Grant Will Support Efforts of “Connect SI” Initiative to Increase Community and Economic Development Across Southern Illinois

CHICAGO – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced a $400,000 Opportunity Returns grant for the Connect SI initiative, a collaborative, regional economic strategy for the southern 20 counties of Illinois, to enhance its high speed broadband infrastructure and access to help the region communicate better locally and globally.  The Connect SI initiative, which is housed and managed at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, is supported through Opportunity Returns, the Governor’s comprehensive economic development strategy to create better jobs and continue expanding the economy across Southern Illinois.  Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Director Jack Lavin joined SIU President Dr. Glenn Poshard at the SIU Student Center in Carbondale to discuss the impact of Connect SI.

“Access to communication goes hand-in-hand with access to economic opportunity, which means a high-quality communications infrastructure is essential to keeping Southern Illinois competitive across the country and around the world.  Connect SI is an innovative strategy that is bringing together regional and local community partners to pool resources and share ideas about expanding the regional economy.  This investment will encourage more economic development and create more good jobs across Southern Illinois,” Gov. Blagojevich said.

Established earlier this year, Connect SI is a collective strategy to increase broadband Internet availability to connect the region’s assets, build an economic development strategy around connectivity and to improve the quality of the life in Southern Illinois.  The goal of the project is to produce measurable, transformative and sustainable results by promoting infrastructure investments, educating Southern Illinoisans about the need for high speed broadband access and teaching residents how to use broadband to grow the economy.  The initiative will impact a variety of areas, including health care delivery, business and industry, education and training, government, agriculture, as well as household connectivity.  Greater access to broadband Internet services can mean more profitability for those who productively use the increased availability of greater bandwidth.

“To compete on the global stage and realize long-term economic growth in the region, we must take strategic steps to pool our resources and work together to connect the entire Southern Illinois region to the world.  I commend Gov. Blagojevich for his support of the Connect SI initiative, which is an incredibly important project that will have a lasting impact on the local and regional economy for years to come,” said SIU President Dr. Glenn Poshard.

Southern Illinois University, under the leadership of President Dr. Poshard, will serve as the permanent home of the Connect SI initiative, contributing office space, staff and other in-kind assistance.  The Connect SI group consists of representatives from education, economic development, elected leadership, Internet service providers, health care administrators and others of common interest.  The initiative is being guided by consultant Frank Knott of ViTAL Economy, Inc. of Riverwood, Maryland. 

“This support from Gov. Blagojevich is deeply appreciated.  It is recognition of the investments in Connect SI by so many Southern Illinoisans who recognize the value of a globally connected region,” said Rex Duncan, Executive Director of Connect SI.  “The level of collaboration that has occurred so far is impressive and has already generated short term wins.  Connect SI is just as much about 20 counties working as one community, as it is about connecting the region to the global economy.”

Connect SI is designed to be collaboratively funded by regional individuals, businesses, organizations and communities, which will help to leverage state and federal grants.  The state’s assistance will help to ensure the long-term sustainability of the initiative.  The 20 counties included in this initiative are: Alexander, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Union, Wabash, Wayne, White and Williamson counties.  For more information or to get involved contact Rex Duncan at rduncan@siu.edu. 

“We cannot overstate the importance of broadband access when it comes to growing the Illinois economy and linking our communities to the world.  Gov. Blagojevich and I are excited to be a part of the collaborative efforts taking place across Southern Illinois to advance the communications infrastructure, and we will continue to be strong advocates for increased connectivity statewide,” Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Jack Lavin said.

Gov. Blagojevich recently announced that Illinois added 31,100 new jobs in July, which was the best in the nation that month.  This is the second time this year Illinois has created more new jobs than any other state, which has never happened before in recorded history.  Illinois also led the nation in job growth in April.  The total number of new jobs created this year is 75,200, which is the best start to a year since 1998 and more new jobs than any Midwest state.  Since January 2004, Illinois has gained more than 150,000 new jobs, which is also best in the Midwest.  The Illinois unemployment rate has been below or the same as the U.S. unemployment rate since May 2006, the first time this has happened in seven years.  The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security compiled these statistics.

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.