Only three of the original eight members of the White County Economic Development Fund are still with the organization, but the group continues its work and is now looking to put some money where its mouth is. On the committee now are Caleb Hughes, Dr. Clint Taylor, and Amber Carney who were original members and newer members include Jared Whitley, Karen Weiss, Megan Newman, Jeremy Jordan, and Brent Edwards. We first learned of the organization’s existence about two years ago.
More at Introducing the White County Economic Development Committee – WRUL-FM
In the spring this year, leaders announced a partnership with Southern Illinois Community Foundation and at the time were looking at a project like building a large scale multi-purpose complex.
At a question and answer session Wednesday afternoon, Hughes says the focus has been refined a bit.
Areas of focus that we’ve identified so far include Business Recruitment and Expansion, Tourism Growth and Community Revitalization, Healthcare Access Development, Housing and Affordability, and the last one maybe by our committee one of the most identifiable economic growth opportunities is the Stan Williams Career and Training Center. We could kind of point ourselves as the ‘trade county’. A lot of people struggle to find people who can do those sort of trades.
A roundtable discussion took place amongst those in attendance. Hughes says he’s inviting the mayors of Norris City, Carmi, Enfield, and Grayville as well as county board chairperson Cassie Pigg to serve as non-voting ex-officio members. The move pushes the WCED group past it’s think tank origins and begins a push to put real dollars behind an effort to better the region.
The prosperity fund is launched with $1,000 from Hughes himself. Local business man and quiet philanthropist Jake Campbell has signaled his intention to pledge $43,637.97, the same amount he’s set to receive through a TIF Agreement with the City of Carmi to bolster the fund. As Hughes says, it’s time for the rubber to meet the road.
This is what we’ve been working on and we’ve come to the conclusion that if you don’t have capital to make these investments and government entities don’t have the extra capital to make this investment, then how are we going to do it.