Are your staff training and continuous improvement programs failing to meet your expectations? Do your supervisors, managers, and team leaders need improvement in their human resources skills? Is employee turnover plaguing your productivity? In today’s tough business environment, companies are being asked to produce more with fewer people. One proven approach to overcoming these challenges is to ensure that supervisors and team leaders – anyone who directs the activities of others – can drive standard work and get results more quickly.

Training Within Industry (TWI) is a standardized program that addresses the essential needs of leadership. It’s an employee development methodology that companies across the U.S. are utilizing to enable frontline personnel to help establish a culture for change, improve performance, and facilitate standardized work. With TWI, companies realize immediate changes in productivity, employee retention, waste reduction, and cost avoidance.

Executive Briefing
January 28, 2010
8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
PeoriaNEXT
801 W. Main St., Peoria

There is no cost to attend, and breakfast will be provided. Go to www.imec.org and click on the Events page or call IMEC at 888-806-4632. For more information, contact Donna Arras at 618-558-8095 or darras@imec.org.

Mavidea Technology Group, LLC (Mavidea), a local business that offers small business IT Management and Web Management services, announced in November that the judges for the Extreme Technology Makeover chose Champaign County Humane Society, located in Urbana, IL, as the winner of their Extreme Technology Makeover.

Mavidea’s Extreme Technology Makeover contest ended on Saturday, October 31st with a total of 75 applications from businesses and organizations in Illinois. The judges went through a process of narrowing down the top finalists to one winner. To enter the contest, businesses and organizations had to complete an application where they wrote on their mission or purpose, business need, and most importantly, a description of how a technology makeover would increase productivity in their business or organization. The prize package, provided by IBM, Microsoft, HP, Sony, SonicWALL, MX Logic, Trend Micro and Mavidea, includes:

• One IBM System X Server
• Five Sony Vaio business class laptops
• Five HP workstations
• Microsoft Small Business Server 08 Premium Edition
• Ten copies of Microsoft Office Pro Plus
• SonicWALL TZ 190 firewall
• One year of MX Logic Email Defense services for ten mailboxes
• One year of Trend Micro Worry Free Anti-Virus Software for ten users
• Six months of Mavidea’s IT Management Services, STABILITY and SECURITY

Mavidea hosted a ceremony on November 17th from 5-7pm to recognize the top ten finalists and announce Champaign County Humane Society, an “open door” shelter that accepts all animals needing shelter, regardless of age, physical condition, or adoptability, as the winner of the $35,000 Extreme Technology Makeover.

“It is a great honor to be chosen to receive this wonderful gift, currently we have old computers that are very slow and this makeover will greatly benefit the staff, volunteers, and of course the animals” said Lee Ann Donner, Champaign County Humane Society’s Development Director.

Sponsors: IBM, Microsoft, Sony, HP, MX Logic, and Trend Micro

The Economic Development Council of the Bloomington-Normal Area, in partnership with Illinois State University, is currently leading an effort to develop a small business incubator in the Bloomington-Normal area. A business incubator is a facility designed to assist businesses with becoming established and sustainable during their start-up phase. Typically, they do this by providing shared premises, business advice, business services, access to investors, markets and international networks, mentoring and a full-time hands-on management team. This business growth center will create new jobs in our community by enabling current businesses to prosper and grow and be offering qualified entrepreneurs the space, support and services for success.

The McLean County Business Incubator has been one of the projects supported by the EDC’s One Voice task force for the past three years. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin appropriated a $250,000 Small Business Administration grant for fiscal year 2007. U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson also appropriated $100,000 to the incubator through a Housing and Urban Development grant for fiscal year 2008.

A feasibility study has been completed with the conclusion that there is a strong market in McLean County to support a mixed-use incubator. The EDC is currently in the process of securing a location for the incubator and expects it to open by the end of 2010. To learn more about the feasibility study, contact us at (309) 452-8437.

On Saturday, Jan. 9th from 10-11:30 a.m., Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson will be presenting a seminar on federal funding at the Bank of Illinois Community Room in Uptown Normal.  She will be discussing the appropriations process as well as federal grant opportunities. Joining her will be Corey Tellez, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Jeremy Ly, Grants and Special Projects.

For more information or to RSVP, contact Christina Rogers at (309) 808-1194 or christina.rogers@mail.house.gov.

This has been a big year for the EDC. We have moved forward with several initiatives to build our local economy. We received grant funding to develop the Central Illinois Regional Collaborative Effort, which is working to address needs with our healthcare workforce. The New Leadership Board created its first whitepaper with a wide range of recommendations for our employers, municipalities and the EDC to take into consideration as we plan for the future. We’re getting closer and closer to opening the McLean County Business Incubator.  We’re assisting businesses with financing opportunities through our Community Development Corporation. And the list goes on and on…. We’ve accomplished a lot, but we’re always looking ahead to see what we can do next.

The EDC looks forward to the upcoming year. We are staying focused on our core mission of helping local businesses to grow and expand, and we plan to work even harder to increase awareness of programs we have to help carry out this mission. For more information on how we can help your business, please contact us at (309) 452-8437.

We hope you have a safe and happy holiday season!

Your friends at the EDC:

Marty, Brooke, Cathy, Ken and Kelli

One Voice is a pro-community campaign bringing local leaders together to make McLean County a stronger economic force and a better place to live. Leaders from our municipalities, labor unions, educational institutions and private businesses stand united; working to support local projects worth of funding and taking it all the way to Washington, D.C.

Nearly 40 local leaders will take part in the fly-in on March 9-11 to be among other local leaders, attend receptions and educational forums and meet with our U.S. senators and representatives, along with leaders of other government agencies. This is the experience of a lifetime, and we are proud to share it with one worthy, local student.

The Richard Eikenberg One Voice Scholarship allows us to invite one local college student to participate in the incredible One Voice Washington Trip. The scholarship covers all expenses of the trip, from flight and hotel to all meals and events….and we need your help to make it happen.

DONATE and CELEBRATE with us on February 10, 2010 from 5:00-7:30 p.m. at the Bank of Illinois, 1st floor conference room, 200 W. College Ave., Uptown Normal.

Please help us support a student and create a life-shaping experience. Tickets are $50/single person, $75/couple, $200/group of five. If you are unable to attend but would still like to support this cause, please contact us at (309) 452-8437. (Visa, MC and Discover accepted)

My career and interest in local government started with an internship with the McLean County administrator’s office many years ago. Today, I see many successful college students launch careers because of internships they have had. Former interns of the EDC include an aide for New Orleans Mayor Nagin, a doctoral candidate at Michigan State University and a current employee. Having an internship provides valuable experience for the intern and great productivity for the organization. Here is information about an available internship:

ISU Capitol Hill Sponsorship — Illinois State University is offering a scholarship for students that will allow them to spend a summer or semester in Washington, D.C. The program provides a student with an opportunity to observe government at work by working in a Congressional or Senate office, a federal agency or a business. Up to four students will be chosen across disciplines for each term. Students are not paid, but each will receive a $4,000 scholarship to help defray the cost of living in Washington, D.C. For more information about the scholarship, interested students can contact Marissa McCord, Associate Director of Research and Sponsored Programs, at (309) 438-8595 or at mbmccor@ilstu.edu.

The EDC welcomes inquiries by students interested in internships.  Here is what our current Project Analyst Ken Springer, who finished his master’s degree while interning at the EDC,  had to say about his internship:

“Interning at the EDC was an adventure.  Often, I’d find myself thrust into situations and projects with which I had no prior experience.  This terrified me at first, but I quickly realized that what I was really getting was an opportunity to develop new skills and test my ingenuity.  The EDC staff was great at letting me work  on the outside edge of my comfort zone, but was still there to give guidance when necessary.  Interning at the EDC requires you to think quickly and critically.  Your boldness is rewarded with a wealth of experience.”

Jonah Ralston, who is currently working on his doctorate degree at  Michigan State University, also talked about his experience:

“The benefits of internships cannot be overstated; they provide valuable practical experience, and they allow you to make a number of professional contacts. They offer an opportunity to differentiate yourself in a highly competitive job market or in an application to increasingly selective graduate programs. My time at the Economic Development Council of the Bloomington-Normal Area afforded me many interesting opportunities, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time interning there during my senior year at Illinois State University.”

Grace Leopold, our most recent intern, now holds a marketing position in Chicago. She is thankful for all the knowledge she gained during her experience:

“Knowing essentially nothing about economic development when I first heard of the EDC, I anticipated learning a great deal during my time spent there. Not only did I learn a great deal about the vast array of hard work that goes into developing and retaining business in a community, I also learned politics, finance, community outreach, work ethic, dedication and what passion for a job really means. My internship was the most memorable and educational experience of my college career by far.”

 

Often, the internships are unpaid, but the opportunities and experience and friendships can last a lifetime. Contact me to find out more at (309) 452-8437 or mvanags@bnbiz.org.

Small Business Energy-Efficiency Assistance Program

The Environmental Health major at Illinois State University, in cooperation with the Economic Development Council of the Bloomington-Normal Area, is offering free assistance to small businesses in McLean County to take advantage of financial incentives to improve energy efficiency.  ISU students trained in basic energy auditing and energy efficiency can help small businesses identify energy efficiency opportunities, estimate financial assistance and potential savings, and assist in selecting and monitoring contractors.

Small business owners are often too busy with daily business operations to keep track of energy efficiency technologies and the various financial incentives that have been created to promote energy efficiency.  The Small Business Energy-Efficiency Assistance Program for Bloomington-Normal is intended bridge this gap and help business owners take advantage of existing opportunities.

Specifically, as part of the program, students will:

1. Meet with business owners to explain the program.

2. Perform a walk-through energy audit to identify significant energy efficiency improvements.

3. Estimate potential costs, savings and payback, given existing financial incentive programs. Financial incentive programs include:

•  Federal tax credits
• Ameren rebates and discounts
• Local assistance  (when available)

4. Work with the business owner, if desired, to identify potential contractors and solicit bids.

5. Work with the business owner, if desired, to evaluate bids and select a superior contractor.

6. Work with the business owner, if desired, to monitor contract performance and evaluate final results.

The program runs through May 1, 2010. The number of business clients that can be served is limited, so businesses will be added to the program on a first-come/first-served basis.

For more information, please contact Tom Bierma, Professor of Environmental Health at ISU – tbierma@ilstu.edu or (309) 438-7121 or Ken Springer at the EDC — ken@bnbiz.org or (309) 452-8437.