The Alliance Announces New Members

(THE ALLIANCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: FRONT ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: NORMA LANSING, CHUCK DETERS, PAUL KOERNER, ANN WAGNER, TOM WRIGHT, DAVE STORM, CLAUDE HUDSON, DAN WOODS; BACK ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: BOB BRAY, ERIC ZELLER, COLBY HIGGS, DAVE RING, TODD HULL, BRAD HARDIEK, DAVE TEGELER AND JAKE NIEBRUGGE (NOT PICTURED: DON ALTHOFF, BOB SCHULTZ, LEON HOLSCHBACH, BLAKE LINDERS, BILL TEICHMILLER, RICK SIEMER, DEAN BINGHAM, JOHN STEPHENS, JERRY HECHT AND LARRY TAYLOR)

Effingham Regional Growth Alliance President Dan Woods announces the City of Altamont and the Village of Watson recently joined the local economic development group.

Both communities voted to approve 2015 memberships to the Effingham Regional Growth Alliance, with Altamont Mayor Larry Taylor to represent the city council and with Watson appointing Village Trustee Colby Higgs to represent the village board.

“The Alliance welcomes our new members. We are excited to have these two communities represented, as we continue in our efforts to develop, establish and grow businesses in Effingham County,” said Woods.

“As members of The Alliance, both communities will be represented and have a voice in The Alliance’s initiatives, which include: retaining and expanding existing businesses; attracting new businesses; expanding employment opportunities; and enhancing the quality of life.

“Altamont is a progressive community with an active business district,” said Taylor. “As a member of The Alliance, we will benefit by being able to have a voice when it comes to economic development in the county and to be recognized as a community that is ready to work with existing and potential businesses.”

(2015 OFFICERS OF THE ALLIANCE ARE, LEFT TO RIGHT: PAST CHAIR PAUL KOERNER, SECRETARY ERIC ZELLER, PRESIDENT DAN WOODS, CHAIRMAN CHUCK DETERS, AND TREASURER CLAUDE HUDSON. NOT PICTURED IS VICE-CHAIRMAN BILL TEICHMILLER)

Village of Watson Mayor Duane Sapp agreed The Alliance provides many benefits that his small community could not accomplish on its own.

“As a small community, we do not have vast resources when it comes to economic development.  The Alliance provides us with a partner that will help us do the things we need to do to attract new businesses to our community,” said Sapp. “Watson has several resources, including our proximity to Interstate 57, that makes us a great location for new developments.”

Woods said the input from both community leaders make the group even stronger, as it works towards its mission.

“We view economic development as a collaborative process, and we place a high value on partnerships. The most success in economic growth results when  community leaders and local government officials work hand in hand,” said Woods. “We are working for the good of our entire region.”

The Alliance is a public/private partnership of local government bodies and business leaders. One of its purposes is to encourage the general economic growth and development of business, industrial and other supporting services to improve the quality of living, all within the region and particularly in Effingham County.