Bureau County Republican

NCI promoting region to executives

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Marketing the three-county region for new jobs, new tax revenue and new business investment, North Central Illinois Economic Development (NCI) recently participated in four major promotion events.

NCI was the only economic development sponsor promoting at the annual Virtual Industrial Tour by the Association of Industrial Real Estate Brokers, attended by more than 200 in Chicago. The region of Bureau, LaSalle and Putnam counties was also promoted to more than 300 at the Industrial Summit sponsored by Chicago Industrial Properties. Additionally, NCI hosted site consultants and real estate executives at a virtual tour and breakfast in Oak Brook and a Diamond Suite event in Chicago.

"Every effort is being made to promote the full-service industrial sites and great advantages of Bureau, LaSalle and Putnam counties,” said Ivan Baker, NCI president. "The organization is only 10 months old and is the only regional public-private partnership organized to aggressively promote the locational advantages of North Central Illinois for new jobs and business investment.”

With a new marketing focus, NCI is the only regional organization that is promoting to site selection consultants, real estate executives, and more than 4,000 potential business prospects.

Additionally, NCI has become the only regional marketing agency coordinating efforts with the State Intersect Illinois, DCEO, Ameren, Nicor, ComEd, Norfolk Southern, BNSF Rail, Union Pacific, and CSX Rail. Upcoming marketing events include trade shows for plastics and fabricated metal companies, a foreign direct investment program with the U.S. Department of Commerce, and special promotional efforts in New York.

“Our targeted marketing effort will help encourage more investment by existing companies and new employers to our region,” said NCI Director Steve Nelson.

A full update of current activity, and upcoming marketing programs will be presented at the first annual meeting of the North Central Illinois EDC to be held at the Illinois Valley Community College Room CTC-125 on Wednesday, June 14, at 6 p.m.

Jim Riley, chairman of NCI, said, “North Central Illinois has tremendous advantages for business, and now we are making sure decision-makers know about us.”