About a year and four months ago, we first learned about the White County Economic Development Committee when Dr. Clint Taylor gave a presentation at Kiwanis in Carmi. More at Introducing the White County Economic Development Committee – WRUL-FM
He described it then as a local think tank positioning itself as a group of community members who want to see the community grow and prosper. On Tuesday, Caleb Hughes and Taylor, founding members of the organization invited business leaders, local elected officials, and community members to a meet and greet at the 404 Seed Station for an update.
Taylor: So we had met a few years ago and just talking about the needs of White County and some things we could proactively do to make it grow and some good things came out of that. Some of those conversations led to the beginning of the White County CEO program and along with the Absher Foundations help with some of their projects. So after CoViD, Caleb and I got together and thought what else can we do so we started having those conversations again and that led to why we’re here today.
Hughes: Yep, so the committee that we formed and there’ve been a few on and off, it’s not an exclusive club by any stretch of the imagination so anyone here that would like to join and help us, we’re going to need an army to develop a project like the one I sent out. We’ve been working. It’s myself, Lance Barbre, Dr. Taylor, Jeremy Jordan, Brent Edwards, Justin Dartt, Luke Sailer, and Amber Carney that are on the committee right now. We meet once a month at alternating locations and we just brainstorm, right?
The project Hughes mentions is a multi-purpose complex that could serve as a regional hub and one he suggests would bring in others from surrounding areas. The committee is using a facility located in Flora as an example of the context for which they’re hoping to create.
See more at https://wohltmanconstruction.com/oil-belt and https://oilbelt.com/about-us/our-facilities
In order to construct a facility of that magnitude and capable of exacting that kind of consequence, the committee has determined they need some guidance and assistance from a regional organization with experience. That led them to tapping Byram Fager, CEO/Executive Director of the Southern Illinois Community Foundation (SICF) and Lynne Chambers, attorney and Executive Director of Legacy Training. Chambers also serves as a Director for SICF. Learn more at https://www.sicf.org/. The pair traveled to Carmi for the meeting to answer questions and provide some preliminary foundation. SICF has been around for 25 years and covers the southernmost 17 counties in Illinois which includes White. SICF is a player in the ReadSI program which helps back the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Locals will be familiar with that effort after its launch in White County last year.
Read more at https://www.wrul.com/local-news/white-county-launches-dolly-parton-imagination-library
Read more at https://www.wrul.com/local-news/white-countys-imagination-library-continues-climb
Listen more at https://www.wrul.com/local-news/open-line-on-demand-beth-conner-and-the-imagination-library-launch
Read more at https://www.wrul.com/local-news/carmi-lions-welcome-beth-conner-donate-to-imagination-library
Fager talked about how SICF could potentially assist with grant writing and serves as a fiduciary sponsor for groups. Chambers spoke about her experience with the Delta Regional Authority and suggested the committee strike while the iron’s hot and work towards a Strategic Planning grant.
Hughes says the committee hopes to hold an event to formally announce plans and further gauge potential community support.
