Economic group seeks support for Olympian Drive project

CHAMPAIGN – The Champaign County Economic Development Corp. plans to try to marshal more support for the eastward extension of Olympian Drive to U.S. 45.

The group will ask companies involved in the North Market Street and North Lincoln Avenue business roundtables to speak up for the project if they support it.

John Dimit, president of the economic development group, said some residents on the north side of Urbana have voiced objections to U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson's office about the project.

"We're not wanting to get in an arm-wrestling match on that, but we want to make sure our side is known," Dimit told his group's board of directors Thursday.

Area transportation planners have long prioritized the extension of Olympian Drive as a project that could generate job growth for the community, said Craig Rost, Champaign's deputy city manager for development.

Dimit said if board members have a problem with him speaking up for the Olympian Drive extension, "it needs to be communicated to me very quickly." No board members spoke up.

The $27 million project was one of the top priorities communicated to federal legislators and officeholders in September when a delegation from the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce and the economic development group visited Washington.

In other business Thursday

Engineering center sought. The economic development board learned that Champaign County is competing for an engineering design center that would employ more than 200 electrical, mechanical and software engineers. The unidentified company wants to put the facility within 30 miles of a university and community college.

Deputy Director Erik Kotewa called the opportunity "a perfect fit for Champaign County" and said area developers met recently to discuss ways to put the community's "best foot forward." He said he didn't know what other communities are competing for the project.

Separately, Laura Frerichs, associate director of the University of Illinois Research Park, reported the park is courting a semiconductor-related company in Missouri that is interested in leasing 5,000 square feet.

High-tech director resigns. Dimit said Tony Millenbine resigned as the group's high-tech director, and the organization will likely hire a marketing/communications specialist in his place.

Meanwhile, board member Mike Billimack said the group's marketing committee hopes to hire a firm to help market Champaign County's school systems, though the mission may eventually include more than that. Frerichs said she thought more consistent and professional-looking materials need to be prepared for companies considering coming to the area.

Expense of annual meeting discussed. Dimit said the economic development group spent $8,500, or roughly what was budgeted, for its annual dinner meeting Oct. 22 at the UI's Alice Campbell Alumni Center.

The meeting, which featured speakers from local firms iCyt and EpiWorks, attracted about 140 people. Five outside sponsorships helped defray $2,500 of the cost, he said.

Frerichs and board member Nick Taylor both said the presentations were excellent. But Frerichs suggested the development group consider charging admission for the event or having companies sponsor tables.

Lori Patterson said she was glad people could attend for free. She said she saw colleagues at the event who might not have come if they had to buy tickets.

Alliance dissolution approved. The group approved in substance an agreement dissolving the Champaign County Alliance, which has been an umbrella group for the chamber of commerce, the economic development group and the Champaign County Convention & Visitors Bureau.The dissolution, in the works for more than a year, means each affiliate would operate independently of each other.

Also on this date

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• United Way lending shelter a hand
• Mahomet murder victim's mother pleads for answers
• Tribute to 'a bright young officer'
• Waldenbooks in Danville mall scheduled to close
• Delinquent taxpayer list posted on Web site
• Open house to address southeast Urbana outages
• October saw state's tax revenue continue to fall
• House Dems push for votes on health bill
• Obituaries

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