Economic Development and City Planning News: 02/10

Google Will Play in Peoria

Did you hear the buzz about Google's new initiative to bring 1 Gigabit (Gb) internet service directly to homes and business? To give you a sense of how fast 1Gb of speed is, think of the last song you downloaded off iTunes. Did it take you a minute to download? Two minutes? Well, with 1Gb of speed, you could download 250 songs in 1 second. That may never be a practical use, or even necessary, but just think about what sort of upgrade that would be. Even better, this amount of available speed will inspire people to invent applications and uses that aren't even being dreamed about right now.

Why should you care? Google is seeking a test market, and Peoria wants to be IT! Whichever city Google selects will suddenly be the hottest real estate market in America. Jobs will follow. This is an exciting and important opportunity.

Today is Google Day in Peoria, and we are asking EVERYONE to help show Google that their service will Play in Peoria. While a small number of us will be working on submitting the application, the rest of the community has a role to play, too. Here is how you can help: Go to www.googlepeoria.com and press the big button that says Nominate Peoria NOW! You need to log in with your Google account, or create a free one if you don't already have one. Then just fill out their simple form. Make sure you put "Peoria" in as the City, even if you live somewhere outside our boundaries (we need to be able to tie the nominations to our application).

Second, tell all your friends to do the same thing. Forward this email to everyone in your address book. And check back to www.googlepeoria.com to learn more about upcoming events. Nominations are being accepted through March 26.

Thanks for helping us bring Google to Peoria.

Christopher Setti
Special Projects Manager

City of Peoria
419 Fulton, Suite 207

Peoria, IL 61606

w: (309) 494-8618
c: (309) 472-6291

Theater Web Sites in Sarasota

http://www.asolo.org/

http://www.floridastudiotheatre.org/

http://www.theplayers.org/

http://www.vanwezel.org/

http://www.thegoldenapple.com/

http://www.4sarasota.com/Sarasota/Attractions/theater.html

Economic Development and Planning Links

Sarasota / Manatee County

http://www.manateeedc.com/

http://www.edcsarasotacounty.com/

http://www.ecodevdirectory.com/florida.htm

http://www.manateechamber.com/

http://www.sarasotachamber.com/

www.longboatkeychamber.com/

http://www.siestakeychamber.com/

www.visitstarmandscircle.com/

http://www.co.sarasota.fl.us/

www.sarasotagov.com

www.cityofbradenton.com/

http://www.sarasotagov.com/

http://twitter.com/cityofsarasota

http://www.knightfoundation.org/news/press_room/knight_press_releases/detail.dot?id=330343

Sustainability in Sarasota

Go Green

Sustainable Sarasota

http://www.scgov.net/sustainability/

http://www.sarasotagov.com/InsideCityGovernment/Content/CAC/Communications/Releases/Sustainability_expert.htm

Peoria Best Metro Area in Illinois for Job Growth

The Milken Institute ranks best cities by wage and job growth. Peoria was the best metro area in Illinois. Peoria moved up overall from number 68 Metro area in the country in 2007 to number 43 in 2008. Of course this was before the "Great" recession, which has negatively impacted everyone.

http://bestcities.milkeninstitute.org/bestcities2008.taf?rankyear=2008&type=state&state=IL

http://bestcities.milkeninstitute.org/

TIF Works

Tax Increment Financing Works

TIF is Not a Four Letter Word

Tax Increment Financing is a very effective but controversial method to help redevelop older areas within a city. It is poorly understood and often unfairly criticized. TIF is not a four letter word.

What is Tax Increment Financing?

The Illinois Tax Increment Financing Association http://www.illinois-tif.com/ provides an excellent explanation of TIF. Tax Increment Financing helps communities revitalize older and declining neighborhoods. A District is created following the requirements of the law. The new property tax generated in the new District can be used to assist development in the district, helping the area revitalize.

Case Studies

The City of Peoria has developed 10 TIF Districts. The value of these areas was initially very low. The TIF helped these areas redevelop, and the value of these areas has gone up on average 23% each year, much faster than the city as a whole. Nearby areas without the TIF have had little improvement in value. And of course the redeveloped areas created jobs and vitality.

Depending on the rate of taxation, taxes paid by the new development may be as much as or more than one half of the fair market value of new and redeveloped buildings over the 23 year life of the TIF. The city can provide some or all of that increment back to the developer to help make the project a reality.

TIF Districts incent redevelopers, spurring revitalization of older neighborhoods and increasing jobs. Cities have stimulated substantial new investment through public/private partnerships.

The Illinois Medical Clinic to the right received a 4 million dollar TIF incentive to construct in downtown. The funds helped the developer pay for a parking deck. But for the TIF incentive, this great job and tax producing building would have gone to suburban areas. Instead it helps to revitalize the older central city.

Tax Increment Financing is controversial. But there is no question that it is a great way to build tax base and jobs. The Southtown TIF is the oldest TIF in the City of Peoria and one of the oldest in Illinois. The graph shows that the value of real estate within the TIF grew much faster than the City and School District 150. In 2013, the TIF will be completed, and the tax revenues will go to all the local governments.

The City of Peoria created two new TIF’s in 2007. The areas were very blighted, and growth of jobs and tax base in the areas lagged far behind the remainder of the city.

The chart shows the performance of the two new TIF’s compared to the entire city and the school district. The two new TIF’s have grown much faster than their parent taxing bodies.

Village of Saunemon

TIF is effective in large cities and small villages. The Village of Saunemon created a TIF to assist the development of a gas station and convenience mart. Residents had previously needed to travel a substantial distance to purchase gas and convenience items. The TIF enabled the Village to recruit a developer to bring these needed services to the community,

We believe these numbers support the continued use of Tax Increment Financing. We want our older neighborhoods to thrive and improve, and TIF is one of the best ways to help that process.

More info at:

Illinois Tax Increment Financing Association

http://www.illinois-tif.com/

TIF Illinois

http://www.tifillinois.blogspot.com/

City of Peoria

http://peoriatif.blogspot.com/

Warehouse District http://warehousedistrict.blogspot.com/

Beth Ruyle is a partner in the planning and economic development consulting firm Ruyle Hullinger and Associates. She was the Executive Vice President of Ehlers and Associates, Executive Director of the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association for 22 years, and a City Planner with the Atlanta Regional Commission. She can be contacted at 309 966 1616 Bethruyle@gmail.com http://ruhu.com

Craig Hullinger AICP is a partner in the planning and economic development consulting firm Ruyle Hullinger and Associates. He was formerly the Director of Economic Development for Peoria, Village Manager of Olympia Fields, University Park and Minooka, Planning Director for Will County, and a Colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve. He can be reached at 309 634 5557 craighullinger@gmail.com http://ruhu.com, http://craighullinger .com

Peoria Economic Development

What does the economic climate for the Peoria area look like in 2010?

On February 25th, InterBusiness Issues will sponsor Economic Climate 2010, an event presented by the Economic Development Council for Central Illinois, the Heartland Partnership and Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce. Multiple presenters will provide updates on healthcare, small business and sustainability issues, as well as a general snapshot of our regional assets and a look ahead at what’s in store for the general economy. The event is free, but reservations are required. Contact Terry at tbest@chamber.h-p.org to make your reservation.

http://www.peoriamagazines.com/perspective

Google High Speed Internet Could Play in Peoria

Google is looking for a test community for the installation of a 1Gb (very fast) high speed internet service. Bill Dennis proposes that we try to be that community. This is a very good idea. I have proposed to Google that they choose us, and I suggest that the City push for our selection.

Will it Play in Peoria ? We would be a great location because of our long history as a test bed site for a variety of shows and products.

Name:: Bring Google Fiber to Peoria IL
Category:: Geography - Cities
Description:: Google is testing 1Gb high speed Internet service and Peoria should be it's test bed. 1Gb is approximately 100 times faster than our current high speed Internet (Cable Modem & DSL); Open: All content is public.

Fill out the information below to propose our Peoria:

http://www.google.com/appserve/fiberrfi/public/options

http://www.centralillinoisnewscenter.com/news/local/84532067.html

Income by country.

The United States still is near the top in income per person, and the countries that are ahead of the US are small and unique.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)_per_capita

Groundhog Day for Chicago's Economy?

Has the Chicago area lost its Economic mojo?

Interesting article on the link below:

http://midwest.chicagofedblogs.org/archives/2010/02/questioning_chi.html

When You See This You Know Our Patience With Snow is Wearing Out

175,000 to 250,000 Sq Ft Facility Needed

The CB Richard Ellis Oak Brook Office has been engaged to conduct a search for a new facility to manufacture bakery goods in the central Midwest and our assistance has been requested. The facility needs are listed below. Per the broker,

"The goal is to find an existing facility before heading down the build-to-suit path. The reason for the area designated is due to the grain supply and ease of getting it to the facility. Clearly a food grade bakery or former food facilities are preferred, however, they will modify the right building if it exists." The broker felt it was not necessary to characterize an acceptable non-food building, but felt the food processing use would guide submittals away from possibly "dirty" buildings.

Requirements:

Stand alone facility for purchase that is between 175,000 sq. ft. and 250,000 sq. ft.

Site should have at least 20 acres or have the ability to expand for outdoor storage, trailer parking and future building expansion
Power to the site or the ability to add 2500 Amps’
27’ Min clear on the ceilings
5-10 docks min
Fully sprinklered
Natural Gas to the site

The broker has not been given a time frame for this site selection project, but he emphasized he is not interested in receiving Build-to-Suits or vacant sites at present. Nor has he been given an employment projection, but estimates 200-300 workers.

For communities with buildings, they would like to submit that reflect the above parameters, please attempt to submit responses via e-mail to david.pierson@illinois.gov by Friday, February 19, 2010.

Thank you in advance.

Dave

Dave Pierson

Economic Development Representative

IL Dept. of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

100 W. Randolph St., Suite 3-400

Chicago, IL 60601

Unemployment Rates

11.6% of the labor force Peoria County

10.8% of the labor force Illinois

12.4% of the labor force Sarasota County

11.6% of the labor force Florida

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Not seasonally adjusted - Dec 2009

United Nations Economic Development News

http://www.un.org/apps/news/subject.asp?SubjectID=2

Economic Development Blog - APA

The American Planning Association Blog on Economic Development.

http://apaeconomicdevelopment.blogspot.com/

Congratulations to Farr & Associates for Their LEED ND Development

Whistler Crossing Achieves a LEED ND First in Illinois

Riverdale, Ill., Feb. 9, 2010 – Whistler Crossing, a mixed-use, mixed-income and historic rehabilitation development, became the first project in Illinois to achieve Certified status under the Stage 3 category of the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Neighborhood Development criteria. Designed by Farr Associates and developed, owned and managed by Holsten Real Estate Development Corporation, Whistler Crossing is one of 239 pilot projects under the Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) rating criteria, a first-ever rating system aimed at quantifying sustainability at the neighborhood scale. Stage 3 certification is awarded to projects that are fully constructed, whereas Stage 1 and Stage 2 projects remain in planning stages.

Whistler Crossing represents much needed new development in Riverdale, a near south side suburb of Chicago. The rehabilitation of historic town homes and two new mixed-use buildings create a community focal point in a walkable neighborhood; a feature for which the project racked up points. The 10-acre project is considered a preferred location, built on a previously developed site with close proximity to jobs and schools far in excess of certification minimum requirements.

The ground floors of the mixed-use buildings provide neighborhood-enhancing retail space in addition to tenant support services, management offices and community rooms. The buildings meet IL Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) affordable housing energy efficiency standards. Energy saving strategies include the use of a domestic solar hot water heating, Energy Star appliances, energy-efficient fixtures and highly insulated and sealed building envelopes. Promoting alternatives to car use, residents will have access to an I-GO car sharing program and nearby public transportation.

For more information, visit;

www.farrside.com

Grants - Show me the Money

Click below for info on State of Illinois Grants

http://www.illinoisbiz.biz/dceo/Bureaus/Business_Development/Grants/

Up to His Eyeballs in Alligators

My friend Jim Nesci,and his trained alligator

on U tube. Jim is the one standing erect, the alligator is shorter.

Click on the Photo Below

CityPlanningNews.com

Fill out the information below to propose our Peoria: