News RoomArchive for the ‘’ Category

University of Illinois Appoints New Willard Airport Executive Director

From the U of I News Bureau:

The new executive director of the U. of I.’s Willard Airport has more than 25 years airport management experience.

David “Gene” Cossey (COO-zee) was named the airport’s executive director Oct. 20 following a national search led by a university-appointed committee. He will start Dec. 7.

“Gene stood out very early in the process as someone who was not only capable of managing Willard Airport, but one who could improve its operations and take it successfully into the future,” said Associate Chancellor Michael DeLorenzo

Cossey is the director of operations at Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids.

Prior to that, he was the senior manager of airside operations at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, the airport director at Newport Municipal Airport in Oregon and the airport operations manager at Southwest Oregon Regional Airport.

Cossey has a bachelor’s degree in business management and information systems. He is an Accredited Airport Executive through the American Association of Airport Executives, and an International Airport Professional through the Airports Council International.

Cossey’s experience includes airport and economic development, intergovernmental affairs, grant writing, budgeting and negotiation, and community outreach.

National Manufacturing Day – BRG Sports Tour

To celebrate National Manufacturing Day, we toured BRG Sports in Rantoul this morning with our Board members & the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity. Some fun facts about the Rantoul facility:

> Over 4.3 million helmets are produced each year – the first “Made in the USA” helmet rolled out in June 2014.
> The building is LEED designed – 813,126 sf building footprint.IMG_6378
> The Rantoul facility is the Global Distribution, Transportation and Logistics base for BRG Sports.
> Current employee headcount is 445.

To learn about other products/innovation Made in Champaign County, click here.

About BRG Sports:

BRG Sports is a leading designer, developer and marketer of branded sports equipment, protective products and related accessories. The company markets and licenses products under well-known brands such as Bell, Riddell, Giro, Blackburn, Raskullz, Krash! and BULT. Their products incorporate leading technology and designs, and are used by professional athletes and sports enthusiasts alike. They are headquartered in Scotts Valley, California and have 27 facilities worldwide including their North American distribution hub in Rantoul, Illinois.

http://www.brgsports.com/

About National Manufacturing Day:

MFG DAY addresses common misperceptions about manufacturing by giving manufacturers an opportunity to open their doors and show, in a coordinated effort, what manufacturing is — and what it isn’t. By working together during and after MFG DAY, manufacturers will begin to address the skilled labor shortage they face, connect with future generations, take charge of the public image of manufacturing, and ensure the ongoing prosperity of the whole industry.

http://www.mfgday.com/

Champaign-Urbana Reminds World of Innovation History with “You’re Welcome” Campaign

Effort highlights history of innovation, culture, quality of life
YW Logo

Champaign, IL (September 23, 2015) – From the plasma TV to the Web browser to LED technology and oh-so-delicious whipped cream in a can, Champaign-Urbana has a rich legacy of innovation that is virtually unmatched. Yet, few people outside of the 217 area code realize that this Menlo Park of the Midwest was responsible for a remarkable number of innovations and companies that have changed the world.

Enter “You’re Welcome”, a national marketing campaign that seeks to infuse Champaign-Urbana with community pride while letting everyone else in on the little secret we already know: while C-U is a hub of smarts with a legacy of innovation, it’s also a great place to live, work, and dream up new ideas. “We know C-U is a fantastic place, now it is time to tell the world,” said Craig Rost, director of the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation. “It is awesome how this project has pulled the community together to tell our story.”

“Champaign-Urbana is one of the most talent-dense, well educated, and diverse regions in the U.S.,” said Laura Frerichs, director of the Research Park at the University of Illinois, which is home to software engineering hubs for companies like Yahoo, Anheuser-Busch, John Deere, Caterpillar, Dow Chemical, Raytheon and the award-winning EnterpriseWorks startup incubator. “The university’s top ranked engineering, informatics and computer science programs have created a robust pipeline of innovators with technical skills to fuel an unusually large technology community that is balanced by an outstanding quality of life.”

The You’re Welcome website is an information-rich portal of community information that includes a community job board; C-U brag points and community rankings; local videos and photo galleries; downloads of information and materials; and links to organizations and resources. It will be an asset for local businesses and organizations looking to recruit skilled talent to the area.

You’re Welcome is a true community collaboration that crosses city and town-gown boundaries. Led by the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation and the University of Illinois Research Park, sponsors also include City of Champaign; Wolfram; Yahoo!; Busey; Amdocs; EpiWorks, Inc.; Benefit Planning Consultants, Inc.; Pixo; East Central Illinois Building & Construction Trades Council; Riverbed; Singleton Law Firm; Grainger, Inc.; Village of Savoy; Smith/Burgett Architects, Inc.; Taylor Studios; Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District; Krannert Center for the Performing Arts; Barham Benefit Group; Polyvinyl Record Co.; and The Pygmalion Festival. Multiple community partners also participated in the ideation and implementation of the campaign.

For more information, please visit YoureWelcomeCU.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Sponsorships are still available.

Just a friendly tip from the friendly Midwest. You’re Welcome.

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SBA Regional Administrator Marianne Markowitz Presents $100,000 Boost to Champaign’s Small Business Opportunities

The U.S. Small Business Administration was in town this morning to present $100,000 total in awards, including $50,000 to the City of Champaign, one of SBA’s 28 Startup in a Day winners, and $50,000 to EnterpriseWorks at University of Illinois Research Park, one of Illinois’ four Growth Accelerator Fund Competition winners. These awards will help boost Champaign-Urbana-area small business growth and economic development by supporting the collaboration of government offices, educational institutions, and public-private partnerships.

SBA Check Presentation

The SBA’s first-ever Startup in a Day Competition was created to help U.S. cities simplify the licensing process so entrepreneurs can startup in a day. In total, $1.6 million was awarded to 26 cities, including Champaign, and two Native American tribes. The City is receiving $50,000 for its Virtual Incubator Program, which is a partnership between all local agencies providing entrepreneurship services throughout Champaign County. The Virtual Incubator is to be managed and coordinated by the local Small Business Development Center, which is supported by the SBA and based out of the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation.

EnterpriseWorks received a $50,000 to help fund its successful I-Start program, which accelerates the technology commercialization process for university startups with access to various resources in their ­first year. Since the Growth Accelerator Fund’s inception in 2014, more than 5,100 jobs have been created or sustained, more than 1,450 startups have been served and approximately $600 million of capital has been raised by the startups.

 

 

Fly Champaign-Urbana Unveiled as New Brand of University of Illinois – Willard Airport

Article Source: Smile Politely #iFlyCU

SAVOY, IL (Aug. 19, 2015) – Fly Champaign-Urbana has officially been unveiled as the new brand for University of Illinois – Willard Airport. New logos, a revamped IFlyCU.com website as well as social media presence on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have been established as part of larger effort to increase awareness of the Airport and encourage Central Illinois travelers to choose Willard Airport. To celebrate, the Airport is partnering with Fighting Illini athletics to host the “Ultimate Illini Flyaway” social media promotion which will begin Monday, August 24.

The new brand is part of an 18 month initiative the University of Illinois – Willard Airport Advisory Board has been working on to pave the way for the Airport’s future. The Advisory Board, which is made up of a group of 20 leaders dedicated to the success of the Airport, has developed a full strategic marketing and air service development plan which will be implemented in the following months. The enhanced branding includes a new website, a traditional advertising campaign, social media and outreach efforts focused on both the general traveling public and local business communities. The new branding was chosen, after research conducted by the Advisory Board identified a need to connect the airport to the two largest cities in the region.

“The new branding is more than a logo, it’s a mission that will drive us forward in our thinking and planning,” said Steve Carter, Chair of the University of Illinois – Willard Airport Advisory Board. “The work of the Advisory Board is already paying off, in 2014 the number of passengers utilizing Willard Airport grew 11 percent, making it the best year since 2008. 2015 is looking even better and we hope the community will realize the value when you Fly Champaign-Urbana with this new branding.”

The logo was designed to match the colors of the Fighting Illini and features easy to read stylistic elements. The jet seen inside the word “Fly” points up, indicating the ascending path of the Airport, the University and the region. The jet is also a silhouette of the current aircraft serving the Airport, and can be adjusted should larger aircraft be deployed in Champaign- Urbana. The official name of the Airport, University of Illinois – Willard Airport, will not change. The newly coined IFlyCU.com website features an easy-to-remember URL that directly corresponds with the new branding.

To celebrate the new Fly Champaign-Urbana brand, the Airport has teamed-up with Fighting Illini athletics for a social media promotion beginning Monday, August 24 and running through Sunday, Sept. 6. Through the Fighting Illini Facebook page, fans may enter to win the grand prize of season tickets to all home Fighting Illini athletic games as well as two tickets to one away football game and a $1,000 American Airlines gift card provided by University of Illinois – Willard Airport. A second prize winner will receive season tickets to all home Fighting Illini basketball games. Details on the contest will be announced on Monday, August 24, on Fighting Illini Facebook page and at the Airport’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

About Fly Champaign-Urbana

When you Fly Champaign-Urbana you save time and money. Minutes from anywhere in Champaign County, University of Illinois – Willard Airport offers competitive fares with access to more than 175 cities on four continents with just a single stop. The Airport is served by American Airlines with six daily non-stop flights to Chicago O’Hare and a daily non-stop flight to Dallas/Ft. Worth on American Eagle. University of Illinois – Willard Airport boasts a terminal facility that is easy to navigate and parking is just a few steps from the plane. Next time you travel, remember to Fly Champaign-Urbana. For more information visit IFlyCU.com.

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