[share] Unemployment in Adams County continues to remain steady. Adams County’s rate for October 2011 was 6.8% which is 0.1% higher than last month and a year ago in October. Adams County has the fourth-lowest unemployment rate out of 102 counties in Illinois. Quincy’s rate was 6.7 percent, with IDES statisticians saying there are 40,348 people employed in the micropolitan area and 2,887 unemployed.

For a complete list of unemployment figures across the state, visit the IDES Local Area Unemployment Statistics website.

[share] Group to Discuss Upper Mississippi & Illinois Rivers Locks & Dams at Roundtable

A roundtable will be held to discuss the importance of upgrading Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers Locks and Dams on Monday, November 28, 2011, at the Oakley Lindsay Center. The meeting is being hosted by the Great River Economic Development Foundation.

Garry Niemeyer, President of the National Corn Growers Association will chair the roundtable. The proposed agenda includes, among other topics, the following:

• Explanation and discussion of the Waterways Council, Inc. Capital Development Plan, Paul Rohde, Vice-President of Waterways Council, Inc.
• Priority list for locks and dams upgrades and repairs including budget and its impact on operations and maintenance, Army Corps of Engineers Representative
• Assessment on current situation in Washington, the Administration’s proposal and the Corps’ budget, Adam Nielsen, Illinois Farm Bureau Representative

This roundtable is a follow-up to an earlier meeting that was held in conjunction with and immediately following the 9^th Tri-State Development Summit on October 5, 2011 in Quincy. During that meeting, the group, which consists of representatives from private companies as well as agriculture, waterways and transportation associations, decided it was time to move beyond studies and analysis and into action.

In testimony on September 21, 2011, before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, Waterways Council, Inc. President and CEO Michael Toohey recommended the Inland Waterways Capital Development Plan as the path forward to improve the reliability of the crucial system and its infrastructure over the next 20 years.

“The inland waterways system is one of this country’s greatest assets. For over 200 years, our river system has facilitated affordable, reliable and environmentally friendly transportation as the building blocks of our economy,” Toohey testified. “It has allowed the low cost movement of large bulk commodities in an efficient and timely manner. But despite all of these advantages, our inland waterways infrastructure is suffering and in need of immediate modernization,” he added.

[share] Great River Economic Development Foundation has been awarded a grant to help provide technical assistance to rural microentrepreneurs. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Wednesday the selection of 35 rural microdevelopment organizations for loans and grants to support rural business development, create jobs and strengthen local communities.

By awarding the $40,000 grant to GREDF, the USDA is recognizing the assistance that GREDF has been providing small rural businesses throughout the west-central Illinois region.

About two years ago the State of Illinois discontinued funding for Illinois Entrepreneurship Centers. GREDF has managed the Entrepreneurship Center under the leadership of Charles Bell for 7 years and continued to fund its operation out of cash reserves while looking for other funding because the Center’s work and results proved too important to the region to lose. This USDA grant will allow the Entrepreneurship Center at GREDF to continue to provide technical assistance to small businesses throughout the four-county region of Adams, Brown, Pike and Schuyler.

In addition to funding operation of the Entrepreneurship Center, GREDF has provided funding and staff support to oversee the City of Quincy’s Energy Efficiency Program and provided administrative assistance to the Mid America Port Commission to seek funding for development of an intermodal port on the Mississippi River and a Foreign Trade Zone in the tri-state area.

“A strong rural America and a strong agricultural industry go hand in hand,” said Vilsack in the release. “These investments will bring increased economic opportunity to rural residents and communities. They will help organizations expand job and economic opportunities in rural communities across the nation.”

Funding for each project is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the loan and grant agreement.

Types of technical assistance that this funding will help GREDF provide includes:

• Feasibility Analysis
• Business Plan Development
• Financing analysis and planning
• Sales & Marketing
• Location assistance
• Market analysis
• International Trade assistance
• Investor contacts
• Mentor matchmaking

One of the strengths GREDF brings is its regional partnerships with other economic development organizations, lenders and revolving loan funds, which assists the business in comparing options and assists the lender in reducing risk.

Examples of businesses that have been assisted in the past include:

• Austin Group, Inc., Spinscreed, Inc. and Fletcher Daycare all of Quincy
• Midwest Crop Insurance Services of Camp Point
• Timewell Drainage Systems of Timewell and Golden
• Nancy’s Private Practice of Mt. Sterling
• Houser Meats, Deb & Di’s and Bollinger Onken of Rushville
• Bale Bandit of Pittsfield
• JIREH of Barry
• Big River Fish of Pearl

Bale Bandit successfully moved manufacturing operations from Kansas to Pike County. Spinscreed, Inc. and Big River Fish received assistance in export marketing. Assistance has also been provided to establish new small business incubators in Barry and Mt. Sterling.

“We’re pleased that the USDA recognizes the value of the service we provide to the region’s businesses,” said Charles Bell, Director of the Entrepreneurship Center at GREDF. “USDA has been a strong partner in regional development not only in assisting the Entrepreneurship Center but also with its Revolving Loan Fund, Business & Industry Loan Program and housing assistance.”

[share] Unemployment in Adams County remained steady for the month of September with no change from the previous month and no change from September 2010. Adams County is tied with Joe Davies County at 6.7%  for the 5th lowest unemployment rate in the state of Illinois. Brown County maintains the lowest rate  in the state and remains the only county with unemployment below 5%.

The unemployment rate in Quincy fell 0.1% from August to September and stands at 7.3%. The state of Illinois rate is 9.5% and the United States stands at 8.8%.

For a complete list of unemployment figures across the state, visit the IDES Local Area Unemployment Statistics website.

[share] The Quincy Area Safety Council (QASC) will sponsor a 2011 OSHA Update Course on Thursday, November 10th from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at Vatterott College in Quincy.

The 2011 OSHA Course is designed and intended to provide an update on the OSHA inspection process, recent changes in penalties, Severe Violators Enforcement Program, effective safety and health programs, OSHA recordkeeping, emergency action plans and more. There will be a time for questions and answers. Registration fees are $40 for members and $55 for non-members. The deadline to register is Monday, November 7th.

Other topics to be covered include:

• OSHA’s National and Local Emphasis Programs
• Global Harmonization System Update
• Hazard Communication
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Electrical Hazards
• Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout)
• Confined Space Entry

Brian Bothast, Compliance Assistance Specialist, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is the instructor. Brian works out of the OSHA Region 5- Peoria Area Office where he has served as Team Leader and Industrial Hygienist. He has worked for Catepillar in the Environmental, Health and Safety Department and has over 20 years of experience in the safety and health field. He is a graduate of Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health.

For more information and to register, visit www.QASC.org or call /email: 217.224.0149 / qasc@adams.net.

The mission of the Quincy Area Safety Council is to improve safety in Quincy and the surrounding area through a network of safety-minded individuals acting to predict, prevent, and minimize accidents.

[share]The 9th Tri-State Development Summit will take place on Wednesday, October 5, 2011 at the Oakley-Lindsay Center in Quincy, IL. Hundreds of government and business leaders have already made plans to attend and hear from leading experts in the fields of agriculture, transportation, broadband, waterways and economic development.

Our speakers include:

• Iowa Governor Terry Branstad
• Damon Porter, Director, MoBroadbandNow
• Thomas A. Oakley, Member, Tri-State Development Summit Transportation Task Force, Publisher, Quincy Herald-Whig, Director and Treasurer, Quincy Newspapers, Inc.
• Alvin B. Lee, Regional Business Director, Mississippi Valley Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• Rodolfo R. Sabonge, Vice President of Market Research and Analysis, Panama Canal Authority
• Jim Sutter, CEO, U.S. Soybean Export Council
  
• Mike Steenhoek, Executive Director, Soy Transportation Coalition

For more information about the event and to register online, visit www.tristateofmind.org. Or call the GREDF office at 217.223.4313.

[share] Did you know that GREDF is part of a little 35-county movement in Western Illinois, Southeast Iowa and Northeast Missouri called the Tri-State Development Summit? We think the mission of the Summit fits perfectly with our own…

Tri-State Development Summit:

Bringing 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.

Great River Economic Development Foundation:

GREDF exists to maintain and improve the economic vitality of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois through the retention and expansion of existing businesses and the attraction of new businesses to our communities.

We believe that by working together we can accomplish great things. That’s why we’d like to invite you to join us at the 9th Tri-State Development Summit which we’re proud to say is being held on October 5th in Quincy. Please take a moment to visit the Summit’s new website – www.tristateofmind.org – for more information and to register for this year’s event.

[share] Dr. Bob Graboyes, Senior Fellow for Health and Economics, NFIB Research Foundation, gave a speech entitled “Healthcare Reform: How High’s the Water, Mama?” at the 2011 Industrial Association of Quincy Annual Meeting on August 15th.

PDFs of his presentation, supplemental materials and 2 recent articles are below. For more information and writings from Dr. Graboyes visit www.NFIB.com/DrBob and www.robertgraboyes.com.

2011 IAQ Annual Meeting Dr. Robert Graboyes Presentation – Healthcare Reform: How High’s the Water, Mama?

Employer Mandate Penalties: Calculations

PPACA: Endless Problems for Small Business

NFIB Healthcare Bulletin – Essential Health Benefits: The Secretary’s Joystick (5/3/11)

NFIB Healthcare Bulletin – The HIT Hit: PPACA’s Health Insurance Tax (6/14/11)

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[share] Adams County is tied for the second lowest unemployment in the State of Illinois for the month of June at 6.1%. That is 1.1% lower than June of 2010. This is the second month in a row that Adams County has tied Schuyler County, coming in second only to Brown County out of the 102 counties in the state.

The City of Quincy’s unemployment sits at 6.7% which is 1.3% lower than a year ago in June.

For a complete list of unemployment figures across the state, visit the IDES Local Area Unemployment Statistics website.