Columbia Awarded Certified Local Government Status

The City of Columbia has become the newest Certified Local Government in Illinois. In a recent email, the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency informed City staff that state designation has been awarded, with certification by the National Parks Service expected to follow in 4-6 weeks.

Members of Columbia's Heritage & Preservation Commission have worked several years to bring the City's historic preservation program to the level required for designation. The Certified Local Government Program, which was established by the National Historic Preservation Act Amendments of 1980, gives cities the opportunity to participate as partners in state and federal preservation activities.

To become certified, a local government must have a historic preservation ordinance, establish a preservation review commission, have an active local survey program to identify historic resources, and provide for public participation. As a certified local government, Columbia may participate in state and federal incentive programs and is now also eligible for matching grant funds to assist in the implementation of its local preservation program through surveys, preservation plans, staff support, and public education.

Admiral Parkway Redevelopment Continues

The success of Columbia's Admiral Parkway Redevelopment Area has been demonstrated in the construction of a bank branch, a pharmacy and the city’s first hotel over the past few years in the redevelopment area without continued provision of tax increment financing incentives. While the pace of new investment has slowed during the recession, the area will remain attractive to future investment as elements of the redevelopment plan continue to be completed.

Since the 33.8-acre parcel retained along Carr Creek for future development as a park remains almost totally undeveloped at this point, and since the parcel’s location almost wholly within the 100-year flood plain of both Carr and Wilson creeks presents some special challenges, the City decided to undertake a master planning process before making any additional improvements on this site. Since future development of the park property will help further the redevelopment plan, TIF funds are being used to underwrite part of the costs of planning, with the remainder coming from the school district.

City staff have also continued analysis of drainage and other hydrological processes in the redevelopment area. Engineering assessment of the Valmeyer Rd. bridge deck, calling for replacement of this aging infrastructure, is being reviewed by Columbia’s City Engineer. A hydrological study of the Wilson & Carr Creek basins came in with a higher than expected price tag and will have to be completed during the next fiscal year.

Under Illinois regulations, the TIF district has seven years remaining. This year, two businesses received their final reimbursements and three more agreements will likely to be satisfied in the coming year. Looking ahead, members of the Joint Review Board (JRB), made up of one representative from each taxing authority affected by the district along with at least one member of the general public, are being asked to approve the following actions:


1. Complete review of Valmeyer Rd. bridge analysis;


2. Pursue state grant for drainage basin hydrologic analysis;


3. Defer decision on bridge replacement until completion of drainage basin hydrologic analysis;


4. Complete Admiral Weinel Blvd. bridge overlay;


5. Prepare 2013-2019 cash flow & expenditure proposal for JRB review.

Columbia Seeks Input From Property Owners in the American Bottom

Anticipating an upturn in the economy, the City of Columbia has begun laying the groundwork for marketing local opportunities for investment.  While the City has provided information to potential investors and used trade shows and other marketing venues to promote Columbia and Monroe County for many years, this year the City will broaden its tactics.

One of these tactics is enhancing the City's website.  Studies show that websites are the point of first contact for attracting most investors and suggest that marketing efforts should focus on this venue, at least initially, to attract new businesses and new development.  The City of Columbia recently updated its website and is continuing to make improvements designed to facilitate inquiries from potential new investors.

Over the next few months, the City will be making changes to its website to make information about areas of Columbia easier to find and inquiries more fruitful.  The City's website will deliver information about each planning district defined in the 20/20 Master Plan, adopted in 2005, and will offer general information about each district along with links to specific properties for sale or for lease.  Using information from the 2005 plan for a base, City officials will begin fostering community discussions in each district, seeking input from property owners and others to help define the current and future character of that district.  Ultimately, these efforts will culminate in a revision of the master plan document.

The first discussion will be held Monday evening, February 27th, beginning at 7:00 p.m., as part of the bimonthly City Council committee meetings.  Invitations will be going out next week to property owners in the I-255 Development District (Columbia's portion of the American Bottom) to seek their participation in an informal discussion about development goals for that area. 

Tell a Neighbor--the Lend Rush is On!

Many of Monroe County's financial institutions and entrepreneurs turned out this morning to hear a briefing from the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) on the Advantage Illinois program.  As with any other financing program, opportunities are limited--and the rush to qualify and submit projects is on!

Advantage Illinois began last October with $29 million allocated to its various programs through the U.S. Treasury as Illinois' share under the Small Business Jobs Act. Accessing the program requires participation from a bank, which must be pre-registered before it can submit projects for review and acceptance. To date, only twenty banks across the state have been registered as lenders and just shy of $18 million in applications have been received.  If DCEO can push applications beyond 80% of allocations in the first twenty months of the program, then another $29 million will become available; ultimately, the program may be authorized to provide $78 million of support to Illinois businesses.

Monroe County banks and small business owners have a competitive advantage right now as one of the very first communities to gain a briefing on the program.  Now, it's up to local banks to register for the program and for local entrepreneurs to submit great projects--pass the word!

For more information about Advantage Illinois and other financing programs available to small businesses in Monroe County, please contact Nora Feuquay at (618) 939-8681 x.309  or Paul Ellis at (618) 281-7144 x.118.

Monroe County to Host Meeting on Financing Initiative for Smaller Firms

Small businesses (especially start-ups) and financial institutions are invited to a presentation regarding how they can work together to increase economic growth in Monroe County utilizing Governor Pat Quinn’s small business financing initiative, Advantage Illinois. The presentation takes place on January 20th from 10:30 a.m. to 12 Noon on the second floor of the Monroe County Courthouse in Waterloo.

The Advantage Illinois initiative will leverage $78 million in funding from the federal State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) to increase investments and ease the credit crunch for small businesses. The program is meant to encourage institutional lending to small businesses and also provides a mechanism for the state to leverage venture capital for high-growth enterprises.

Advantage Illinois is comprised of the following bank programs: the Capital Access Program (CAP), the Collateral Support Program, and the Participation Loan Program (PLP). The State administers the Invest Illinois Venture Fund (IIVF).

The presentation is open to the public. Sponsors include the Southwest Region Office of Regional Outreach for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, University of Illinois Extension and the Monroe County Economic Development Council.

State Representative Jerry F. Costello II will be in attendance to lend his insights and participate in the discussion.

For more information, contact University of Illinois Extension Community and Economic Development Educator Nora Feuquay at (618) 939-8681 x.309.

Looking Backward, Looking Ahead

The Roman icon for the New Year was Janus, god of beginnings and transitions, gates and doors, endings and time--usually represented as a two-faced god looking ahead to the future and backwards into the past (we derive both January and janitor from Janus).  This post, Janus-like, will review Columbia's progress and potential at the transition point into 2012.

As the recession wanes, Columbia seems to be emerging from the economic downturn in relatively good shape.  The long-awaited transformation of Shoemaker School into the Monroe County Welcome Center was completed this year, part of an expansion of local tourism. There has been some new commercial development (a Dollar General store and a new building for Quality Collision & Towing), more than forty new home starts, little increase in commercial vacancies and an upswing in the number of new businesses opening, including several along Main Street, which is developing a stronger identity through joint promotional efforts.  Sales tax collections are at a five-year high.

Even more important may be the foundation Columbia is preparing for future economic growth.  A county-wide tourism effort focused on the historic Cahokia-Kaskaskia Trail is gathering momentum and producing results.  Locally, Columbia is finally moving ahead with locating and commemorating Piggot's Fort, the largest fortified American settlement in the American Bottoms of the late 18th Century.  City leaders are beginning a marketing effort to retailers and other developers that may begin to pay dividends by matching businesses pursuing expansion plans (like ECF, Inc.) with developable parcels.  City government is also pushing ahead with updated planning and a long-awaited investment strategy for Main Street.  Economic development professionals from both the City's Community & Economic Development Department and the Monroe County Economic Development Council will be renewing efforts to support growth of small entrepreneurs in every way possible--both will be using the newly-developed strategic plan (completed in 2011) as a guide.

Sounds Like a Plan (2012)

In December each year, while others are checking their Christmas lists one final time, the City of Columbia's Community & Economic Development Department (CEDD) compiles another list. The annual Community & Economic Development Strategy guides the City's efforts each year to build a better community and expand economic activity.

The overall goal for CEDD is "[to] expand and enhance City and community revenues and assets so as to steadily increase available resources, broaden service delivery, and improve the quality of life for all citizens."

The Strategy is outcomes-based, establishing goals and then defining activities that will support their achievement. This approach ties CEDD's activities to community goals, guides program development and makes it possible to gauge accomplishments. The Columbia City Council reviewed achievements (as well as shortfalls) of the 2011 strategy earlier this month; last evening, they adopted the strategy proposed for 2012.

Objectives for 2012 are as follows:

1. Encourage new businesses to form and grow in Columbia

a. Work with the Monroe County Economic Development Council (MCEDC) to develop program(s) that will encourage and support local entrepreneurs

2. Retain businesses in the City of Columbia by supporting their long-term success

a. Encourage Columbia’s citizens to support local businesses

 Continue to support MCEDC’s “Think Monroe County First!” campaign

b. Provide direct services to current businesses

 Continue business retention/expansion visits through MCEDC

 Use a multi-agency team approach to address needs of local firms identified through these visits

 Continue to support the Admiral Parkway Redevelopment Area through administration and tax increment financing

c. Support expansion of current businesses through loans and incentives, where appropriate

 Expand the revolving loan program through strategic partnerships

 Assist MCEDC in developing new incentives for business expansion

3. Recruit new businesses to the community

a. Market available sites and buildings for businesses looking to expand and/or relocate

 Expand the marketing campaign to promote Columbia with office & retail users throughout Greater St. Louis

 Engage local & regional partners (i.e., developers, MCEDC, Leadership Council, Regional Chamber & Growth Ass’n.) in this effort

 Expand building & site listings on Location One Information System (LOIS), the primary platform for commercial real estate information

b. Maintain and distribute timely information on Columbia’s demographics, business mix, and economic potential

 Update community profile with the Illinois Department of Community & Economic Opportunity (DCEO)

 Create new community marketing materials, including one or more promotional video(s)

4. Stimulate more commercial activity on Main Street

a. Enhance design consistency and the historic character of this corridor

 Building upon past efforts, develop a comprehensive Main Street revitalization strategy that includes market analysis, targeted improvements and planning for adequate parking & transit services

b. Increase private investment in Main St. properties

 Work with the Main St. Business Association (MSBA) to support business expansion and recruit new businesses into the corridor

5. Develop and market local sites & facilities that will entice visitors and locals to learn more about Columbia’s history and heritage

a. Market Columbia and Monroe County as tourist destinations

 Partner with Columbia’s lodging and conference facilities to support a direct sales position

 Include tourism promotion as an integral part of the strategic marketing campaign

 Effectively market & cooperatively staff the Monroe County Welcome Center

b. Develop community signage that blends aesthetics and commercial promotion in the highest & best manner

 Assist MSBA in securing signage on I-255 for “Historic Main St. Columbia” and installing banners along Main St.

 Review community entrance signage and informational banner use to reduce clutter and improve aesthetics

6. Enhance Columbia’s reputation as one of the most desirable communities in the region through adoption of updated planning

a. Update the City’s Master Plan (recommended every five years)

 Incorporate the Senior Services Assessment and revised Open Space, Bicycle & Greenway Alignment into the Master Plan

b. Cooperate with the City of Waterloo, Monroe County and other partners to develop a Community Planning Area (CPA) sustainability plan

7. Expand resources for parks & recreational uses to make Columbia “a great place to play”

a. Continue to work for expanded use of parks and recreation facilities

 Complete transfer of the Piggot’s Fort commemorative site

 Complete the master plan for the park within the Admiral Trost Development

 Build upon the Open Space, Bicycle & Greenway Alignment Plan to create a city-wide alternative transportation plan

 Create a comprehensive operational program for parks & recreation

b. Expand resources available for parks & recreation services and facilities

 Continue to pursue grants from the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources and other sources

 Develop a program of grants, planned giving and other mechanisms to help fund long-term improvements

8. Support community activities, celebrate milestones and add to the local quality of life

a. Increase community involvement in and support for local events

 Initiate an ambassadors program to increase volunteer support for events

b. Identify needs and mobilize support for an enhanced quality of life

 Involve other community partners in completing a Community Development Inventory with recommendations for coordinated/common efforts