Members of the Tri-State Development Steering Committee are pleased to announce the addition of Audrain County, Missouri, which becomes the 36^th county to comprise the one “Tri-State of Mind” for western Illinois, northeast Missouri and southwest Iowa. Counties served now include 14 in Illinois, 14 in Missouri and 8 in Iowa, making the population supported over 700,000.

The inclusion of Audrain County also falls on the 20^th Anniversary of the Tri-State Development Summit, to be held on Friday, November 18 at Iowa Wesleyan University in Mount Pleasant, Iowa beginning at 9am, with a theme of “Stronger Together.”

“Audrain County is excited to add its voice to the 36 Counties that make up Tri-State Development,” states Audrain County presiding commissioner Steve Hobbs. “Working together, we can be a strong voice for infrastructure improvements throughout our region.”

Bringing Audrain County into the Tri-State Development region is a natural fit as Audrain County is the last county in the Mark Twain Council of Governments to join the Tri-State Development region, is a welcome addition to the Great Region designation with the USDA Rural Development, and brings one of the region’s major uncompleted Highway Corridor segments (US 54 / SW Gateway) entirely within the Tri-State Development region. Additionally, the largest city in Audrain County, City of Mexico, has representatives who have already participated in past task force and regional summits.

“Joining the Tri-State just makes good sense,” said City of Mexico manager Bruce Slagle, “we are all working for the same goal of improving the region through economic growth and improved transportation and; after all, you can accomplish far more by working together.”

The Mission of the Tri-State Development Summit is to bring together Tri-State area leaders to define common issues; To develop an on-going dialogue to effectively address those issues; And to improve the quality of life of the entire tri-state region through economic development activities.

For more information about the Tri-State Development Summit please visit our website at TriStateOfMind.org, or call (217) 223-4313.

###

Adams County, IL – The Annual Meeting of the Rural Adams Development Corporation (RADC) will be held on Wednesday, July 27 at 7:30a in Marie’s Restaurant in Golden, IL.

Established by a group of bankers in rural Adams County, along with Adams Electric Cooperative, Great River Economic Development Foundation and later the Adams Telephone Cooperative, the RADC now celebrates its 25^th anniversary!

“Rural Adams Development Corporation was formed 25 years ago by forward-looking Adams County leaders to assist rural businesses.” States Terry Reuschel, President of RADC and President & CEO of Farmers State Bank of Camp Point. “RADC is proud of the cooperative spirit that has allowed RADC to assist many small businesses since then, and looks forward to continuing to positively influence Economic Development in rural Adams County for many years to come.”

The RADC provides low-rate “gap financing” for businesses wishing to start or expand in the rural parts of Adams County, excluding the city limits of the City of Quincy. Since 1992, the RADC has participated in 69 projects, with loans totaling $2,159,631.34. Interested parties may contact any member bank to access to RADC.

Types of assistance provided by the RADC include:

• Seed money, venture capital, or gap financing for which no other resource exists,
• Funding for businesses that lack adequate equity or operating history for conventional loans,
• Investment in projects that need greater owner equity in order to obtain bank or government assistance.

Anyone interested in starting or expanding a business in rural Adams County is encouraged to talk to any RADC participating bank or GREDF. RADC member banks include:

Central State Bank (Clayton)                 Golden State Bank

Farmers Bank (Liberty & Payson)        North Adams State Bank (Camp Point & Ursa)

Farmers State Bank of Camp Point       Town & Country Bank Midwest

First Bankers Trust of Mendon

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