2004 Annual Report Executive Summary
Southernmost Illinois Delta Empowerment Zone
The Southernmost Illinois Delta Empowerment Zone (SIDEZ) concluded year six of their zone designation with a solid record of accomplishment. Community leaders persevered in making numerous positive changes while cutting nearly half a million dollars from the 2004 budget in response to a significantly reduced Round II empowerment zone appropriation for the year.
The year was marked by celebratory ribbon-cuttings as many new business and community structures were dedicated into service. The Grand Chain Lodge and Campground, a four room lodge with restaurant, bar and convenience store overlooking the Ohio River was dedicated in December. Johnson County 2000 constructed a second building in the Johnson County Industrial Park and leased it to Shawnee Winery who also held a grand opening in December. During the year, Mound City dedicated a new city hall, the Village of Olmsted built a new library and the Village of Pulaski dedicated a new community park. Alexander County constructed five miles of new hiking and biking trails at the Horseshoe Lake Conservation area. Shawnee Development Council and Alexander County Housing Authority finished construction of four new single-family homes. Several businesses utilized low interest loans to construct new facilities or remodel existing structures.
Ten new Intermediary Relending Program loans were made in the empowerment zone--five by Pulaski County, four by SIDEZ and one by Johnson County. SIDEZ also made four new micro-enterprise loans. Nearly $1.2 million of low interest capital was made available for business start-up and expansion. Alexander County received a $675,000 Intermediary Relending Program loan from USDA-Rural Development, bringing the total of new loan programs in the empowerment zone to four since zone designation.
Seventy-three entrepreneurs completed SIDEZ funded entrepreneurship training programs. Over fourteen hundred adults and youth participated in after school and evening programs. The seven school districts in the empowerment zone utilized SIDEZ Community Learning Center grants to help pay program costs.
In January, SIDEZ released the results of a targeted industry study prepared for the zone by the consulting firm Lockwood Greene. Economic development leaders began to address some of the consultants’ recommendations for making the area more competitive—securing a large parcel of developable land and offering broadband service. The Southern Illinois Stimulus Corporation negotiated the purchase of a large parcel of land for development as a regional industrial park. Next Generation Network deployed wireless broadband service in Johnson County as part of an ambitious project to supply wireless and fiber optic service throughout the area.
The three counties in the zone upgraded over 14 miles of dusty gravel roads to an oil and chip surface. Delta Regional Authority provided $300,000 matching funds.
Alexander County worked with property owners to remove four structures from the flood plain. The County is seeking to re-enter the National Flood Insurance Program and must mitigate a minimum of ten structures before FEMA will consider accepting them back into the program. Communities throughout the zone removed sixty-one blighted abandoned structures utilizing SIDEZ grant funds.
Many other worthy projects were completed, from purchasing new ambulance equipment to save lives to purchasing the Grande Theater in Vienna for restoration and use as a community facility. Other projects, such as construction of the Pulaski County Business Incubator will not be finished until 2005. As 2004 drew to a close, zone residents reflected back on a year of accomplishment that would not have been possible without the empowerment zone initiative. Zone leaders are eager to continue their efforts to bring economic vitality and to improve the quality of life for zone residents during the coming years.