Inspire Works kick off and press conference was held Wednesday, September 14, at 8:30a in the Oakley Lindsay Center – 300 Civic Center Plaza.

Adams County, IL – Workforce development partners on the Inspire Works Team held a press conference on Wednesday, September 14 at 8:30a in the Oakley Lindsay Center to kick off the launch of the Inspire Works program in Adams County, IL.

Inspire Works is an online resource designed to increase communication between students, job seekers, educators and employers. The goal of Inspire Works is to bring those aforementioned groups together to help individuals achieve their career goals and address the workforce development needs of our community. The Inspire Works program was made possible through a number of generous partnerships and grants.

We are excited to be launching this program through our schools, with our partners and with local participating businesses of all sizes. Having programs like Inspire Works strengthens our regional advancement in workforce development, providing important strategies and solutions.

Information regarding Inspire Works, along with participating partners and businesses, will be available at the press conference. For more information, contact Joi Cuartero Austin at GREDF (217) 223-4313.

Great River Economic Development Foundation is a 501(c)6 not-for-profit organization with a mission to maintain and improve the economic vitality of Quincy and Adams County, IL through the retention and expansion of existing businesses and the attraction of new businesses to our communities.

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Members of the Tri-State Development Steering Committee are pleased to announce the addition of Audrain County, Missouri, which becomes the 36^th county to comprise the one “Tri-State of Mind” for western Illinois, northeast Missouri and southwest Iowa. Counties served now include 14 in Illinois, 14 in Missouri and 8 in Iowa, making the population supported over 700,000.

The inclusion of Audrain County also falls on the 20^th Anniversary of the Tri-State Development Summit, to be held on Friday, November 18 at Iowa Wesleyan University in Mount Pleasant, Iowa beginning at 9am, with a theme of “Stronger Together.”

“Audrain County is excited to add its voice to the 36 Counties that make up Tri-State Development,” states Audrain County presiding commissioner Steve Hobbs. “Working together, we can be a strong voice for infrastructure improvements throughout our region.”

Bringing Audrain County into the Tri-State Development region is a natural fit as Audrain County is the last county in the Mark Twain Council of Governments to join the Tri-State Development region, is a welcome addition to the Great Region designation with the USDA Rural Development, and brings one of the region’s major uncompleted Highway Corridor segments (US 54 / SW Gateway) entirely within the Tri-State Development region. Additionally, the largest city in Audrain County, City of Mexico, has representatives who have already participated in past task force and regional summits.

“Joining the Tri-State just makes good sense,” said City of Mexico manager Bruce Slagle, “we are all working for the same goal of improving the region through economic growth and improved transportation and; after all, you can accomplish far more by working together.”

The Mission of the Tri-State Development Summit is to bring together Tri-State area leaders to define common issues; To develop an on-going dialogue to effectively address those issues; And to improve the quality of life of the entire tri-state region through economic development activities.

For more information about the Tri-State Development Summit please visit our website at TriStateOfMind.org, or call (217) 223-4313.

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Adams County, IL – The Annual Meeting of the Rural Adams Development Corporation (RADC) will be held on Wednesday, July 27 at 7:30a in Marie’s Restaurant in Golden, IL.

Established by a group of bankers in rural Adams County, along with Adams Electric Cooperative, Great River Economic Development Foundation and later the Adams Telephone Cooperative, the RADC now celebrates its 25^th anniversary!

“Rural Adams Development Corporation was formed 25 years ago by forward-looking Adams County leaders to assist rural businesses.” States Terry Reuschel, President of RADC and President & CEO of Farmers State Bank of Camp Point. “RADC is proud of the cooperative spirit that has allowed RADC to assist many small businesses since then, and looks forward to continuing to positively influence Economic Development in rural Adams County for many years to come.”

The RADC provides low-rate “gap financing” for businesses wishing to start or expand in the rural parts of Adams County, excluding the city limits of the City of Quincy. Since 1992, the RADC has participated in 69 projects, with loans totaling $2,159,631.34. Interested parties may contact any member bank to access to RADC.

Types of assistance provided by the RADC include:

• Seed money, venture capital, or gap financing for which no other resource exists,
• Funding for businesses that lack adequate equity or operating history for conventional loans,
• Investment in projects that need greater owner equity in order to obtain bank or government assistance.

Anyone interested in starting or expanding a business in rural Adams County is encouraged to talk to any RADC participating bank or GREDF. RADC member banks include:

Central State Bank (Clayton)                 Golden State Bank

Farmers Bank (Liberty & Payson)        North Adams State Bank (Camp Point & Ursa)

Farmers State Bank of Camp Point       Town & Country Bank Midwest

First Bankers Trust of Mendon

For more information, contact Joi Cuartero Austin at GREDF (217) 223-4313.

Press Conference held Thursday, May 5 at 4pm in the Oakley Lindsay Center Lobby

Adams County, IL – Workforce Development Partners on the Career Guidance Team held a press conference on Thursday, May 5 at 4pm in the Oakley Lindsay Center Lobby to express appreciation to regional teachers for their help with youth work readiness initiatives in recognition of National Teacher Appreciation Day, Tuesday, May 3, 2016.

In April, participating teachers were thanked for their partnership with the Career Guidance Team and encouraged to submit their information for a chance at an appreciation prize – a basket filled with free certificates and merchandise from local businesses. The winning teacher was presented their prize at the press conference.

Marcel Wagner, GREDF President provided an introduction, and Meghan Townley, of Quincy Public Schools/one of three (3) co-chairs of the Career Guidance Team presented the teacher appreciation prize. The winner was Jill Steinkamp of Washington Elementary.

Born out of the Workforce Summit a few years prior, the Career Guidance Team is sponsored by the following partners:  Great River Economic Development Foundation, John Wood Community College, Quincy University, United Way of Adams County, Inc., West Central Region Ed. For Employment System #240, and Workforce Board of Western Illinois.  

The Career Guidance Team mission is to Encourage, Educate & Connect: Encourage and foster awareness of careers; educate youth and job seekers about area career opportunities; build connections between families and local employers.

For more information regarding Career Guidance Team initiatives, contact Joi Cuartero Austin at GREDF (217) 223-4313.

Great River Economic Development Foundation is a 501(c)6 not-for-profit organization with a mission to maintain and improve the economic vitality of Quincy and Adams County, IL through the retention and expansion of existing businesses and the attraction of new businesses to our communities.

[share]Outgoing 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.

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. How 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.

While 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?”

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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.

“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:

City 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.”

The 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.

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.”

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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

[share]

Every community has a brand reputation or identity… what people say about them when they’re not around. More than a year ago, nine community organizations decided to work together to propel the image of our community forward. We formed the Brand Quincy/Adams County Partnership with the purpose of developing a cohesive, distinct and memorable brand.

Please join:

City 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 and the Oakley-Lindsay Center

on Wednesday, January 13, 2016, at 5:00 pm at the Oakley-Lindsay Center in Quincy as we unveil the new community brand.

Cash Bar & Networking 5:00 pm
GREDF Annual Meeting 5:45 pm
Brand Announcement 6:00 pm