Work on New Enterprise Zone Continues

Members of the Effingham City/County Enterprise Zone Board heard Tuesday that work is progressing on applying for a new zone.

The current Enterprise Zone expires in 2018. An effort to seek a new Zone last year was unsuccessful because of some rules changes.

The State has indicated they'd like new zones to feature a more regional makeup. That led Effingham and Teutopolis officials to discuss teaming up on a zone.

Effingham has plans to include the same areas as in the current Zone, but to add territory northwest to Louie's Country Corner, east and west along Rickelman Avenue, and along Fayette Avenue east to tie into the Teutopolis areas. Those will include the Wooden Shoe Business Park, the area around Siemer Milling Company, and to the Farmweld area on the east edge of the village.

Effingham City Economic Development Specialist Sasha Althoff said the application for the new zone must be submitted to Springfield by the end of 2016. Word of who is awarded the new zones will come by the end of 2017.

Enterprise Zones promise tax abatements on improvements within the Zone and often on the materials used to make the improvements.

Althoff told Board members that 25 projects have been seen in the Zone since last year's annual meeting, generating 78 new jobs and $66 million in investments.

City Plan Commission Chairman Greg Kemper was re-elected to chair the Enterprise Zone board, while local businessman Jim Zumbahlen was chosen vice-chairman. The Board is made up of representatives of each of the taxing bodies impacted by the Zone, as well as a public member.