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Rivers Issues are Driving New Partnerships

Over the past several weeks GREDF President, Marcel Wagner and Director of the Quincy Entrepreneurship Center, Charles Bell, have had the opportunity to meet with a number of groups that have the same concerns about the future of river transportation as our organization. Meetings with Department of Transportation officials from Illinois, Iowa and Missouri, agricultural trade groups such as the Illinois Soybean Association and Iowa Soybean Association and a variety of economic development groups have driven the need for the 3 states and others to partner on a focused effort to maintain and upgrade the locks and dams. Just one reason why: At a recent meeting in Iowa the Army Corp of Engineers said that their schedule of upgrades and maintenance is now pushed out to 2090.

Here are some important statistics about the current state of river issues:

• Of the 27 locks and dams on the upper Mississippi, only 1 is within its 50 year design life, 2 are 20 years past design life, 21 are 30 years past design life and 3 are past the 30 year design life.
• The average age of the upper Mississippi locks is 72 years.
• A single point of failure at any lock shuts down the system.
• Current funding only addresses critical maintenance and emergency repairs. Since 1990 that funding has been cut from $13 billion annually to $7 billion annually.
• Trade growth on the Mississippi will increase by 40% over the next 20 years.
• 1 barge is the equivalent of 70 53-foot semi-trucks and a disruption of river service would cause severe deterioration of roads and bridges and increase road congestion by multiples.
• Barge freight averages $10.67 per ton cost of freight less than road and rail.

A partnership among the Upper Mississippi River states is urging the passage of the 2013 Water Resources and Development Act which is critical to maintaining the current status of our waterways. Congress also needs to address the shortage of funding in the Inland Waterways Trust Fund.

The next step for the partnership is to secure Marine Highway status for the Upper Mississippi Connector, stretching from St. Louis to St. Paul on the Mississippi River. Declaring this Connector a Marine Highway could benefit the region by promoting navigation and economic development. The designation also allows ports and terminals to receive technical assistance from the U.S. Maritime Administration, a part of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

What can you do?

Contact your state and federal elected officials and ask them to make rivers issues a top priority. You can find contact information for your elected officials here: www.usa.gov.

A collaboration of GREDF, the City of Quincy and Adams County

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Economic development is not an endeavor of a single person or even a single organization. Successful economic development is a collaborative and aggressive process. That’s why GREDF, in partnership with the City of Quincy and Adams County, has developed a business survey to help gauge the current business environment in our region.

By filling out our short, 13-question survey, you are providing feedback we will use to improve the economic vitality of our region, resulting in an environment that benefits our communities as well as the businesses that call our communities home.

Take the Survey

Thank you for filling out our survey. We value your feedback. For more information about how GREDF can assist with your business, please contact us at 217.223.4313 or gredf@gredf.org.

Marcel W. Wagner, Jr., CEcD
President, Great River Economic Development Foundation

Kyle Moore
Mayor, City of Quincy

Les Post
Chairman, Adams County Board

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So you want to start a business…

Summit Brings Leaders Together to Develop a Vision for Long-Term Change

[share]Last week more than 40 leaders came together to discuss workforce development issues in Adams County and to develop a shared vision for long-term change. The event facilitator assisted the group with identifying and prioritizing the area’s workforce challenges and building a framework for future collaboration.

Participants included representatives from secondary and post-secondary education, regional and local development groups, staffing services and a number of community-based agencies that all have some involvement in workforce development.

The United Way of Adams County, the Workforce Investment Board of Western Illinois, John Wood Community College and GREDF hosted the event because we recognize the importance of maintaining a skilled and reliable workforce in our area.

“The availability of skilled labor has become a key factor in site selection and expansion decisions,” noted GREDF President Marcel Wagner. “Our ability to retain and attract businesses directly impacts the well-being of our region and the ability of our families to be financially self-sufficient.”

You may recall our last eDevelopments included findings from a recent survey conducted by Area Development Magazine detailing top site selection factors. Labor costs and availability of skilled labor ranked number one and number three respectively.

A steering committee is being assembled to build strategies and address the challenges and goals identified by the group. If you or your organization is interested in being a part of this steering committee, please contact Megan Backs at 217.223.4313 or meganb@gredf.org.

Site Selection Priorities and Our Messaging

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I want to take this opportunity to introduce myself to the members, partners and residents in the Quincy region as I become part of this wonderful community. I am pleased and privileged to serve as the new President of the Great River Economic Development Foundation.

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The public is invited to a press conference to meet Marcel Wagner on Wednesday, March 13, 2013, at 9:00 am in the Lobby of the Oakley-Lindsay Center.

The Board of Directors of the Great River Economic Development Foundation, announced the hiring of Marcel W. Wagner, Jr. as the new President of the organization. An eleven-member committee consisting of community leaders and GREDF board members recommended Wagner after a 6-month-long nationwide search. Wagner was unanimously approved by GREDF Board of Directors members attending a special meeting on March 5, 2013.

“Marcel’s years of experience as an economic development professional and proven track record in a region with similar characteristics to our tri-state region made him stand out among the pool of strong local and national candidates we interviewed,” said Tim Finlay, Chairman of the GREDF Board of Directors and a member of the Search Committee. “The level of interest in the position indicated to us that GREDF and our region have a reputation for being pro-economic growth,” Finlay added.

“I’m ready to hit the ground running. The presence of such a qualified staff and committed GREDF Board were very important to me as I went through the selection process” said Marcel Wagner. “My wife and I are eager to make the tri-state region our home and have already experienced what a special and welcoming community Quincy is,” Wagner added.

Mr. Wagner’s first official day with GREDF was Monday. “Thanks to the diligent work of the members of the Search Committee, we were able to meet the timeline we originally established for a spring hiring,” said Finlay.

Jim Mentesti announced his retirement after 27 years of service to GREDF and the Tri-State area in August. Phil Conover had been serving as interim President while Jim Mentesti served as a consultant during the transitional period. Conover will continue serving the organization through the end of March. Mentesti concluded his service as a consultant at the end of February.

Who is Marcel Wagner?

Marcel Wagner has spent the past 21 years with the Allen Economic Development Group in Lima, Ohio, the last 19 of those years as its President and CEO before retiring from that position in January. Wagner is a Certified Economic Developer and former Chair of the International Economic Development Council Certification and Education Committee. He was an Executive Committee Member of Team Ohio through the Ohio Economic Development Council as well as former chair of the Allen County Workforce Investment Act Board and Allen County Revolving Loan Fund.

During his tenure with the AEDG, Wagner developed and implemented a regional marketing plan and targeted industries marketing program, established a Foreign Trade Zone, oversaw the development and sale of 5 spec buildings, participated in the start up of two entrepreneurship centers and administrated a private loan fund, among other activities. He was also involved as a pilot user in the development of business retention software now widely used in the economic development world. During his time at AEDG, the organization assisted in over 105 industrial and commercial projects creating 6,300 jobs, retaining 3,500 at-risk jobs and representing $3.2 billion in new capital investment. One example of Wagner’s contributions is his involvement in the development and construction of the 1.2 million square foot Proctor and Gamble Distribution Center, one of the largest fully automated logistics center in the world.

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Counselors Academy Exposes Educators to Manufacturing Career Paths

School counselors from around the region now have a bigger toolbox thanks to a partnership among the Workforce Investment Board of Western Illinois, Quincy Area Vocational Technical Center, John Wood Community College and GREDF. The counselors spent last Thursday learning how they can help their students succeed in the area’s thriving manufacturing sector.

The message from local manufacturing representatives and workforce experts who met with the counselors during the day-long academy was clear: There are good, well-paying jobs right here in our region if our young adults are willing to show up, receive training and work hard.

The overall theme of the day was “Manufacturing in the 21st Century”. Members of an Employers Panel which included Jennifer Jenkins of Archer Daniels Midland, Vic Luburich of Fitzpatrick Brothers, Inc., Mike Dailing of Knapheide Manufacturing Company and Julie Bonansinga of Snelling Personnel Services/Industrial Workforce covered the following information:

• Variety of manufacturing jobs available / What areas are growing?
• Skills needed for those jobs / What do you look for when you are hiring?
• What prospective employees should expect / What is the work environment like?

Participants also went on a driving tour of some of Quincy’s Business Parks hosted by Megan Backs of GREDF and toured the manufacturing facilities of Hollister-Whitney Elevator Corporation.

An educated and skilled workforce is the foundation of every community and future of every economy. Thanks to these partners for their commitment to educating and growing our current and future workforce.

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Counselors Academy Exposes Educators to Manufacturing Career Paths

School counselors from around the region now have a bigger toolbox thanks to a partnership among the Workforce Investment Board of Western Illinois, Quincy Area Vocational Technical Center, John Wood Community College and GREDF. The counselors spent last Thursday learning how they can help their students succeed in the area’s thriving manufacturing sector.

The message from local manufacturing representatives and workforce experts who met with the counselors during the day-long academy was clear: There are good, well-paying jobs right here in our region if our young adults are willing to show up, receive training and work hard.

The overall theme of the day was “Manufacturing in the 21st Century”. Members of an Employers Panel which included Jennifer Jenkins of Archer Daniels Midland, Vic Luburich of Fitzpatrick Brothers, Inc., Mike Dailing of Knapheide Manufacturing Company and Julie Bonansinga of Snelling Personnel Services/Industrial Workforce covered the following information:

• Variety of manufacturing jobs available / What areas are growing?
• Skills needed for those jobs / What do you look for when you are hiring?
• What prospective employees should expect / What is the work environment like?

Participants also went on a driving tour of some of Quincy’s Business Parks hosted by Megan Backs of GREDF and toured the manufacturing facilities of Hollister-Whitney Elevator Corporation.

An educated and skilled workforce is the foundation of every community and future of every economy. Thanks to these partners for their commitment to educating and growing our current and future workforce.