March 22, 2019

Duckworth, Durbin Announce $210,000 for Strategic Economic Planning in Southern Illinois

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $210,000 in federal funding to help create jobs and support economic development throughout Southern Illinois. This funding is provided by the Economic Development District Planning Program, a program within the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) that assists communities as they develop and implement plans to enhance their local economies.

“It’s important for local communities and business leaders to have access to the resources they need to create opportunities that drive economic development in Southern Illinois,” Duckworth said. “These investments will go a long way in helping revitalize parts of our state in need of an economic boost, and I will continue working closely with Senator Durbin to secure additional investments that strengthen local economies across our state.”

“This federal funding is an investment in Southern Illinois’ workforce and economy,” Durbin said. “Senator Duckworth and I will continue working to ensure that every corner of Illinois has the tools needed to reach their economic goals and drive local investment.”

“Greater Egypt Regional Planning and Development Commission is honored to be awarded a partnership planning grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration,” Cary Minnis, Executive Director of the Greater Egypt Regional Planning and Development Commission, said. “This grant allows us to provide an effective long-range economic planning, coordination, and implementation capability. Greater Egypt was designated an Economic Development District by EDA in 1967, making us the first EDD in the five-state Chicago Region and eighth EDD designated in the United States. This partnership has resulted in over $55 million in EDA funding to help realize nearly $100 million in economic development projects that have created thousands of jobs in the five-county district. We are grateful for the sustained partnership with EDA and will continue working with our partners to create jobs for Southern Illinois.”

Under today’s announcement, the Greater Egypt Regional Planning and Development Commission, which serves Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Perry and Williamson counties, will receive $210,000. The commission will use this funding to develop a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) in coordination with the EDA – a process that brings the public and private sectors working together to produce a blueprint for economic prosperity that improves the quality of life for community members throughout the region.

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