(217) 223-4313 | Contact Us
facebook twitter linkedin
GREDF
  • Regional Advantage
    • Living Here
    • Local Success and Investment
    • Infrastructure and Accessibility
    • Workforce
    • Process
  • Site Selectors
    • Properties
    • Development Guide
    • Incentive Overview
    • Major Employers
    • Studies and Reports
  • Workforce Solutions
    • Adams County Works Teams
    • Monthly Seminars
    • Work Ready Toolbox
    • Workforce Events
      • Career Launch Signing Day
      • MakerFest
  • Newcomer Concierge
    • Living Here
    • Newcomer Concierge
  • Business Resources
    • Incentive Overview
    • Company Visits
    • Small Business and Entrepreneurs
      • Resources
      • Community
    • Black Owned Businesses
    • Quincy Strategic Plan
    • Studies and Reports
  • About
    • Annual Meeting Presentation
    • GREDF Strategic Plan
    • The Team
    • Partners
    • Contact Us
Right on Q
GREDF

Archive

2016 GREDF Annual Meeting

2016 GREDF Annual Meeting January 21, 2016

[share]Adams County, IL Logo Horizontal-02Quincy Right On QOutgoing GREDF Chairman of the Board Dan Henke addressed over 300 business and community leaders at the 2016 Great River Economic Development Foundation meeting on January 13, 2016. These are his remarks:

GREDF is two years into a three-year strategic plan for economic development. The plan guides our organization’s investment of time and limited financial resources in initiatives, programs, and projects. It is a product of your feedback and guidance. And it exists, GREDF exists, to serve the business community. We serve you. 

Our mission at GREDF is to maintain and improve the economic vitality of the Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, region, through the retention and expansion of existing businesses and the attraction of new businesses to our entire region.

To that end, we focus on six domains: Business retention and expansion, workforce development, business attraction, marketing and branding, entrepreneurship development and membership.

GREDF 2016 Strategic Plan Focus

Our organization… and our region… have made progress over the last two years. Companies are innovating and growing. Entrepreneurs are investing in ideas and business plans. Organizations are partnering to prepare our future workforce. While we’ve faced our share of challenges, good things are happening. ADM, Blessing Health System, Titan International, Refreshment Services PepsiHow do we know this? Because we’ve conducted more than 115 business retention visits in the last 24 months and heard from dozens of business leaders about their plans to invest and grow in the Quincy and Adams County region.   

Quincy and Adams County is already a good community. Quincy celebrated our 175th anniversary last year with great enthusiasm and pride. But we know it can be better. The question is: How? What is our vision for Quincy for the next 175 years? How are we going to get there?

The economic stability Quincy has experienced over the last 175 years has not happened by chance. It’s the result of hard work, persistence, and planning. To make that future strong and prosperous for the next 175 years, we must continue to work together, and plan strategically.

Economic development organizations like GREDF are critical to maintaining and growing globally competitive communities. GREDF operates in a complex and dynamic 21st century economic landscape that is impacted by shifts in local, national and global markets.

Not only are we asked to ensure that our community attracts, retains and grows successful businesses and talented people, we are asked to do so with reduced public funding while engaging a broad range of stakeholders in every aspect of our work. We have earned the confidence of these stakeholders as evidenced by a 60 percent increase in private funding since 2013.

Fundamentally, the purpose of economic development is to improve well-being in a community by facilitating the creation and retention of jobs and wealth. Our community must remain focused on strategic growth and GREDF remains the organization to lead these efforts.

2016 is a year of opportunity. For our part, GREDF will continue to nurture collaboration with community partners to help stimulate job creation, economic development and build community capacity and leadership.

We recognize that people are the heart of economic and community development. People provide the talent and labor that enables economies to thrive, and they are the main reason we engage in economic development and cultivate prosperity.

As we look toward 2016 and beyond… at the next 175 years… It’s time for Quincy and Adams County to reinvest in our future.

Mid America Intermodal Authority Port, Phibro Animal Health, Workforce DevelopmentWhile every community has the potential to achieve greater economic development, many do not ever experience their full potential because they fail to plan strategically and invest wisely.

GREDF and the communities we serve have the potential to help investors commercialize their ideas; help entrepreneurs launch successful enterprises; help employers grow and sustain their operations; help individuals achieve meaningful career pathways; and help investors maximize the return on their investment. But we need your help.

This is our call to action. Let’s set and live by high expectations. Let’s plan creatively and reduce the need for crisis reactivity. Let’s support business expansion. Let’s cultivate new leaders. Let’s increase our visibility in the global marketplace. Let’s focus on continual improvement and ask ourselves, “How can we do better?”

2016 Slide Two

January 13, 2016

2016 Slide Three

January 13, 2016

2016 Slide Four

January 13, 2016

2016 Slide Five

January 13, 2016

Quincy/Adams County Unveils New Brand… Right on Q

Quincy/Adams County Unveils New Brand… Right on Q January 13, 2016

Quincy Logo_Strapline Only_Grey[share]

The new Quincy/Adams County community brand – Right on Q – was unveiled during a public announcement following the Great River Economic Development Foundation Annual Meeting on January 13, 2016, at the Oakley-Lindsay Center in Quincy.

The brand tag line is Right on Q and the logo mark is a distinct Q shape that represents various aspects of the Quincy and Adams County region. The announcement featured a narrative video and presentation that included ways the new brand will be implemented. The brand was developed by North Star Destination Strategies.

Adams County, IL Logo Horizontal-02“Every community has a brand reputation or identity… what people say about them when they’re not around,” said Abby Biswell, a Quincy Senior High School junior and one of the presenters of the evening. “More than a year ago, nine community organizations decided to work together to propel the image of our community forward. These organizations formed the Brand Quincy/Adams County Partnership with the purpose of developing a cohesive, distinct and memorable brand,” Biswell added.

Members of the Brand Quincy/Adams County Partnership include:

2180_GREDF_WebAd_FamilyCity of Quincy
Adams County
Arts Quincy
The District
Great River Economic Development Foundation
Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce
Quincy Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
Quincy Park District
Oakley-Lindsay Center 

The brand narrative captures the essence of the community. “Quincy and Adams County is the kind of place where going the extra mile in everything is an everyday thing. When people need a hand, or visitors need a welcome, Quincyans seem to be there, Right on Q.”

right on q_insta_20162The logo represents different aspects of Quincy and Adams County depending on the viewer. Some people may see a cross section of corn representing the region’s agricultural history, the gears of a Hollister-Whitney elevator, a Knapheide wagon wheel or a Titan wheel. Or perhaps the viewer sees the spokes of the Golden Windmill or a paddleboat wheel in the Mississippi River. Others may see the keystone detail found in some of the beautiful architecture in our historic districts. And of course, the Q, which is a distinct and unique letter in and of itself is prominent.

The website, www.QuincyRightonQ.com features the narrative video, links to social media and the ability to download the design files and graphics standards guide. The site also offers the opportunity for individuals and organizations to electronically sign the Brand Charter to show support for the new brand.

Website1
Visit www.QuincyRightOnQ.com for more details.

The members of the Brand Quincy/Adams County Partnership have already begun implementing the new brand into their marketing and public relations efforts and businesses and organizations are invited to do the same. A volunteer Brand Implementation Team (BIT) has been formed to lead the ongoing implementation of a strategic action and communications plan and ensure the brand gains traction and maintains momentum.

Former Mayor Chuck Scholz gave the evening’s final remarks, reiterating what the brand can do for our community. “What I like so much about this brand is that it not only testifies to all that is good… all that is great about our community. This brand challenges us to be better. Because we now we can be better. It’s our heritage after all,” Scholz said.

Scholz ended the night by repeating the finals lines of the brand narrative:

“We know Quincy and Adams County best by heart. A heart for caring and the common good. A heart that leads people to give, for as long as it takes. A heart that goes the extra mile to welcome you, support you, and encourage you.

That’s not just our promise. It’s our heritage. Quincy, in Adams County, Illinois… Right on Q.”

2015 GREDF Annual Report

2015 GREDF Annual Report January 12, 2016

[share] 

GREDF is two years into a three-year strategic plan for economic development. The plan guides our organization’s investment of time and limited financial resources in initiatives, programs and projects. It is a product of feedback and guidance from the business community. And it exists, GREDF exists, to serve that business community. 

Our mission at GREDF is to maintain and improve the economic vitality of the Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, region, through the retention and expansion of existing businesses and the attraction of new businesses to our entire region.

To that end, we focus on six domains: Business retention and expansion, workforce development, business attraction, marketing and branding, entrepreneurship development and membership. GREDF must be accountable to our investors and the business community, which is why we are pleased to share this 2015 Annual Performance Report.

2015 ANNUAL GREDF Strategic Plan Report

 

2015 ANNUAL GREDF Strategic Plan Report

Inspireworks Slider

January 12, 2016
GREDF

Links

  • About
  • Newcomer Concierge
  • Why Here
  • Site Selectors
  • Adams County Together | COVID Resources
  • Workforce Solutions

GREDF

300 Civic Center Plaza
Suite 256
Quincy, IL 62301
Phone: (217) 223-4313
Fax: (217) 231-2030
IL
facebook
twitter
linkedin
roq
© 2023 Great River Economic Development Foundation. All Rights Reserved.