A Forward Focus for the Great River Economic Development Foundation Annual Meeting

Adams County, IL – All are welcome to attend the Great River Economic Development Foundation (GREDF) annual meeting Wednesday, January 8, in the Oakley Lindsay Center (OLC) located at 300 Civic Center Plaza. Networking and a cash bar begin at 5:00 PM in the OLC foyer, with the program beginning at 6:00 PM inside the Quincy Community Theater.

New this year, GREDF will recognize two (2) 2019 recipients of the Thomas A. Oakley Award for Economic Innovation. The Archer Daniels Midland Company operations in Quincy, IL, receives an award for their recent investment in community, infrastructure and technology, making Adams County, IL a hub for grains and oilseeds transported both nationally and internationally. Additionally, the Quincy, IL 2019 City Council receives an award for the passage of the 45×30 plan to creatively grow Quincy’s population through a multi-phase proposal, which includes talent attraction, tourism and retail initiatives.

“ADM is honored to receive the 2019 Award for Economic Innovation,” said Mark Stephens, ADM Director Commercial Development, Global Feed Additives. “This community is where we work, where our families live, and where our children go to school. We’re proud to have invested tens of thousands of dollars supporting great programs and organizations ranging from Horizons Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry to the Adams County Farm Bureau Foundation and Quincy Public Schools. We look forward to continuing to work to make Quincy a great place for agriculture, business and families.”

Representing the City of Quincy, council member Katie Awerkamp replied, “It’s such an honor to be receiving this award, and it’s such an exciting time to be a part of all of this new progression that is taking place.” Awerkamp continues, “As a new council member, I believe we have had quite the task over the last 6 months to get a lot accomplished for the City of Quincy in order to get the wheels moving for the Quincy Next Strategic Plan, and all of the economic development we need to get done. I believe there is a lot of potential, great vision and the right leadership with this new plan. We still have a lot of work to do, but it’s an exciting time to be a Quincy resident, to be sitting on the council and we should be thrilled with what has been accomplished so far.”

Previous recipient includes Mr. Thomas A. Oakley, whom the award is named after.

During the meeting, guests will be the first to hear about GREDF’s accomplishments this past year, as well as Forward Focus goals for GREDF in 2020.  We will also celebrate our outgoing and incoming board members, and hear from Adams County Chair, Kent Snider.

Closing remarks and keynote presentation will be made by Quincy Mayor, Kyle Moore regarding recent growth and investments in Quincy & Adams County, how other communities have addressed various growing pains, and and how our community is working to facilitate all the momentum.

For more information, contact Joi Cuartero Austin at GREDF (217) 223-4313.

Great River Economic Development Foundation is a 501(c)6 not-for-profit organization with a mission to maintain and GROW the economic vitality of the Quincy and Adams County, IL region through the retention and expansion of existing businesses and the attraction of new businesses to our entire region.

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