Nicole Bateman
President
In her role as President, Nicole Bateman is responsible for leading the EDC in its efforts to make Decatur an attractive place for businesses to operate by capitalizing on the community’s significant workforce, transportation, rail, and utility assets. Her tenure as both the Executive Director of the Midwest Inland Port and Community Marketing Manager give her a unique perspective on how to help Macon County grow and assist businesses with expansion and site location needs.
Nicole oversees the Midwest Inland Port, the strategic development of Decatur through public-private partnerships as a distribution transportation center, capitalizing on Decatur’s central geography, its existing intermodal services from ADM, rail services from four railroads, the potential of its quality airport infrastructure and its interstate access. Under the umbrella of the EDC, this freight-driven effort is working to be Illinois’ designated downstate freight transportation hub with a focus on broad-based economic development throughout the central Illinois region to relieve rail and highway congestion in Chicago.
The EDC is also responsible for executing the county’s marketing and branding campaign named Limitless Decatur & Macon County. EDC leadership works with organizations, businesses, educational institutions and the community at large to help shift perceptions, enhance the quality of life, and recruit new residents and businesses to Decatur and Macon County.
Nicole’s professional experiences include marketing, sales, public relations and communications work and management in the private and non-profit sectors. She graduated with high honors from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural and Environmental Communications and Education.
Contact Information
- Email Address: nbateman@decaturedc.com