joliet metro area ranked second on the list of cities in the tier one, top ten metropolitan areas list. Illinois companies that have relocated or seen significant expansions this year include Ford, Motorola Mobility, Continental, FedEx, Chrysler and Mitsubishi, among others.

“We are pleased that Illinois has again been named to Site Selection’s top 10 list for new and expanded corporate facilities,” said Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Director Warren Ribley. “Illinois is one of the top business destinations in the nation for good reason, and we will continue to direct our efforts toward attracting and keeping investment in the state, creating jobs for the future and strengthening our economy.”

The Governor’s Cup analyses, issued by Site Selection magazine, are regarded by corporate real estate analysts as “the industry scoreboard.” Site Selection is the senior publication in the corporate real estate and economic development field and the official publication of the Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC, at www.iamc.org). The magazine’s circulation base consists of 44,000 executives involved in corporate site selection decisions, most at the CEO/President/COO level.