May 2023 Newsletter

Community leaders from across Grundy County gathered in Morris on May 11 for the GEDC's Economic Development Boot Camp.

Attendees heard from Dustin Ingram, Business Development Director with the state's marketing organization, Intersect Illinois, about their efforts to attract impactful business investment to our state and how they partner with local organizations and governments to help organizations choose Illinois. John McCann, Economic and Business Development Manager with ComEd; Chuck Faush, Director of Community & Economic Development with Nicor; and Sean McCarthy, VP of business development and strategic initiatives for Comcast’s Greater Chicago Region, each explained the processes to bring their services to a site and emphasized the importance of collaboration and partnership in business attraction and retention.

Nancy spoke to the GEDC's role as a convener and local coordinator for economic development. She also shared insights about how communities can best position themselves to actively engage in this work with the goal of improving the quality of life for their residents.

Thank you to ComEd, Nicor, and Old National Bank for generously sponsoring the event.

The GEDC welcomes its summer 2023 intern, Bohden Vanek! 

A recent Coal City High School graduate, Bohden plans to attend Western Michigan University in the fall to study business. He will be learning a great deal about the Grundy County business community with the GEDC this summer, and in his spare time, Bohden likes to go fishing and the gym. He is excited to interact with contributing members of Grundy County’s economy and to better understand what he wants to pursue in his college career.

Grundy County's median income is back on track. The latest available Median Household Income data at the county level showed that Grundy County's median income grew by 11.1% from 2020 to 2021, after an 11% decline between 2019 and 2020.  Grundy County's 2021 median income of $83,254 was 9th among Illinois counties, 15% higher than the state median, and 19% higher than the national median.

The Illinois Office of Broadband and the Illinois Broadband Lab are hosting a series of virtual and in-person listening sessions and launching a statewide survey to collect input for the Connect Illinois Broadband and Digital Equity Planning Initiatives. The survey results will be used to ensure that upcoming historic federal funding is used to address the state’s most urgent barriers and needs.

You can help accelerate work to bring affordable access to high-speed internet to all Illinoisans by filling out the survey below.

Visit this link  to see the full list of virtual listening sessions and register. 

Take the survey here. This survey does not request or seek to collect any personal identifying information, and you are asked not to provide any in the open responses.​

Questions? Email IllinoisBroadbandLab@uillinois.edu or visit https://broadband.uillinois.edu/.

Don't forget to mark your calendars for a lively lakeside celebration of the GEDC's 30th Anniversary! More details to come. Thank you to the City of Morris and Old National Bank for sponsoring the event. Additional sponsorships are still available!

Project New Continent - A manufacturer in the solar panel industry is seeking 200+ acres with high electrical transmission capabilities. A Grundy site was submitted to Intersect Illinois.

Project Saturn - A hydrogen fuel cell manufacturer is seeking development-ready sites with highway access. Grundy sites were submitted to Intersect Illinois.

EV Component Manufacturer - A manufacturer in the EV industry is seeking rail-served acreage. Sites were submitted to Intersect Illinois, and a site in Grundy County will have a second visit from company leadership in May.

Rail-Served Distribution - A Fortune 500 Company is considering multiple rail-served sites in Grundy County for a distribution center.

Project Ferm - An international company seeking to construct a biofermentation plant is conducting a multi-state site search. Sites were submitted to Intersect Illinois.

Traffic counts are underway across Grundy County - Work continues on Grundy County's Multimodal Transportation Master Plan as CDM Smith collects traffic volume and classification counts for major roadways and key intersections. The data will be used to inform plans for future infrastructure improvements.

P&G Ribbon-Cutting - Procter & Gamble's new fulfillment center in Morris will host its ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 31, marking the culmination of years of partnership and collaboration between the City of Morris, the GEDC, and the world-renowned consumer goods company. At over one million square feet, the new Morris facility is one of P&G’s most advanced and innovative fulfillment centers. 

University of Michigan's Economic Growth Institute (EGI) chosen to perform Economic Analysis for Grundy Resiliency Project - EGI has experience in supporting other nuclear host communities with technical assistance and will collaborate with the GEDC and the Chamber of Commerce to conduct a baseline analysis of Grundy County's economy this summer.

Morris Hospital YMCA Groundbreaking - Congratulations to the Greater Joliet Area YMCA, to Morris Hospital, and to all who have joined in to advocate for this impactful community project. Dirt will be moving at 2200 W. Dupont Ave. in Morris on May 31!

Nuclear Energy Conference - The GEDC and the Grundy Chamber will attend the Energy Communities Alliance's Nuclear Development Forum in Paducah, KY from May 17-21, which will focus on building capacity and opportunity. Nancy has been invited to participate as a panelist. Click here for more information.

Mark your calendars for these upcoming events and networking opportunities.

• Summer Investor Event - August 2, 2023
  
• Broker Developer Showcase - Q4 2023
  
• Business Lunch Series - Q3 and Q4 2023

Event sponsorships are available! Click here for additional sponsorship information. If your company would like to sponsor any of the above events, please contact Nancy.

May 29 - Memorial Day - GEDC Office Closed

June 15 - Full Board Meeting, 7:30 AM - Morris Municipal Airport

August 2 - Save the Date! GEDC Summer Event

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