A group of about 50 individuals from a six-county region in Illinois is working on bringing economic development to the region. With help from U.S. Representative Rodney Davis, State Senator Steve McClure, and State Representatives Avery Bourne and C.D. Davidsmeyer, leaders from the counties of Calhoun, Christian, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, and Montgomery County are working on a planning document referred to as a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy or CEDS. Jerseyville Economic Development Council executive director Shari Albrecht says that the CEDS helps bring in federal funding for industrial development projects.

Albrecht says that the area is referred to as the Western Illinois River Valley and that once it’s approved, federal funding can be available including money from the CARES act which wasn’t available prior to COVID-19. There’s only one problem, all of the counties haven’t signed off on it yet.

Albrecht is proud of all the work that has been put into this project so far.

Christian County has already paid for the CEDS plan. The committee is just waiting for final approval from the board before they can implement it.