ROCK FALLS, IL - The Regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
Meeting will be held February 28, 2013 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM at Milledgeville State Bank
located at 451 North Main Avenue in Milledgeville, IL.
In 2012, economic development agencies from Carroll, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, and Whiteside
counties partnered with Northern Illinois University's (NIU) Center for Governmental Studies
and received a grant from the Economic Development Administration to conduct two surveys of
the region's businesses. One study was to assess the competitiveness of wages and benefits paid
to workers in the region. The second study was to assess the extent of underemployment that
exists in the region and the opportunities to educate and leverage that resource. The surveys have
now been concluded and the team will be sharing the results at the Regional CEDS Committee
Meeting. Norm Walzer, Senior Research Scholar at NIU's Center for Governmental Studies, will
be presenting on the findings and analysis of two studies. He will also be discussing how the
project will be concluded in the next few months.
For more information, please contact Theresa Wittenauer, Economic Development Coordinator
for Blackhawk Hills, at 815-625-3854 or by email at theresa.wittenauer@blackhawkhills.com.
About Blackhawk Hills
Blackhawk Hills is a not-for-profit organization based in Rock Falls, IL, that serves Carroll, Jo
Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, and Whiteside counties in northwest Illinois. Services include
community planning, development assistance, natural resources conservation and protection
support, and grant writing and administration. Blackhawk Hills is sponsored by local county
boards and Soil and Water Conservation Districts and is overseen by an 18-member council,
consisting of three representatives from each of the six counties.
Questions about Blackhawk Hills may be directed to theresa.witteanuer@blackhawkhills.com at
(815) 625-3854 or theresa.wittenauer@blackhawkhills.com.
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Meeting will be held February 28, 2013 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM at Milledgeville State Bank
located at 451 North Main Avenue in Milledgeville, IL.
In 2012, economic development agencies from Carroll, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, and Whiteside
counties partnered with Northern Illinois University's (NIU) Center for Governmental Studies
and received a grant from the Economic Development Administration to conduct two surveys of
the region's businesses. One study was to assess the competitiveness of wages and benefits paid
to workers in the region. The second study was to assess the extent of underemployment that
exists in the region and the opportunities to educate and leverage that resource. The surveys have
now been concluded and the team will be sharing the results at the Regional CEDS Committee
Meeting. Norm Walzer, Senior Research Scholar at NIU's Center for Governmental Studies, will
be presenting on the findings and analysis of two studies. He will also be discussing how the
project will be concluded in the next few months.
For more information, please contact Theresa Wittenauer, Economic Development Coordinator
for Blackhawk Hills, at 815-625-3854 or by email at theresa.wittenauer@blackhawkhills.com.
About Blackhawk Hills
Blackhawk Hills is a not-for-profit organization based in Rock Falls, IL, that serves Carroll, Jo
Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, and Whiteside counties in northwest Illinois. Services include
community planning, development assistance, natural resources conservation and protection
support, and grant writing and administration. Blackhawk Hills is sponsored by local county
boards and Soil and Water Conservation Districts and is overseen by an 18-member council,
consisting of three representatives from each of the six counties.
Questions about Blackhawk Hills may be directed to theresa.witteanuer@blackhawkhills.com at
(815) 625-3854 or theresa.wittenauer@blackhawkhills.com.
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