Coles Together celebrated 10 years of cross-county cooperation Thursday at the economic development group's annual meeting. Lake Land College President Bob Luther was re-elected president and the said the organization's members had much to celebrate. Luther said some of Coles Together's accomplishments include the development of the Coles Business Park, formation of the Coles County Development Corp., and opening of the Mattoon Business Park and assistance to 62 businesses with investments totaling $114.5 million in the Coles Together Enterprise Zone. "However, one accomplishment shines brighter than any other accomplishment," Luther said. "For the first time in its modern history, members of Coles County are working together to develop a better quality of life and continued economic growth for the residents of Coles County. "The dreams of many of you 10 years ago have begun to be fulfilled," Luther said.

Jeanne Gustafson, the executive director who was hired last August, said it was the cooperative regional approach to economic development that attracted her. "I have never seen a group of individuals work so well together with such open dialogue," she said. "(Coles Together) is the result of visionaries who dedicated their time to making it work."

As part of the 10th anniversary meeting, several of the organization's early leaders were honored. Gene Bauer of Mattoon and Max Cougill of Charleston were honored as co-chairmen of the original Coles County Economic Development Council that formed Coles Together back in 1988. Richard Lumpkin of Mattoon, who served as president for eight years, and Eli Sidwell of Charleston, the 1996 president, also were honored. "Those two gentlemen (Bauer and Cougill) really got the ball rolling," Lumpkin said. "Coles Together was an idea whose time had come. We have made a lot of progress and I credit you all for it."

Gustafson listed Coles Together's 1998 goals as:

	Promote retention and growth of existing Coles County businesses
	Attract new primary sector employers
	Serve as the database information resource for the county
	Promote infrastructure development, such as continued progress on the Interstate 57 interchange
	Support the countywide planning process

Gustafson indicated that Coles Together expects announcements soon on the expansion of one local industry and the landing of another business for the former Tru-Serv distribution center. Among the recent major developments, Luther said, was the $8.5 million investment at R.R. Donnelly & Sons, creating 30 jobs and brining the plant's total employment to 1,600, the location of PalEx with 100 jobs, Advantage Internet with 10 jobs and the announcement that Cornbelt Foods will soon occupy the former Vogel popcorn plant.

Elected as Coles Together officers, in addition to Luther, were Don Yost of Charleston, vice president; Joyce Madigan of Charleston, treasurer; and Woody Kramer of Charleston, secretary. Newly named board members include Eli Sidwell, John Remsen of First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust, Jeff Masters of Trailmobile, Dave Pottle of AmerenCIPS, John Yox of Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Systems and Jim Watkins of Illinois Consolidated Telephone. Yox replaces Gene Leblond, who is leaving SBLHC for Atlanta, Ga., and Watkins replaces Wayne Smith, who recently left the telephone company.

Some of Coles Together's Past Presidents
From left, Jeanne Gustafson, Richard Lumpkin, Gene Bauer, Max Cougill
and Bob Luther have helped see Coles Together through to its 10th year.
Photo by Bill Lair

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

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Coles Together
400 Airport Road
Mattoon, Illinois 61938
(217) 258-5627 FAX (217) 235-9492