Details about the new regional Economic Development Council are taking shape. It’s part of a transition process from the current EDC recommended by an economic development consultant.
Denny Kief is the regional development director with the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission. He says the proposed new EDC includes six employees and an annual budget of $1 million:
“A leaner, meaner operation than the previous EDC. There would be one director position, one administrative assistant, then four department head type-positions with those expertise ranging from recruitment to retention visits,” Kief says.
Kief says the proposed EDC proposed budget is about a third of the overall regional economic development effort. The Focus Forward Central Illinois steering committee also needs to sign off on the proposed EDC structure. He says the new EDC Board will be established this summer with the goal to have the group fully staffed and running by October.