Lunch with the Fed!

Post By: Marty    Posted On: Apr.20, 2012

PNC Bank and the Economic Development Council of the Bloomington-Normal Area present: Lunch with the Fed Featuring: David Oppedahl Business Economist, Chicago Federal Reserve Bank David Oppedahl is a business economist in the economic research department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Oppedahl... [Read more]

The Case for Local Business

Post By: Marty    Posted On: Apr.05, 2012

Over the years  I have attended the annual conference of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). This is the organization that a majority of economic development professionals belong to in the United States. It’s called “international” because membership is open to international... [Read more]

Join Something!

Post By: Marty    Posted On: Apr.03, 2012

Membership has all the benefits. Remember that commercial for a credit card from a number of years ago? When you join something like a health club or country club or chamber of commerce you expect to receive benefits in return. However, many of us don’t take advantage of the opportunities that present... [Read more]

“…Pose the Right Question”

Post By: Marty    Posted On: Apr.02, 2012

When I drive out into the countryside outside of my home in Normal, Illinois I need not go too far without seeing one of the latest trends in energy: Wind farms. The “farms” so to speak, or really a conglomeration of numerous turbine structures rise up out of the soybean and cornfields like  alien... [Read more]

Economic Development Attraction 101

Post By: Marty    Posted On: Feb.01, 2012

How does a community attract a new company to its environs? This is the challenge for the EDC this year as we embark on a very aggressive campaign to bring new business to the area. The idea of attracting new business to the community is what most people think about when they think about economic development.... [Read more]

Making Friends

Post By: Marty    Posted On: Jan.24, 2012

Leadership in Economic Development. What is that you might ask? Well, I’m not sure. I am going to take the year to explore the topic one week at a time. I have said it here in the past and I will say it again, our profession is a dubious one. I am not sure we all like each other.  I’m not sure we... [Read more]

Hope for Algae

Post By: Marty    Posted On: Jan.23, 2012

We hear so much about how growing something, anything to turn into fuel will save the world. Grow corn ,turn it into ethanol and we can tell the Sheiks to stuff it, right. Then we learn that it takes too much energy to turn corn into fuel and that the net gain iz negative. How about switch-grass? How... [Read more]

Lessons Learned

Post By: Marty    Posted On: Jan.18, 2012

I feel for the people of Moberly, Missouri. In particular I feel bad for the economic development and municipal officials in the town along with those from the State of Missouri. It seems that the folks in Moberly have entered into a venture that by all accounts has fallen apart and has hurt them. Hurt... [Read more]

Plastics and Recycling…the future!

Post By: Marty    Posted On: Jan.16, 2012

I live in the town of Normal, Illinois and it has awesome city services. One thing they do really well (as does the City of Bloomington, its neighbor to the south) is collect garbage. The really nice thing about the Town is one can throw just about anything away and it will be collected. Yard waste merely... [Read more]

Ode to Eldon

Post By: Marty    Posted On: Nov.22, 2011

Every Thanksgiving I give my respects to the one fowl that has sacrificed life and limb for my family holiday feast. This year our sacrificial bird has more than exceeded his ability to provide. Seven Sister’s farm  near  Sidney, IL has raised our loyal and giving bird this year. His name is... [Read more]

Mom’s Procedure

Post By: Marty    Posted On: Oct.10, 2011

I am at my mothers home this morning, in the basement in the room I called my bedroom when I was a teenager, but now considered a “guest room”. I can hear mother dearest moving around above me the kitchen. It is right above my head. Pretty soon I will smell the coffee, which will eventually... [Read more]