The president and executive director of the Christian County Economic Development Corporation, were both guest speakers on Tuesday at the weekly meeting of the Taylorville Kiwanis Club at the Taylorville Memorial Hospital auditorium.

Executive Director of the organization Mary Renner, first spoke and showed a powerpoint presentation on what the non-profit organization comprised of 38 directors representing business and civic leaders from thru-out Christian County. Renner told Kiwanis members that economic development creates new employment and increases the tax base in Christian County.

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Renner added that current projects she's involved in include pursuing financing for the new Taylorville Industrial Park, assisting prospective employers looking at Christian County, helping current businesses grow and expand, and helping with the development of the new Christian County C-E-O, or “Creating Entrepreneurship Opportunities” program for county high school seniors.

President of the C-C-E-D-C, Dee Krueger, told the Kiwanis Club more about the Christian County C-E-O program, which will launch in Christian County High Schools next fall. Krueger said the goal is to get youth to come back to Christian County and establish businesses, after they graduate from college.

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18 to 24 Christian County High School seniors will be selected after an extensive application process. Krueger added the C-E-O program is looking for more investors, as well as businesses that will host classes or be special speakers in class.

2 visitors attended Tuesday's Taylorville Kiwanis Club meeting.

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club is part of global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. Weekly meetings are held Tuesdays at noon at the Taylorville Memorial Hospital auditorium. For information on the club, go to taylorvillekiwanis.com.