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SIDEZ Strategic Plan GOAL # 2
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – Through a comprehensive program of economic development that includes business expansion, recruitment and entrepreneurship, plus workforce preparation, the area's high unemployment rate will be reduced to that of the state average
OBJECTIVE #1: Work with existing and potential business and industry to expand employment opportunities within the Southernmost Illinois Delta Empowerment Zone.
Strategies
a. Identify and develop industrial sites in each subzone.
1. Support the construction of speculative buildings on industrial sites.
b. Create a Business and Industry Retention, Expansion and Attraction Program
1. Establish and maintain an accurate listing of all business/industry located within the Southernmost IL Delta EZ.
2. Conduct a Retention/Expansion survey of all businesses to assess areas of need and to identify potential problems/ barriers.
3. Tabulate and follow up on issues and concerns of business/industry.
4. Work with existing business/industry on expansion efforts.
c. Establish Revolving Loan Funds to provide financial assistance to businesses.
d. Support agricultural diversification and value-added agricultural products.
1. Provide Revolving Loan Funds for financial assistance for agricultural diversification.
2. Support the identification, development and marketing of value-added agricultural products.
e. Establish One Stop Capital Shop to identify potential businesses, develop training programs and assist with
obtaining financing with special emphasis on minority and women business development
f. Develop an interactive web page, which will provide information through data query to companies seeking to relocate or expand.
g. Encourage the development of Niche Businesses including: Internet Marketing, Cottage Industries; Value Added Industries; Specialty Bicycle Products; Home-based Businesses, etc.
h. Support the development of business cooperatives.
i. Develop the capacity of communities to plan & carry out projects in the Strategic Plan.
1. Provide a grant to each sub-zone to hire and employ a project manager to work within each subzone.
j. Establish Venture Capital Fund.
k. Establish business incubator.
l. Support the development of a River/ Truck/Rail Terminal Facility in Cairo
1. Conduct a feasibility study.
2. Develop preliminary and final designs.
3. Construct facility utilizing leverage funds
m. Support the establishment of a port of entry and a duty free trade zone.
n. Identify telecommunication needs and provide adequate telecommunications infrastructure to existing businesses and sites for new potential businesses.
o. Undertake activities that will sustain the empowerment zone initiative after designation is ended.
OBJECTIVE #2: Develop and/or expand transportation opportunities to assist low to moderate-income residents of the Southernmost Illinois Delta Empowerment Zone to become self-sufficient.
Strategies
a. Develop a transportation strategic plan to provide access to all EZ residents with links to nearby
communities.
b. Develop a Regional Public Transportation Hub.
1. Construct or rehabilitate facilities for dispatch, administration and service.
2. Outfit with modern dispatch and business systems.
3. Purchase buses.
c. Create a "Cars For Jobs" Program, whereby cars will be sold on a contract for deed to working low-income
persons without reliable transportation to get to jobs outside their immediate area.
d. Establish an Economic Independence 0% Loan Fund to be administered by a non-profit organization or agency that works with working low income persons to assist with emergency needs such as car repairs and medical bills not covered by other funding programs.
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