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Champaign County Launches First-of-its-Kind “Community Job Application”

Media Contacts:

Carly McCrory-McKay, Executive Director
Champaign County Economic Development Corporation
carly@champaigncountyedc.org
217-649-2586

Terri Reifsteck, Vice President of Marketing & Community Engagement
Visit Champaign County
terrir@visitchampaigncounty.org
217-351-4133

 Champaign County Launches First-of-its-Kind “Community Job Application”
Digital platform makes it easy for potential residents to connect with Champaign County’s employers and community members

CHAMPAIGN, IL, April 12, 2023 – Connecting prospective new residents with Champaign County area employers just got easier with a new addition: the Community Job Application. Created by Champaign County Economic Development Corporation and Visit Champaign County, the platform allows newcomers to streamline their job search and community exploration process with personalized assistance, job matching, and relocation information in three short steps. The team worked with RoleCall, a national talent attraction consulting agency, to build this program.

Candidates, both internal and external to the community, who are interested in connecting with Champaign County employers, can visit YoureWelcomeCU.com, click on “Make It CU”, answer a few questions, and upload a resume. Candidate information will then be distributed to local employers to help facilitate job matches. Prospective new residents can also request to be connected to a member of the Chambana Welcome Crew. These plugged-in locals can answer questions about living and working in the area and help newcomers find their place in the community.

“In the age of talent wars, it’s critical that Champaign County stays on the cutting edge of talent attraction tactics,” stated Carly McCrory-McKay, Executive Director of the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation. “The Community Job Application is an innovative approach that gives future residents an accessible path to “yes” by providing a virtual front door to employment in Champaign County and important information about what matters to them most: personal interests and hobbies, quality of life, and more. We are excited to work with Champaign County employers on this new program.”

This program’s launch is partly funded by Champaign County through its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. “The intent of the ARPA funds is to get people and communities back on their feet. Connecting individuals with quality employment, good benefits, secure pensions, and a healthy work-life balance as County employees is a fundamental part of that recovery,” says Steve Summers, Champaign County Executive. “Champaign County government is very excited to participate in this project. We are an excellent living and employment destination, and we appreciate the work put in by the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation and Visit Champaign County to showcase that.”

“While most communities tout their welcoming attitude, Champaign-Urbana lives it,” says Tim Carty, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of RoleCall. “The Community Job Application is a great example of that — it’s inviting, it’s accessible, and it’s truly a great representation of the community’s values.”

Candidates who opt into the program will also receive curated information relevant to their industry, life stage, and interests. “This platform will feed directly into the Chambana Welcome Crew, where our ambassadors are ready to answer questions and get new residents settled into the community,” explains Terri Reifsteck, Vice President of Marketing & Community Engagement for Visit Champaign County. “Whether it’s learning about recreation, education, volunteer opportunities, LGBTQ+ resources, or our vibrant arts and culture, our ambassadors are armed with the knowledge to create an authentic connection that will further encourage individuals to Make It in the greater Champaign-Urbana area.”

Candidates in all career fields are encouraged to utilize the Community Job Application. Still, a particular emphasis will be placed on fifteen key job functions, including accounting & finance, customer service, marketing & communications, engineering, and more.

This service is free for individuals looking to connect with employers and area recruiters looking to fill jobs. “Our primary goal is to fill jobs with qualified candidates while introducing our community to newcomers looking for an amazing location to live,” says McCrory-McKay.

The Community Job Application is integrated into other programs led by Champaign County Economic Development Corporation and Visit Champaign County, including the Champaign-Urbana Area Job Board, New to CU mixers, Chambana Welcome Crew, Chambana Proud podcast, and more.

Champaign County employers wanting to tap into the Community Job Application talent pipeline can contact cwc@champaigncountyedc.org for more information.

 

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Champaign County Small Business Microloan Fund Launched to Support Local Businesses

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Carly McCrory-McKay, Executive Director
Champaign County Economic Development Corporation
carly@champaigncountyedc.org
217-649-2586

Champaign County Small Business Microloan Fund Launched to Support Local Businesses
Support from Champaign County, Champaign County EDC, Justine PETERSEN, Busey Bank, and PNC Bank to Help Boost Access to Capital

CHAMPAIGN, IL, March 13, 2023 – Together with Justine PETERSEN and Champaign County, the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) is pleased to announce the establishment of the COVID-19 Recovery: Champaign County Small Business Microloan Fund. The loan fund aims to help disadvantaged entrepreneurs and small businesses in Champaign County gain access to affordable financial services.

Champaign County committed $250,000 of its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to establish the microloan fund. Justine PETERSEN worked locally with Busey Bank and PNC Bank to leverage the dollars provided by the county. A total of $2,000,000 is available in the fund, which will continue to revolve in Champaign County.

“Champaign County is fortunate to have dedicated ARPA funding that can assist small businesses in Champaign County in response to the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” affirmed Steve Summers, Champaign County Executive. “We look forward to seeing the positive impacts of the Small Business Microloan Fund to help boost business operations of local entrepreneurs and the economy.”

The loan fund aims to assist approximately 100 new and existing businesses and entrepreneurs in the county, focusing on those who do not qualify for traditional lending. Eligible businesses located in Champaign County can access small business loans up to $50,000.

“As part of our strategic plan, we’ve been working to develop more opportunities for area small businesses to access capital,” said Carly McCrory-McKay, Executive Director of the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation. “It has been a priority for our organization to partner with local and regional financial institutions and governmental agencies to increase these opportunities and to collaboratively address barriers minority businesses experience in accessing the capital needed to start and grow their businesses. We’re grateful to Champaign County, Busey Bank, and PNC Bank for committing funds to make this microloan program a reality. We look forward to working with Justine PETERSEN and our regional economic development partners to ensure the fund is successful.”

In September 2022, Justine PETERSEN established an official presence in the CCEDC office. Since then, the organization has already assisted 20 businesses in accessing more than $350,000 in capital.

“Establishing this loan fund is a testament to the synergy alive and well in the Champaign County small business ecosystem,” said Sheri Flanigan-Vazquez, Chief Operating Officer of Justine PETERSEN. “Justine PETERSEN is both excited and proud to assume an active role in providing local small businesses with access to safe and affordable capital.”

“Small businesses drive progress in thriving communities, so we’re proud to be a partner in this exciting investment initiative to support entrepreneurs and business owners,” said Mark Wisniewski, Executive Vice President – Market President with Busey Bank. “Founded in Champaign County 155 years ago, we understand the unique challenges facing local small business owners. This fund creates vital opportunities for those who may not otherwise have access to essential financing—fulfilling their dreams, helping their business, and growing our community.”

Since 2014, PNC has helped amplify the work by Justine PETERSEN, its affiliate Great Rivers Community Capital, and local organizations serving underserved neighborhoods in the region.

“PNC’s standing as one of the country’s leading financial institutions enables us to deliver the capabilities of a national bank at the local level. Today, we see the power of public and private institutions coming together to create pathways for hard-working entrepreneurs and small business owners to thrive,” said Brian Ray, PNC regional president of central Illinois. “Access to capital is critical to the stability of our neighborhoods across the region, particularly in underserved areas. Thank you to Justine PETERSEN and their city and county partners who work hard to fuel economic empowerment and business development so that we can move our communities forward financially.”

Individuals and businesses interested in learning more about the COVID-19 Recovery: Champaign County Small Business Microloan Fund are encouraged to contact Tristan Brown, Justine PETERSEN’s Illinois Operations Manager, based full-time at the CCEDC office in Champaign, at TBrown@justinepetersen.org or 217-494-0884. Additionally, Justine PETERSEN will host open office hours on March 15 from 10-11 AM and March 30 from 2-3 PM at the CCEDC office. Interested parties are welcome to stop by during those designated timeframes to learn more, ask questions, and schedule appointments.

Justine PETERSEN is housed within the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation office at 1817 S. Neil Street, Suite 100, Champaign. Office hours are 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday, and by appointment.

About Champaign County Economic Development Corporation:

The Champaign County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) is a public-private partnership dedicated to fostering a cooperative, county-wide approach to economic development and works to improve the economic well-being of all Champaign County through efforts that entail job creation, job retention, tax base enhancements, small business development, and promotion of quality of life. CCEDC brings together community partners to support economic development by aligning interests through productive relationships, open dialogue, and advocacy efforts. CCEDC hosts the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Champaign County EDC, which provides one-on-one confidential business advice, training, and small business support programs. Learn more at https://www.champaigncountyedc.org/.

 About Justine PETERSEN:

Justine PETERSEN is a nationally recognized financial asset-building non-profit organization with offices in Illinois and Missouri. As a leading community development financial institution (“CDFI”), HUD-certified housing counseling organization, and US Small Business Administration (“SBA”) microlender, Justine PETERSEN offers financial products and services that build assets and change lives. Learn more at www.justinepetersen.org.

 

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Champaign-Urbana AgTech Week Returns for Fourth Year

For Immediate Release
March 6, 2023

Contacts:

Carly McCrory-McKay, Executive Director
Champaign County EDC
carly@champaigncountyedc.org
217-649-2586

Laura Bleill, Director, External Engagement
University of Illinois Research Park
lwbleill@Illinois.edu
217-417-6671

Champaign-Urbana AgTech Week Returns for Fourth Year

CHAMPAIGN, IL – The annual Champaign-Urbana AgTech Week, presented by Champaign County Economic Development Corporation, University of Illinois Research Park, and You’re Welcome CU, returns for its fourth celebration in 2023 with both in-person and virtual events. The five-day event, March 6-10, celebrates Champaign-Urbana’s robust AgTech ecosystem, including the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Parkland College, corporate innovation partners, startups, state-of-the-art facilities, student organizations, local ag companies, the Illinois AgTech Accelerator, and more.

“This week encapsulates what makes Champaign-Urbana the “epicenter” of AgTech,” said Laura Bleill, Director of External Engagement at University of Illinois Research Park. “Serving as a neutral convener, the AgTech Summit convenes a kaleidoscope of perspectives and expertise that is representative of our ecosystem — it extends across the value chain of agriculture. We are grateful to our speakers, sponsors, and partners, and we are excited to host 600+ registered participants.”

Participating AgTech Week organizations include Champaign County Economic Development Corporation, University of Illinois Research Park, GDM, Parkland College, Illinois AgTech Accelerator, AirScout, Village of Savoy, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s College of ACES, Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory (IBRL), Center for Digital Agriculture, and Office of Corporate Relations.

The schedule of events includes the following:

  • Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory (IBRL) and University of Illinois Research Park (UIRP) tours
  • (Beer) Flights at Triptych Brewing with AirScout, sponsored by Village of Savoy
  • AgTech Summit, followed by the AgTech Showcase & Networking Reception
  • Center for Digital Agriculture’s Annual Conference
  • AgTech Week Happy Hour at Riggs Beer Company, sponsored by GDM
  • 200+ students visiting Parkland College to learn about their ag programs, visit laboratories, talk with faculty, and see demonstrations from current Parkland ag students
  • Webinar about how to get involved in gener8tor’s Illinois AgTech Accelerator, powered by Serra Ventures

“We’re grateful to all of our local partners who have worked with us to create an amazing lineup of events to showcase why Champaign-Urbana is a leader in AgTech,” said Carly McCrory-McKay, Executive Director at Champaign County Economic Development Corporation. “This week also provides an opportunity to celebrate what’s been accomplished in the last year, which includes four AgTech company expansions in University of Illinois Research Park, local startup HabiTerre being honored as the Illinois Innovation Network’s Innovator of the Year, and Bill & Melinda Gates Agricultural Innovations awarding a grant of $34 million to the Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE) project, an international research effort led by scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign that are engineering crops to be more productive by improving photosynthesis.”

Champaign-Urbana has long been a hub for technology as well as agriculture. In the past decade, those two paths have converged, paving the way for the community to become an epicenter for AgTech.

The full Champaign-Urbana AgTech Week schedule of events can be found online at http://cuagtechweek.org/. Registration is required at many events, but all are free to attend.

 

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Champaign County EDC Launches New Job Board

Media Contact:
Carly McCrory-McKay, Executive Director
Champaign County Economic Development Corporation
carly@champaigncountyedc.org
217-649-2586

 

Champaign County EDC Launches New Job Board

Discover Jobs in the Champaign-Urbana Area

CHAMPAIGN, IL, February 22, 2023 – A new job board launched today helps promote job opportunities in the Champaign-Urbana area. The Champaign-Urbana Area Job Board – yourewelcomecu.com/jobs – features over 90 local companies and 1,700 jobs, including full-time, part-time, and remote opportunities.

“We’re excited to launch this new community resource for local companies and job seekers,” said Carly McCrory-McKay, Executive Director of the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation. “Our original job board was launched in 2015, and a lot has changed since that time, especially how job seekers search for opportunities. This new software creates an aggregate of local jobs and has enhanced features to make the process smoother.”

The Champaign-Urbana Area Job Board includes Champaign County employers across various industries, including education, government, healthcare, and manufacturing. Job seekers can view and sort by industry, job type, company, and location, and they can sign up for daily alerts based on their interests.

“This new tool will greatly impact our ability to attract the best and the brightest to the University and the greater community, which in turn will help our county continue to grow and thrive,” said Dana Cohen, Director of Faculty Recruitment at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Employers in Champaign County who wish to be included on the Champaign-Urbana Area Job Board can contact edc@champaigncountyedc.org for more information.

“This is a great resource to help local talent find jobs, but also an important tool for new residents and those considering a move to the Champaign-Urbana area,” noted McCrory-McKay. “This resource will be integrated into our talent retention and attraction strategies, which includes the Chambana Welcome Crew program and New to CU Mixer events—collaborations between EDC, Visit Champaign County, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.”

The Champaign-Urbana Area Job Board is updated daily and can be viewed online at https://yourewelcomecu.com/jobs/.

About Champaign County Economic Development Corporation:

The Champaign County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) is a public-private partnership dedicated to fostering a cooperative, county-wide approach to economic development. CCEDC works to improve the economic well-being of all Champaign County through efforts that entail job creation, job retention, tax base enhancements, small business development, and promotion of quality of life. CCEDC brings together community partners to support economic development by aligning interests through productive relationships, open dialogue, and advocacy efforts. Learn more at https://www.champaigncountyedc.org/.

 

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Madeleine Wolske Named Director of Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Carly McCrory-McKay, Executive Director
Champaign County Economic Development Corporation
carly@champaigncountyedc.org
217-649-2586

Madeleine Wolske Named Director of Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC

CHAMPAIGN, IL, February 20, 2023 – The Champaign County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) is pleased to announce Madeleine Wolske as its new Director of the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC. She begins the role today, February 20.

Wolske most recently served as the Business Librarian at Champaign Public Library, where she led business services, including providing direct assistance to small businesses and developing innovative programming. In addition to years of experience supporting small businesses, she also owns her own small business. Wolske earned a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) and a master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC).

“We’re thrilled to have Madeleine join our team,” said Carly McCrory-McKay, Executive Director of the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation. “Her extensive experience, innovative thinking, results-oriented leadership, and collaborative spirit will be valuable for our center and community. I’m confident she’ll be able to build, sustain, and expand partnerships.”

As the SBDC Director, Wolske is responsible for the day-to-day management and operations of the SBDC, including advisory services to clients, oversight of budget activities, required reporting, and supervision of the International Trade Center. Additionally, Wolske will represent the SBDC program at a local and regional level within the economic development and business communities and collaborate closely with stakeholders throughout Champaign County and central Illinois.

“With her expertise and passion for entrepreneurship, we are confident that Madeleine’s contributions will build upon the strong foundation of the Illinois SBDC at Champaign County EDC,” stated Ericka White, State Director of the Illinois SBDC Network. “Additionally, her breadth and extensive knowledge will strengthen the Illinois program as she collaborates with her peers throughout the state.”

The Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC is part of the Illinois SBDC Network, one of the largest SBDC networks in the nation. Hosted by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and administered through DCEO’s Office of Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Technology, the Illinois SBDC network provides information, confidential business guidance, training, and other resources for startups and existing small businesses. Services include one-on-one business advising, including business and marketing plan development, financial analysis and planning, access to market information and business financing programs, and business education and training opportunities.

“It’s a privilege to continue serving our business community at a greater capacity with the resources at SBDC,” stated Wolske. “I look forward to facilitating collaborative and inclusive opportunities for small business owners and actively working to reduce barriers within entrepreneurship. I’m excited to listen and connect with our small business community to better support their goals.”

Wolske can be reached at mw@cusbdc.org or 217-531-1991. Visit https://www.cusbdc.org/ to learn more about the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC.

The Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC is located at 1817 S. Neil Street, Suite 100, Champaign. SBDC meetings, available in person or virtually, are by appointment only. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM.

The Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC is funded through a cooperative agreement between the U.S. Small Business Administration, Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO), and the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation; with additional support provided by EDC of Decatur and Macon County and the Midwest Inland Port.

About Champaign County Economic Development Corporation:

The Champaign County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) is a public-private partnership dedicated to fostering a cooperative, county-wide approach to economic development. CCEDC works to improve the economic well-being of all Champaign County through efforts that entail job creation, job retention, tax base enhancements, small business development, and promotion of quality of life. CCEDC brings together community partners to support economic development by aligning interests through productive relationships, open dialogue, and advocacy efforts. Learn more at https://www.champaigncountyedc.org/.

 About Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Champaign County EDC:

The Champaign County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) is the host organization to the SBDC, a program of the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO), which includes an International Trade Center (ITC). The SBDC provides information, confidential business guidance, training, programs, and other resources for startups, existing small businesses, and those who wish to start or sell a business. SBDC services are confidential and provided to hundreds of businesses annually at no cost. Learn more at https://www.cusbdc.org/.

 

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