The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Economic Development-What To Do?

by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher

12 March 2003

It seems everywhere you go, you read about economic development. Twenty five years ago, area people were protesting any program that was going to bring in more people and change our rural area. The way things were -quiet and rural - were attractive to most people.

The rural idea, although attractive to most of us, comes with the problem of low financial resources making it harder to find high paying jobs, fund our schools, even pay our county's responsibilities without taking from the same few taxpayers in our midst.

What's a county, village, or better yet, you and I to do?

I know with the many businesses that have closed in our small towns, especially car dealerships, revenue has greatly dropped. On the other hand, upkeep for our roads and expenses for county and village businesses have gone up.

It seems Twomey Co., the biggest employer in Henderson County had the best idea back at its conception, and that was to service the needs of the people.

One must identify a need, and then go about filling it. I think people have gotten a little tired of seeking out the biggest stores to do their shopping and are starting to look for businesses with good service as long as the price and the quality is acceptable.

What is lacking in a lot of cases is service and what else can be unique about a business except its "extraordinary good service."

If there are six stores that all offer the same thing, where would you go? Maybe you will go to the closest, maybe you will go to the cheapest, but what most of us like is good plus friendly service.

Our newspaper can advertise a business and get them to the store, but the actual sell of the product is up to them. They must run a quality store, give good service, have a good product if they want customers to return.

Our community leaders have a tough job increasing small town businesses even in light of the fact that Illinois is a leader in attracting businesses.

Oak Lane Nursing, one of the newest nursing facilities in the area has done well to offer good paying jobs while meeting a need to an aging community. The Henderson County Health Department has also added jobs while meeting needs of seniors and shut-ins. We also have several dental and doctor clinics.

Illinois Power Co said they did not have the resources or could justify a return to expand in our rural area to attract the Ethanol plant, but Illinois farmers and investors will still benefit from the nearby plant in West Burlington, Iowa.

La Harpe is amazingly pulling in a lot of people for its car shows where people will drop some bucks while they are here. Seeking to meet some of their needs while they are here would be a way of helping the economy.

With nearby Mormon attractions, it seems eating establishments, lodging, bed and breakfasts, and recreational facilities should be a good investment.

When I think of what Galena has done to drawing tourism where President Ulysses Grant lived, I wonder if President Lincoln's visit here could be expanded upon.

A friend once told me of his growing up years in very poor rural area. There were three boys in his country classroom. When he was in high school, however, tourists began coming and the economy turned around for them. To his surprise, people would pay them to go canoeing down their quick streams on their land. Now their land -once of little value - is very valuableŠthe Ozarks.

William Rutherford, Corporate Attorney in Peoria whose home overlooks the Illinois River is founder of The Wildlife Prairie Park. He told me that someday rural Illinois will be the most sought after area in the United States. He, a former Illinois State Conservation Director, said Illinois has the changing seasons, hunting, fishing, rivers, hills, and wild life. It's a sanctuary for birds and has been cared for by its stewards.

Economics relates to the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Our economics might be simple, but we are rich.

Where Colorado has its ski slopes, we have our golden fields of corn. Where the Ozarks has its lakes, we have our many rivers. Where the gulf coasts have their sea gulls, we have our Eagles, red Cardinals and a host of other birds. Where New York and Texas have its big cities, we have Chicago and Lake Michigan. Then, there is the beautiful folks in downstate Illinois. Our values are in tact. People are still important to us.

One ZL1 buyer from N.C. told us he felt like the community was standing there with open arms welcoming him. He's coming back. Some things money just can't produce.