Columbia Wins 'Active Living' Recognition

Trailnet, the premier non-profit organization developing bike and pedestrian trails, saving green spaces and advocating alternative transportation across the St. Louis metropolitan area, has chosen the City of Columbia as recipient of the 2011 Active Living Award recognizing achievement by a municipality.  The annual awards celebrate the individuals, nonprofits, municipalities, and businesses who are engaged in unique and sustainable efforts to incorporate physical activity into everyday living.

On September 20, Columbia will be recognized at the awards ceremony held at the Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person. Registrations can be made online through the Trailnet website.

Nominated by Scott Rodemich of Marketicity--formerly a member of the Play Commission--Trailnet recognizes Columbia's commitment to encouraging walking and biking.  Despite the economic downturn and severely restricted revenues, Columbia's leaders continue to make investments in projects and planning that continues to build community momentum, such as:

• Construction of a new sidewalk along Temple, connecting Main St. with Parkview School and the city's largest park;
• Installation of fixed speed feedback signs at two key crosswalks on Main St.;
• Development and annual expansion of a School Travel Plan through the Safe Routes to School program;
• Updating the City's Open Space, Bike & Greenway Alignment Plan;
• Creating a Play Commission and winning recognition for two years in a row as the St. Louis region's solitary Playful City USA;
• Initiating a new master planning process for a 33.8 acre park in the Admiral Trost Development Subdivision

Monroe County Led Southwestern IL Tourism Growth in 2010

Monroe County once again led the pack of Southwestern Illinois counties in growth of revenues from tourism last year.  The economic impact of tourism in Monroe County totalled $14.2 million, up 10.8 percent from the previous year--the second year in a row in which Monroe led the pack in percentage expansion of revenues. 

The Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) has released numbers for the Southwestern Illinois tourism industry showing that visitors to the nine Southwestern Illinois counties generated nearly $907.3 million in local economic impact in 2010. Totals from each of the other counties, compiled by the U.S. Travel Association, included: Bond - $13.8 million, up 3.7 percent; Calhoun- $22.2 million, up 2.5 percent; Clinton - $37 million, up 2.4 percent; Jersey - $51.2 million, up 1.3 percent; Madison - $316.4 million, up 3.4 percent; Randolph - $29.4 million, up 9.4 percent; St. Clair - $408.6 million, up 6.9 percent; and Washington - $14.5 million, up 7.5 percent. 

Nora Feuquay, staff for the Monroe County Economic Development Council (MCEDC), attributes the increase to the activities of tourism related groups in the county such as CLIFFTOP, the Monroe County History Museum, and the Peterstown House as well as the efforts of local municipalities in supporting their businesses and tourism activities.  "Many of these groups are doing a great job promoting themselves via websites and social media," Feuquay observes. 

The MCEDC Tourism Subcommittee also continues to work on getting tourism information on the county website while building a tourism theme for the county and, eventually, the region.  What's next?  Cooperation between the county and municipalities to support the new Monroe County Welcome Center will further enhance growth of tourism in the area.

In Columbia, Volunteers Are Tops!

Dozens of community volunteers turned out last evening to celebrate Columbia's designation by the State of Illinois as the inaugural winner of the "Outstanding Community Volunteerism" award.

As pictured at right, volunteers gathered at Tiny's Pub & Grill to raise a glass and cheer one another while highway signs announcing Columbia's designation were unveiled on Highway 3 entering town from both directions.  "Volunteers are the heartbeat of a community," said Community & Economic Development Director Paul Ellis at the event, "and in Columbia, that heartbeat is particularly strong."

The "Outstanding Community Volunteerism" award is part of the Governor’s Hometown Awards program, presented continuously since 1983, which gives formal recognition to those who have answered contributed to their community’s quality of life. 

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.

Monroe County Forum to Feature Area Success Stories

Representatives from four area businesses will share their insights into not only surviving in this economy, but on improving and expanding their businesses at the Monroe County Economic Development Council's Annual Forum on Wednesday, February 16th.

Columbia Centre and Mokka Kaffeehaus, both of Columbia, are sponsors for the Forum.

Serving on the panel are:

• Steve Carter, Principal, Knight Hawk Coal;
• Jared Nobbe, Sales Manager, Wm. Nobbe & Co.;
• Mary Kay Prader, Owner and Executive Director, Lighthouse Child Care Centers;
• Bill Rebholz, Executive Director, Monroe County Surgical Center

The panel will be moderated by Bob Lewis, President/Principal for Development Strategies, Inc., a St. Louis company that specializes in economic research and planning.

These four companies share in common the ability to be adaptable, to focus on customer needs, and remain stable and even grow at a time when other companies are struggling.

For example:

• Monroe County Surgical Center recently broke ground on a new out-patient surgical center, scheduled to open later this year.
• Knight Hawk Coal has grown from 15 employees to 350 and dramatically increased its coal extraction.
• Wm. Nobbe has increased their Professional Landscape Contractor business over the last several years by partnering with John Deere Landscapes Company.
• Lighthouse Child Care Centers have steadily added new locations and new types of services to their portfolio.

Forum attendees will have a chance to ask questions of the panelists after the moderated part of the program.

The event will be held at The Falls Reception & Conference Center in Columbia. Doors open at 7 a.m. and the event will conclude around 9 a.m. Seating for the Forum is limited, so advanced registration is requested by February 11th. Registration cost (including breakfast) is $20 per person, either through the University of Illinois Extension website or by phone at (618) 939-3434.

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.

Turning Over a 'New Leaf' on Main Street

Historic Main Street Columbia's newest business will put customers' health in good hands and help them to turn over a "new leaf" as regards their future health.

New Leaf Massage Therapy is now open at 808 S. Main St., Suite 5. Licensed massage therapist Nicholas Matzenbacher offers Swedish/Relaxation Massage, Therapeutic/Deep Tissue Massage, Aromatherapy Massage & Pre-Natal Massage. Connie VanTassel offers facials and waxing.

To make appointments for any of these services, call New Leaf at (618) 281-8669.