News 
JGA News Release: Jackson Growth Alliance Announces Small Business Loan Program
February 9, 2011
A low interest loan program for Jackson County businesses is being offered through Jackson Growth Alliance. For the first time, Jackson County businesses have access to the USDA Rural Development’s Intermediary Relending Program (IRP) designed to assist new and existing businesses in rural areas.
Jackson Growth Alliance has partnered with the Southern Illinois Coal Belt Champion Community Corporation (SICBCC) to expand the Rural Development loan program into Jackson County. Through this partnership, over $1 million in loan funds are now available to Jackson County businesses.
The IRP program offers loans to qualified businesses with a maximum of $150,000 and a maximum of 75% of the project cost. The interest rate is 5% and the term varies depending upon the activity financed, with the maximum being 15 years. All loans will be fully secured with traditional forms of collateral.
Eligible uses of the IRP loan proceeds include real estate acquisition, construction, machinery and equipment, working capital and inventory. Businesses participating in the program will be required to demonstrate their ability to create or retain one full time equivalent employee per $15,000 of loan funds within the first two years of the loan.
“The Rural Development loan program has been a missing economic development tool in Jackson County,” said Jeff Doherty, Executive Director of Jackson Growth Alliance. “Jackson County businesses now have the opportunity to benefit from the low interest loan program to help their businesses grow.”
Parties interested in learning more about the Rural Development IRP Loan Program may contact Jeff Doherty, Executive Director, Jackson Growth Alliance at 618-713-9210 or jdoherty@jacksonbiz.org.
Technology & Innovation Expo to be Held at SIUC
Explore the latest in research innovation, discover technologies ready to license for commercial success, network with leading inventors and innovators, and gain insight on technology transfer at the 2010 Technology and Innovation Expo, Friday, October 8, 2010 at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Space for the annual event is limited to the first 150 attendees.Hear nationally known entrepreneur and speaker Barry Moltz, author of “Bounce!”; venture capitalist Ron Kirschner of Heartland Angels; and presentations from University inventors, collaborators and entrepreneurs. The day’s agenda, speaker profiles, and presentation abstracts are available on www.tie.siuc.edu.
Don’t miss TIE –Fall 2010. Register today at www.tie.siuc.edu.
JGA News Release: Jackson Growth Alliance Launches New Website
August 16, 2010
Jackson Growth Alliance has launched its new website www.jacksonbiz.org. The new website is designed to assist businesses and professional site locators considering Jackson County for business locations, to provide business information pertaining to Jackson County and the southern Illinois region to existing businesses and to promote Jackson County as the ideal place to live and work.
“A well designed and informative website is an essential tool in economic development today,” said Jeff Doherty, Jackson Growth Alliance Executive Director. “jacksonbiz.org not only provides information for businesses considering Jackson County as a location, but the website is an important element in a business retention and expansion program by serving existing businesses.”
The Mission of the Jackson Growth Alliance is to encourage economic and community development for all of Jackson County and the greater southern Illinois region. The Jackson Growth Alliance unites the efforts of the Jackson County government, City of Carbondale, City of Murphysboro, Southern Illinois University, Southern Illinois Airport Authority and the Jackson County business community for the achievement of economic development goals.
For more information about Jackson Growth Alliance, contact Jeff Doherty, Executive Director, at 618-713-9210, jdoherty@jacksonbiz.org or visit www.jacksonbiz.org.
Voice of The Southern: Airport development will aid entire region
Posted: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 1:00 amOur View: Growth at Southern Illinois Airport is a great economic development opportunity, but it needs widespread support to reach its full potential.
It was not too surprising for Gov. Pat Quinn to visit our region for a Monday afternoon progress briefing about the Transportation Education Center that will be built for Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Quinn hopes to be elected governor in November, and there is nothing unwise about making public appearances and talking to the news media about big-money projects that create jobs and offer hope for better days ahead. Especially when you're trailing in the polls, as the Democrat Quinn is trailing Republican state Sen. Bill Brady.
But aside from the obvious campaign value of being associated with growth and economic development, especially in our hard-pressed region, Quinn expressed an absolute truth about the opportunity being presented to our region. Quinn appropriately described the tax-saving benefits from the use of renewable energy and green concepts in the TEC project. Then he hammered home the major take-away from TEC - the project will spread across the economy and help create hundreds of jobs in Southern Illinois.
It is an opportunity of special value to nearby Murphysboro and Carbondale, through the construction jobs and future potential of TEC, the new home of SIUC's nationally known automotive and aviation programs. Read More...
JGA News Release: Jackson County Businesses Are Eligible for Tax Exempt Financing
July 21, 2010
Businesses in Jackson County have a unique opportunity to borrow money at lower interest rates for capital projects. Jackson County has been designated as a Recovery Zone under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and has been allocated $8,061,000 for tax exempt Recovery Zone Facility (RZF) Bonds.
RZF Bonds are tax exempt private activity bonds that can be used by private businesses for depreciable capital projects such as buildings and equipment. Financing projects with RZF Bonds can be through banks or through the open bond market. The bonds are issued by Jackson County; however, the county does not have any financial liability associated with the issuance of or repayment of the bonds. Read More...
JGA News Release: Jackson Growth Alliance Names New Executive Director
March 25, 2010
Jeffrey W. Doherty has been appointed Executive Director of the Jackson Growth Alliance.
Doherty previously served as Carbondale City Manager for 16 years before retiring from the City of Carbondale in 2008. He began his career with the City of Carbondale in 1976 and served in various administrative positions prior to being appointed City Manager in 1992. Jeff Doherty holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration of Justice and a Master of Public Affairs degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
He is also a graduate of the Senior Executive Institute at the University of Virginia.
Doherty has over 20 years of economic development experience. In addition to his economic development work as City Manager, he has served on various economic development boards including the Carbondale Business Development Corporation Board of Directors and the Southern Illinois Research Park Board of Directors where he served as Chairman.
“We are building a foundation in the Jackson Growth Alliance that will bring business, government and the university together to achieve economic growth in Jackson County,” said Doherty. “We can be successful through an alliance and I am excited to be a part of this cooperative effort.” Read More...