Enterprise Zone Board Gets Update on Activity, Future of Zone

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Published on October 15 2014 12:47 pm
Last Updated on October 16 2014 3:27 am
Written by Greg Sapp

The Effingham City/County Enterprise Zone Board Wednesday heard about projects in the zone over the past year, and learned about the status of the zone in the wake of changes in the program at the state level.

Enterprise Zone Administrator Todd Hull said eight projects were begun in the zone in the last quarter, involving $2.6 million in new investment. Hull said six of the projects are related to Sherwin Williams Distribution Center, including work on the gating, the docks, and parking areas. Effingham Railroad relocated existing track, added eight turnouts, and built 8,400 feet of track and a transload center allowing loading from rail car to rail car and from rail car to trucks. The eighth project is J&R Collision Center on South US 45 at the Airport Road, which is opening this month.

Hull also recapped projects undertaken in the past year in the zone. Those include remodeling of H&K Investments strip mall along Keller Drive, one project to renovate the second floor at John Boos and Company and another project to add 42,000 square feet of space onto Boos as part of the metal plant expansion, the new Hodgson Mill operation along the interstate, Culture Frozen Yogurt Lounge and Effingham Express Care in the Buffalo Wild Wings strip mall, Fairlane Storage along Miracle Avenue, Versatech's relocation to its Wernsing Avenue location and its subsequent expansions, the continuing work by Diel and Diel to convert the Fedders complex for GSI, ADM, Pinnacle Foods and other firms, renovations by Effingham Crossroads Center in the former Crossroads Press building, and the new NAPA Store on South Banker.

Hull said investment during that period totaled $4,285,000 and resulted in 170 news jobs. He said during the life of the Enterprise Zone, there have been 424 projects involving $535 million in investment, generating 3,000 jobs and retaining another 4,800 jobs.

Now, though, things might change. The State is discontinuing the existing Enterprise Zones in Illinois including the Effingham Zone in 2018. New zones will be assigned by the State by the end of 2015. Effingham plans to apply for one of the new zones by the end of 2014 and has begun the process of contacting other taxing bodies to see if they will sign on to the plan. The new zones will last 15 years, with 10-year renewal options. 

If Effingham gets one of the new zones, it will go into effect at the start of 2016 and the current zone will cease. If Effingham doesn't get a new zone, the current zone would continue until 2018.

Also Wednesday, the Enterprise Zone Board re-elected City Plan Commission Chairman Greg Kemper as chairman and Unit 40 School Superintendent Mark Doan as vice-chairman.