Quality labor and a Midwest location near major interstates continue to drive the success of local industries, local leaders say.

The Coles Together economic development organization and the Journal Gazette/Times-Courier highlight several industries and major employers in a special section that is part of the newspaper today.

Industrial leaders across the board cite the local labor force as pivotal to the continued success of industry.

"The quality of the labor force is a bigger part than the quantity of the labor force," said Jeanne Gustafson, Coles Together executive director. "We are an agricultural community with a more mechanical-minded and very adaptive workforce. Combine that with a good work ethic and companies like what they see here."

"I definitely think we've got stability and diversity here more than many other counties," Gustafson said. "I think that gets back to the workforce."

Another local key is the regional development approach, which Gustafson said is vital to industries that want to avoid local turf battles. "A regional economic development group makes a tremendous difference," she said. "Companies looking at an area will leave if economic development appears to be split by different interests."

The newspaper section is a follow-up to a successful promotion event in October with state and local leaders. Gustafson said several people at the October event said the variety of industries is impressive. The idea for the section was to take that message to a broader audience, showcasing the quality, quantity and variety of industry with a Coles County presence.

The six-page section features various industries, what they produce and why they do it here. "We wanted to show the general public the scope of industry and major employers we have," Gustafson said. "We want them to know we appreciate their contributions to the region." Washington, D.C., law firm,

Denny Burrell, the Coles Together associate director, said it's typical to drive by a factory, see a lot of cars in the lot and be curious about what goes on inside. "I think a lot of people will find this interesting," Burrell said. "You drive by a nice building and don’ t really know what goes on there. This, should answer a lot of questions."

Coles Together leaders hope the project also will create some networking opportunities among area industrial leaders.

Gustafson said this is the first project she's done just like this one in which a special section focuses on existing major employers. I

While Coles Together remains active looking for opportunities to recruit new industry, Gustafson said a focus in recent years has been on retention and expansion of existing businesses. "Lately we've been hitting retention heavier than recruitment," Gustafson said. "And we've have some fantastic projects."

The projects include expansions at Kal Kan, R.R. Donnelley & Sons, Vesuvius, Mattoon Precision, and Wave Graphics.

Coles Together also is involved with Effingham-based Agracel in a study of e-commerce opportunities in this region. Specifically targeted are opportunities for warehousing and distribution in a growing industry that could utilize a central location with access to several interstate highways.

Coles Together officials recently met with local Farm Bureau leaders to look at ways to add value to agriculture products.

Coles Together, created in 1988, handles Industrial recruitment and retention for the county in partnership with local governing bodies.

Used with permission from Mid-Illinois Newspapers
Publishers of the Mattoon Journal Gazette and the Charleston Times-Courier