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. 

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.

The Main (Street) Event: Five New Players

Last Thursday, Nora Feuquay from the Monroe County Economic Development Council (MCEDC) and Paul Ellis from the City of Columbia Community & Economic Development Department began retention visits with Main Street merchants.  The purpose of these visits is to build a database of local businesses and get to know them better so as to provide assistance when it's needed--even better, before help is needed.

Columbia's Main Street has developed a new vitality that is reflected in the diversity of these first five merchants visited by the local economic development team:

Evalina's Antique Cafe - After years of success with Winghorse Farms on Triple Lakes Road, Barbara Ratz decided to follow a new dream and open an antique shop at 124 S. Main; she also sells desserts and serves soup and sandwiches amid the antiques, consignment items and locally-made crafts.

Fashion Attic - Lori Prior has transferred her skills as a successful Realtor into a run as owner of a consignment shop at 128 S. Main, where she offers stylish clothing, jewelry, hats, purses, and bags for discriminating customers.

Above & Beyond Design by Marla - After years of working for a corporation, Marla Vogt struck out on her own to design custom kitchens for customers from Waterloo to Chesterfield; she opened her showroom at 128 S. Main after working out of her home and winning customer acclaim.

Chateau La Vin - Another refugee from the corporate world, Bob Freyman opened Chateau La Vin Wine Shop & Tasting Bar at 119 S. Main just a few months ago; his shop offers a respite from shopping where customers can sip wine and watch the traffic go by.

Who Dat's Southern Food - Bourbon St. meets the Midwest at 123 S. Main in Who Dat's, where Creole is king and owner Chris Salvage offers Southern hospitality with the cuisine.

Even though each of these five relatively new firms is unique, they share at least two common characteristics--optimism for the future, and the sense that Columbia's Main Street is where their future fortunes (literal and figurative) will be found.

Senator Durbin Proposes Deficit Reduction, Main Street 'Fairness'

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin met with leaders from across Southwestern Illinois this morning for a first round of discussion on how to balance the federal budget and help spur economic recovery on Main Street. The meeting, held in Collinsville, was organized by the Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois and drew about 70 participants from Madison, Monroe & St. Clair counties.

Durbin—the second highest-ranking member of the Senate and a member of the bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform (aka the “Deficit Reduction Commission”)—focused his remarks on strategies he advocates to reduce the $14 trillion federal deficit. The overall approach, as he sees it, is to balance investments against spending cuts until the recession ends, then to aggressively attack spending cuts. Durbin is forthright about the scale of that task, observing that the nation will have to “get radical” and that “we cannot balance the budget without dealing with the rapidly rising costs of healthcare” despite many entrenched interests to the contrary.

Speaking to a group composed largely of businesspeople and local government officials, Durbin cited two specific pieces of legislation that he is pushing forward to help support economic recovery:

• Legislation to monitor and reduce the interchange fees imposed upon businesses by financial institutions for the use of debit cards;
• The Main Street Fairness Act, which would levy sales tax upon Internet sales—Durbin contends that this measure would “level the playing field” for brick-and-mortar retailers and infuse revenue back to state and local governments.

Fielding questions from the audience, Durbin reiterated his support for a “reasonable approach” to maintaining levees and noted that the latest version of the Congressional budget cuts funding for the Army Corps of Engineers.

Sounds Like a Plan (2011)

Each year, the City of Columbia's Community & Economic Development Department presents a strategic plan with goals & objectives for the coming year for approval by the City Council.

This year's plan, which was approved December 20th, presented the following goals & objectives:

Encourage new businesses to form and grow in Columbia
Work with the Monroe County Economic Development Council (MCEDC) to develop program(s) that will encourage and support local entrepreneurs

Retain businesses in the City of Columbia by supporting their long-term success
Encourage Columbia’s citizens to support local businesses

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

Provide direct services to current businesses
Continue business retention/expansion visits through MCEDC

• Use a team approach to address identified needs of local firms
• Continue to administer the Admiral Parkway Redevelopment Area

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

• Maintain/expand city & county revolving loan programs
• Identify possible new incentives for business expansion

Recruit new businesses to the community
Market available sites and buildings for businesses looking to expand and/or relocate

• Initiate a marketing campaign to promote Columbia with office & retail users throughout Greater St. Louis
• Engage local & regional partners (i.e., Columbia Chamber, MCEDC, Leadership Council, Regional Chamber & Growth Ass’n.) in this effort
• Upgrade the City’s website in support of this effort
• Maintain building & site listings using Location One Information System (LOIS) as the primary platform

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)

Stimulate more commercial activity on Main Street
Enhance design consistency and the historic character of this corridor

• Develop a comprehensive Main Street redevelopment strategy that includes market analysis, targeted street/building improvements and planning for adequate parking/transit service

Increase private investment in Main St. properties

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

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

Market Columbia and Monroe County as tourist destinations

• Secure attraction signage from I-255 and IL-3 to Columbia destinations
• Finalize Intergovernmental Agreement & staffing for the Monroe County Welcome Center
• Continue the strategic marketing campaign to increase use of Columbia’s lodging and conference facilities

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

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

Review and update the City’s Master Plan (recommended every five years)

• Incorporate the new Main St. redevelopment strategy into the Master Plan
• Incorporate Plan Commission recommendations from the Senior Services Assessment into planning

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

Develop a comprehensive plan for use and development of grounds and facilities

• Complete a parks & recreation plan that will be incorporated into the City’s Master Plan
• 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 fund long-term improvements

Enhance parks & recreation services and expand public access to facilities

• Continue to review facility use and special event practices to improve service
• Incorporate maintenance & scheduling of American Legion Fields into day-to-day operations

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

Employ strategic analysis and community partnership for all events to reduce costs, build traffic and increase economic returns to the community
Initiate an ambassadors program to increase volunteer support for events

Implementation of these initiatives begins today.

Open House Will Preview Aging Assessment

The Columbia Plan Commission will hold an open house on October 25th, at which time members of the public are invited to review Building Maturing, Livable Communities, a draft community assessment, and offer their comments.

Increased life expectancy is creating record numbers of people aged 65 and older. While this age group represented only 13% of the population in 2000, it will comprise about 21% of the population in 2030. The group expected to grow most rapidly in the next 30 years is the one aged 85 years and older.

Over the past several months, members of Columbia’s Plan Commission have been assessing the local community's readiness for the impact of an aging population upon various aspects of community life. In this task, the Commission has used assessment tools provided by the Area Agency on Aging of Southwestern Illinois. While identifying challenges confronting Columbia in the various areas assessed, the Commission also hopes to identify many of the positive features that already make this city a very desirable community for the aged—and for other citizens—now and in the future.

Public input is encouraged as the Commission prepares its final report. Copies of the Commission's draft document are available for download from the City website, at City Hall or from a number of other locations around town, including the Monroe County 'Y' and the Columbia Senior Center.

The open house will be held from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. in the second-floor Auditorium at Columbia City Hall, 208 S. Rapp Ave.  Members of the Plan Commission will be on hand to answer questions or accept comments, and additional copies of the draft document will be available.  The Auditorium is handicapped accessible.

Draft Assessment Ready for Review

The Columbia Plan Commission has prepared "Building Maturing, Livable Communities," a draft community assessment of services for the aging in cooperation with the Area Agency on Aging of Southwestern Illinois. The agency is assisting seven other Metro East communities, such as Edwardsville and Waterloo, in completing similar assessments.

Members of the Plan Commission--an advisory body to the Columbia City Council--began the community assessment last year to focus upon the Columbia community and its readiness for the impact of an aging population upon various aspects of community life. Increased life expectancy is resulting in record numbers of people aged 65 and older--while this age group represented only 13% of the U.S. population in 2000, it will grow to comprise about 21% of the population in 2030.

The 28-page draft document is available online from the City's website and copies are available upon request from the City Clerk's office.  Interested residents are invited to review the document and offer their comments and/or criticisms; the Plan Commission will host an open house to more fully review the report at a yet to be determined date in the near future.

Making Sustainability Sustainable Here

Sustainability has been defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Given the limited amount of natural resources, the current economic crisis and society’s growing concern for good stewardship, cities everywhere must work hard to achieve their potential as environmentally responsible communities.  While many of the nation's larger cities are already pursuing sustainability, it's often harder for smaller cities to do more with less.

To that end, the City is seeking to improve its energy efficiency, increase recycling and develop a general sustainability plan to direct the "smart growth" of Columbia over the next 20 years through development of a program called Columbia’s Sustainable Total Efficiency Plan (CSTEP), which leaders hope will serve to guide the city’s growth in an energy efficient, environmentally responsible, economically vibrant manner. The City of Columbia proposes to implement this program via a four-pronged approach:

I. Development of a community-wide energy efficiency program reducing emissions coming from existing buildings, ensuring new construction maximizes energy efficiency, and improving transportation options;

II. Retrofitting an office building owned by the City as a demonstration project (which is initially conceived as an efficiency and conservation program but which may eventually include a renewable energy aspect) for other commercial property owners within the city;

III. Establishing a whole-neighborhood building energy retrofit project using a sustainable business model that will identify and help fund cost-effective energy upgrades for a large percentage of the older building stock along Columbia’s Main Street;

IV. Supporting a “challenge” program that will identify ways for homes and offices to recycle more and use less energy, recognize exemplary achievement, and reward cooperative effort towards community goals

The City of Columbia will seek funding through all available regional, state & federal grant and loan programs to help the community and participating homes & businesses evaluate, plan, finance and implement activities that leading to greater sustainability in Columbia & Monroe County.

New Strategy Hopes to Rearrange Regional Pieces Into a Vibrant Whole

A tectonic shift is underway in how the St. Louis region pursues economic development--a strategy that may be a real "game changer" in how region partners work together to build economic vitality.

Steve Johnson, Senior Vice President for the St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association previewed an ongoing revision of RCGA's Economic Development Strategic Plan today for members of the Greater St. Louis Economic Development Network.  The Network affiliates more than 100 economic development agencies at the state, county and city levels in both Missouri and Illinois--including the City of Columbia.

Johnson began by itemizing the lessons that RCGA has learned while pursuing previous strategic plans over the past decade:

• The region needs to continue to overcome "knockout factors" like a slow growth rate and relatively low levels of educational attainment;
• When regional partners come together as they are designed to do, the region wins deals;
• The region struggles to compete for general manufacturing jobs, so efforts should focus on attracting those manufacturers that already have direct ties;
• Neither Missouri nor Illinois is competitive with other, neighboring states;
• Lack of access to capital remains a major impediment to business growth and--since neither state is likely to address this challenge--it must become a regional initiative;
• The region needs to address its need for talent as an economic driver;
• The region must work together as a region.

How can Greater St. Louis build upon this environment to be consistently ranked among the top ten of the twenty largest metro areas in terms of economic vitality?  The conversation is still continuing, but Johnson suggested four principles and five priorities that may shape the next strategic plan for the region.

Four Principles:

1. Balance recruitment, retention/expansion, and innovation;
2. Recapture the region's relevance as a center for commerce, transportation and distribution;
3. Achieve a purposeful alignment of supply and demand for talent;
4. Be regional in scope and highly collaborative.

Five Priorities:

1. Support growth in key industry sectors (e.g., financial & information services, medical science & services, advance manufacturing for aerospace & defense);
2. Target marketing & recruitment efforts;
3. Increase the rate of start-up ventures;
4. Better leverage all transportation assets;
5. Address talent as a strategic imperative.

Draft Senior Assessment Available for Review Tonight

The Columbia Plan Commission was honored Friday by the Area Agency on Aging of Southwest Illinois for its efforts in undertaking an assessment of senior services--even though the effort hasn't been completed yet. The Commission’s work will be available for review by the public tonight from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Auditorium at Columbia City Hall.

Members of the Columbia Plan Commission--an advisory body to the Columbia City Council--began a community assessment last year to focus upon the Columbia community and its readiness for the impact of an aging population upon various aspects of community life. Increased life expectancy is resulting in record numbers of people aged 65 and older--while this age group represented only 13% of the U.S. population in 2000, it will grow to comprise about 21% of the population in 2030.

Columbia was one of eight communities honored last week at the luncheon held at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Also recognized were Collinsville, Edwardsville, Granite City, Greenville, New Baden, Red Bud and Waterloo.

Other Communities, Other Visions

Local leaders in many parts of the country are finding creative new ways to spur economic activity in their cities and counties:

In California, the City of Santa Clarita began hosting stakeholder meetings for business leaders as the economy turned sour and more businesses began looking for help from government. The mayor's economic development summit helped leaders from the chamber of commerce and the industrial association meet each other. The City’s strategy also included a luncheon for commercial brokers that was held to target rising vacancies and to share resources for attracting new tenants. The meetings were perceived as valuable, offering more ways that the City and the business community could proactively come together to address the downturn, and efforts eventually resulted in the City bringing Advanced Bionics Biomedical Company and its 350 jobs to town.

The City of Lake Forest, Illinois provides local businesses with a checklist of all events in the city so that owners and managers can synchronize their business goals, promotions, marketing and sales with opportunities available in the community. The City's Economic Development Department calls this service "Lake Forest’s Marketing Machine."

In Tennessee, Unicoi County officials are planning a sustainable tourism initiative with its goal to create new businesses that would support tourism. The county will use a $50,000 GEMS of Appalachia Grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission and matching funds from the Joint Economic Development Board and the Conservation Fund to sponsor educational workshops early next year for business owners and entrepreneurs in Unicoi County, the Town of Erwin, and the Town of Unicoi. According to Mayor Greg Lynch, the program is targeted to people "who are close to retirement, maybe wanting to start a bed-and-breakfast, something to sustain them for the rest of their lives, or young people wanting to start up their own guide business, [for example] to be river guides..." The county also is considering culinary tourism focusing on Appalachian Mountain cuisine.

Playing Through the Downturn

Quality of life is becoming increasingly recognized as integral to local economic development, so it should be no surprise that communities are seeking to boost their appeal to potential new businesses by improving local assets like parks and playgrounds. Columbia is one community that hopes to leverage its better-than-average quality of life as an economic incentive.

That's why Columbia may seek designation as a Playful City USA community, signifying commitment to a national recognition program honoring cities and towns across the nation taking action for play. By ensuring the prominence of play in the community's agenda, members of the City Council hope local citizens will reap the benefits that result from happier, smarter and healthier children as well as stronger communities--one of them being more active consideration as a business location.

In addition, designated Playful City USA communities will:

• Receive highway signs, awards and special incentive opportunities in honor of the Playful City USA status;
• Be included in a national media campaign and be provided local media support receive priority status in accessing resources including playground builds, trainings, and grants opportunities;
• Be given access to online resources and communication vehicles to keep them connected to Playful City USA communities nationwide;
• Receive recognition at national municipal leadership and recreation conferences.

Communities become Playful City USA communities by meeting five commitments:

1. Creating a local play commission;
2. Designing an annual action plan for play;
3. Conducting a playspace audit of all publicly accessible play areas;
4. Identifying current spending on capital projects and maintenance of playspaces;
5. Proclaiming and celebrating an annual KaBOOM! Play Day in September.

After the Bust, Retail Leasing Shrinks, Shifts

Within the next several years, the amount of U.S. retail space devoted to specialty stores will contract by about 10 percent, according to a study just released by UBS Securities LLC. This trend will be driven by reductions in store size, closures of malls and the retrenchment of chains that had launched concepts for new demographic groups during the retail building boom.

According to Costar Tenant, a national commercial property service, landlords "have no choice but to be creative and think of alternative uses" as they seek to lease space in this new environment. Analysts expect that retail centers--especially those in less than prime locations--will increasingly seek to fill vacancies with alternative, non-traditional uses such as state and local government offices, satellite colleges and universities, medical offices, family fun centers and churches. Second-hand or overstock dealers and seasonal outlets--which have been considered less desirable uses--will also find more space available in this new environment.

Locally, Crestwood Court mall is experiencing success by turning vacant space into an artisan community. At ArtSpace, local artisans rent space for studios where they can create, display and sell their works; space for art classes as well as live theatre is also on the premises. While ArtSpace was originally planned as a temporary use, it's caught on in the community.

Leaders Promote Arts Growth in Area

The non-profit arts industry, with $36.8 billion in annual revenue, is a potent force in economic development nationwide. Communities large and small across the country have integrated the arts into their economic development arsenal to achieve a wide range of economic goals.

Should Columbia choose to follow these examples, some local leaders are emerging to carry the effort forward:

Christina Sterman and other community members have recently come together to found Artistic Expressions, an organization established to "provide an outlet for our youth to express, grow and share artistic talents" in Columbia. Members are redeveloping a house near Metter Park into an arts center and are planning an Opening Celebration on Sunday, May 24th--the same day as Maifest.

The Monroe Actors Stage Company's production of "Nunsense" has been nominated for six awards by the Arts For Life Theatre Recognition Guild, which honors excellence in community musical theatre in the St. Louis metropolitan region. "Nunsense," which was the MASC season opener in September, is among the five shows nominated for Best Musical, Small Ensemble, for 2008. Director Lynn Venhaus has been nominated for Best Director, and performers Tammy Duensing (Sister Robert Anne) and Liz Sawyer (Sister Mary Amnesia) are up for recognition for Best Actress in a Comedic Role. For technical achievement, the set design team of Venhaus, Sawyer and John Campbell are nominated, as is Tim Foederer for Best Lighting Design.

With artistic talent like this in the community, Columbia has a good foundation for growth in the arts.

That Sinking Feeling May Be...Karst

The East-West Gateway has just published a map showing sinkhole and karst areas across the metro region, a precursor to their first edition of a regional Environmental Atlas which is currently nearing completion. To appreciate the importance of this information, one has to know something about karst areas and how they are integral to resource management in Monroe County.

As defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a karst area is a geologic formation of irregular limestone deposits with sinks, underground streams, and caverns. These karst areas can be hazardous, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): “Though often considered a benign nuisance, sudden, catastrophic collapses can destroy property, delay construction projects, and contaminate ground water resources.” Karst areas are susceptible to aquifer
contamination and may also lack the stability required for certain land uses.

The thin soil and porous limestone bedrock present challenges for effective operation of septic tanks as a means of waste disposal, especially in the southern half of the region. The caves of the Sinkhole Plain in Monroe and St. Clair counties--found in areas with major limestone and dolomite outcrops--are the most numerous and interesting in the state of Illinois.

Waiting for the Bus?

With the growing number of senior citizens, persons with disabilities and low-income families, there is a definite need for a more robust transit system. So why isn't better transit service becoming available to Monroe County residents?

Transit providers, of course, are being hit with the same economic limitations facing the rest of the community. The downturn--and citizen resistance to new taxes--has severely curtailed regional services through Metro and may eroding services provided by St. Clair County Transit to Columbia at the current time. Even those services are severely limited.

Despite the ongoing work of the Monroe/Randolph Transit District, communities in Monroe County and other downstate parts of Illinois are facing a substantial shortage of funds for transit. Nothing in the economic forecasts suggest that this fact will change anytime soon.

Nevertheless, Pike County community members and area agencies met yesterday with the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs to discuss how to get the first phase of a public transit system up and running. Pike is one of twenty-four counties in downstate Illinois that have little or no public transit services.

Municipal Power: Is the Answer Blowin' in the Wind?

Following the opening of a new five milliwatt four-turbine wind farm in April, Rock Port (Missouri) has become the first municipality in the nation to get all its electricity from wind power. The $90 million Loess Hills Wind Farm was built by St. Louis-based Wind Capital Group and the John Deere Corporation.

When fully operational, the four Suzlon 1.25 MW S-64 wind turbines will have the capacity to generate 16 million kilowatt hours a year. Rock Port, a town of 1,395 in northwest Missouri, has historically needed no more than 13 million KwH annually for its electrical users. Missouri Joint Municipal Utilities (MJMU) will buy the excess power from the farm and will supply Rock Port's power needs when the wind turbines are not generating at capacity.