Efforts Continue to Foster Security and Business Innovation in Illinois’ Growing Homeland Security Marketplace
CHICAGO – Furthering his efforts to enhance Illinois’ homeland security preparedness and response capabilities, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced an opportunity for state businesses to get professional assistance with business continuity and recovery planning. The College of Lake County will host a one-day seminar on “Enhancing Your Business’ Emergency Preparedness through Forming Alliances,” made possible through a $25,000 Opportunity Returns grant. The seminar, which will be held on Monday, January 30th, will present regional business owners with best practices in establishing strong partnerships with police, fire and other emergency management personnel, public health experts, peer businesses and others to reduce the impact of a crisis, and improve their ability to maintain operations during disasters.
“Today, more than ever, business owners must make important decisions before a crisis arrives to ensure that their business remains strong, even in the face of a disaster. Illinois is a nationally recognized leader in homeland defense, and businesses in our state have incredible tools at their fingertips to ensure their livelihood remains secure and to keep people working,” Gov. Blagojevich said.
Many businesses do not have defined strategies in the event of fires, accidents, terrorist attacks or natural disasters, and the seminar will stress contingency planning so businesses can remain operational through a crisis. Topics include emergency preparedness, risk assessment, incident command systems and crisis communications. Following presentations from national experts in business continuity planning and emergency preparedness, attendees will work through a simulated disaster scenario in emergency response and recovery. Attendees will have a greater understanding on the value of emergency preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery through their participation in this event.
Businesses interested in attending the seminar can learn more by visiting www.clcillinois.edu/busngovt or RSVP by contacting gnagel@clcillinois.edu or 847-543-2615. It is anticipated that more than 150 Illinois companies will gain a better awareness, as well as strategies to improve their emergency preparedness, after attending this and similar seminars at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield and John A. Logan College in Carterville.
“This one-day course will offer area business owners important insights on how to keep their business operational even when disaster hits. Gov. Blagojevich believes contingency planning is an important step every business should take to ensure stability and continuity for their customers,” Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Jack Lavin said. “With the knowledge gained through this training program, businesses will be better equipped to plan their individual response and recovery strategies, which will help them to maintain operations and, ultimately, keep their employees on the job.”
Securing and building Illinois businesses in the homeland security marketplace has been a priority since Gov. Blagojevich announced his effort to grow this industry in his State of the State address in 2005. Through his comprehensive strategy, Gov. Blagojevich is recruiting new and supporting existing Illinois businesses engaged in this industry, investing in institutions and infrastructure that will heighten research and development activities and accelerate the deployment of new products, ensuring companies engaged in the homeland security marketplace have a top-notch workforce, and that Illinois is producing the next generation of leaders for this critical national industry.
Gov. Blagojevich’s Opportunity Returns regional economic development strategy is the most aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating jobs in Illinois’ history. Since a one-size-fits-all approach to economic development just doesn’t work, the Governor has divided the state into 10 regions – each with a regional team that is empowered and expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges. Opportunity Returns is about tangible, specific actions to make each region more accessible, more marketable, more entrepreneurial and more attractive to businesses. It is about upgrading the skills of the local workforce, increasing the access to capital, opening new markets, improving infrastructure, and creating and retaining jobs. Opportunity Returns is about successfully partnering with companies and communities, both large and small, to help all of Illinois reach its economic potential.