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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Vermilion Advantage using a grant to help City of Danville
DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — One organization is getting closer to improving the economic life of Danville. Vermilion Advantage was awarded an $80,000 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration Local Technical Assistance Program. Another $10,000 came from the state's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, which Vermilion Advantage matched. Danville may get new sports facility thanks to local legend Now, Vermilion Advantage has a $100,000 planning project. The goal is to start planning and figuring out which types of businesses will be successful for the city. 'It was a little over a year ago that we got the news [that] Quaker Oats closed, and it was important to me that I wanted to send the message to the community that we had a plan in place and that we weren't going to just take that closure lying down,' Mike Marron, CEO of Vermilion Advantage said. 'We were going to do something about it. And so that's how this whole plan came about and it starting to happen and starting to unfold. And it's pretty exciting.' He said the work has already started. Right now, the main area they're looking at is along East Voorhees Street. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Vermilion Advantage gets grant to create jobs, improve economy
DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced on Thursday that Vermilion Advantage was awarded a grant for economic recovery and resiliency planning throughout the county. Vermilion Advantage and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) joined Pritzker in the announcement that the nonprofit would be receiving $80,000 in federal grant funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration's Local Technical Assistance program. UPS updates and tackling local obstacles | Meet the Mayor The nonprofit organization combines the functions of a chamber of commerce with an economic development agency with the goal of creating and sustaining an environment for successful business and economic growth in Danville, and throughout the rest of Vermilion County. Additionally, state assistance was able to strengthen the grant application to support private capital investment and create jobs in Danville specifically. 'Illinois is committed to investing in projects that leverage that strengthen economic development opportunities while creating jobs,' Pritzker said. 'Thanks to organizations like Vermilion Advantage, and support from the Federal Grant Support Program, businesses in Vermilion County will benefit for years to come from the recruitment plan created through this initiative.' Vermilion Advantage also applied for a received a $10,000 investment from DCEO through the Federal Grant Support Program and contributed $10,000 of local funding support to the project in order to make their federal application more competitive. 'They have to go somewhere'; Danville officials trying to regulate public camping, mitigate homelessness The $100,000 planning project aims to help with the development of a strategy for economic recovery and resilience to target Vermilion County's business recruitment and retention efforts, including workforce development throughout Danville. 'Vermilion Advantage is excited about our partnership with TPMA on the East Voorhees Redevelopment Study,' said Mike Marron, President, Vermilion Advantage. 'This is a critical first step in building a solid plan for the revitalization of East Danville. We start from this point by creating our new economy of the future.' The strategy of the planning project will include the following: Assessment of current economic conditions Industry analysis Workforce skills assessment Strategy for targeted outreach Recommendations for industrial site development The project will also involve data and other analysis for the entire county, and specific attention will be focused on Danville's E Vorhees Street corridor. This area is being described as a 'prime location for future industrial development' to bring in new economic opportunities and jobs to the county. Bresee Babes watch beloved tower fall Once finished, the project will be part of the roadmap towards future economic sustainability and economic resiliency in the E Vorhees Street corridor area, and throughout the rest of the region. 'DCEO's Federal Grant Support Program continues to give Illinoisans a competitive advantage to secure federal funding that will support Illinois communities,' said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. 'The State of Illinois is investing in Vermilion Advantage's plans to create new jobs and economic opportunity for families in Vermilion County.' The Local Technical Assistance program was created to help fill the knowledge and information gaps that could prevent leaders in the public and nonprofit sectors in distressed areas from making the most favorable decisions on local economic development problems. 'As a strong partner in Vermilion Advantage's work to strengthen the local economy, I'm proud to see this important organization receive critical grant funding,' said Senator Paul Faraci (D-Champaign). 'The community in Vermilion County will greatly benefit from Vermilion Advantage's plans to support the business environment by boosting economic recovery and resilience.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
