Creating a Common Voice for Downstate Illinois
Strategic Action Plan

To carry forward the Downstate Voice initiative, a steering committee has been appointed to oversee future activities of the Downstate Voice organization, the volunteer network of leaders created by the inaugural Downstate Summit held September 29, 2011. The purpose of the inaugural summit was to bring together leaders to create a common voice for downstate Illinois on rural economic development issues.  

The Downstate Voice Steering Committee includes:        

·         Stepheny McMahon, Director, Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development and President of  East Central Illinois Development Corporation (ECIDC)

·         Jerry Townsend, Chairman, Rural Partners

·         Christopher Merrett, Director, Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (IIRA)   

·         Norman Walzer, Senior Research Scholar, Center for Government Studies, Northern Illinois University

·         Robert Wesley,  Director of Regional Medical Programs, SIU School of Medicine

·         Angela Griffin, President, Coles Together and Illinois Development Council Education Chair

·         Edward VanHoose, Digital Communications adn IT Administrator, Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives

·         Christina Rogers,  Policy Advisory for Rural Affairs, Office of Lt. Governor Sheila Simon and Representative of Governor’s Rural Affairs Council

The Steering Committee will oversee activities of five newly created task forces detailed in the organizational chart below.

Each Task Force will have a chairperson responsible for calling committee meetings/teleconferences and developing action items. Each Task Force will meet/communicate independently and as needed based on its own initiatives.

Task Force Chairpersons Appointed to Date:

Communications Committee – Brett Gilsinger, General Manager, Frontier Communications
TIF Districts Committee – Steve Kline, President/CEO, The Economic Development Group, Ltd.
Enterprise Zones Committee – J. Craig Coil, President, Economic Develelopment of Decatur and Macon County
Making Illinois More Competitive Committee – Brian Moody, Executive Director, Tuscola Economic Development Inc.

 If you expressed interest on your survey/evaluation forms to serve on one of the above task forces, a chairperson will be contacting you in the near future. Over 125 individual or agencies have already expressed interest and/or volunteered to join these various Task Forces.

Please notify us using the "Contact Us" page if you wish to join a Task Force and did not already express interest on the Summit survey/evaluation questionnaires.