Happy Economic Development Week!
Created by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) in 2016, the goal of Economic Development Week is to increase awareness for local programs that create jobs, advance career development opportunities, and increase the quality of life in communities everywhere. Economic Development Week includes activities in communities large and small designed to highlight the importance of economic development and the good work that economic developers do each day.
To help us celebrate, we invite you to explore some of the benefits we offer businesses in Macon County including Enterprise Zone incentives, Small Business Development Center and International Trade Center services, research capabilities, a community marketing and branding initiative, and the Midwest Inland Port. Learn more about each below.
Decatur-Macon County Enterprise Zone
A variety of state and local incentives are available in the Decatur-Macon County Enterprise Zone including local property tax abatement for eligible products. Projects may also be eligible for incentives from the state of Illinois that are customized to meet the unique needs of the business, including tax credits related to employment activity. The purpose of offering these benefits and incentives to businesses is to attract new industry and revitalize existing businesses by providing targeted initiatives and financial incentives to reduce operating and construction costs. Learn more information about enterprise zone incentives here.
SBDC & ITC Services
The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides one-on-one counseling, technical assistance, training seminars, information provision, network opportunities, business development and real estate expertise for business owners, startups and entrepreneurs.
Additionally, the International Trade Center (ITC) provides support in evaluating a company’s readiness to export, shipping and logistics, compliance regulations, international business planning, international trade techniques, export processes, and international market opportunities.
Both the SBDC and ITC are no cost services provided by a partnership between the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur-Macon County and the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation.
Learn more about these business services here.
Research Capabilities
Another benefit offered by the EDC are numerous research capabilities. When companies need help, we are here to offer assistance with tools and resources such as employee training, GIS data mapping, demographic research, workforce studies and more. If you are needing something specific, do not hesitate to give us a call to see how we can assist you.
Limitless Decatur & Macon County
Decatur and Macon County’s community marketing and branding initiative, Limitless Decatur & Macon County, started in 2016 and is housed at the EDC.
The initiative came to realization through the EDC and Grow Decatur’s work to develop a strong, consistent brand to help serve as the driving force for an overall strategy that would educate, inform, and build community pride amongst current residents, business owners, and motivate potential newcomers to live and do business in Decatur and Macon County.
Through this community marketing process, perceptions have been shifted and a common vision has been created for our future that will stimulate economic growth from which we all benefit.
Learn more about Limitless Decatur & Macon County here.
Midwest Inland Port
First developed in 2015, the Midwest Inland Port (MIP) is the strategic development of Decatur as a distribution transportation center that capitalizes on Decatur’s central geography, its existing rail services and interconnectivity, the potential of its quality airport infrastructure and its interstate access.
The MIP connects the Midwest to the East, West and Gulf Coasts of North America. Additionally, the MIP area has access to 33 million people within one day’s drive round trip including the cities of Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis, and the outskirts of Milwaukee. Over 95 million people are within 500 miles for same day delivery including Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, Columbus, Atlanta, Nashville, Memphis, Wichita, Omaha, and Minneapolis.
Read more about the MIP here.
So there you have it, folks. These are some of the benefits the EDC provides to our local community. Our number one priority is taking care of the businesses in our county. When companies need help, the EDC is here to offer tools and resources such as those mentioned above.
The nature of our work puts us in contact with a lot of different people. In the course of one work day, we could be hosting a foreign delegation showing off all the best Macon County can offer, while helping a family business search for a new site, and developing our next community marketing campaign. The variety is super fun and makes us very proud of where we live, work, and play. Please do not hesitate to contact us today if we can help your business.
For a fun way to help explain what we do, watch the video below:
