Finance committee hears NCICG briefing on regional economic development, grants and broadband options

The LaSalle County Finance Committee on Feb. 4 heard a presentation from Kevin, a representative of the North Central Illinois Council of Governments (NCICG), about the region’s Economic Development District, recent grant applications and steps the county can take to pursue federal and state funding.

Kevin told the committee the Economic Development District (EDD) was designated by the U.S. Economic Development Administration in February 2005 and that NCICG began receiving EDA funding in February 2006. He said the EDD requires a local match — generally a 50/50 match — that helps pay for staff who support economic development activities across the region. Kevin said the district’s current comprehensive economic development strategy covers 2022–2027 and that NCICG helps communities with projects ranging from incubators and road improvements to college facilities: “Over the last few years, we’ve done 4 different Economic Development Administration grant projects,” he said, citing work on an incubator in Streeter, Stephenson Road improvements, Peru’s deep-tunnel work and a new agricultural building at Illinois Valley Community College.

Why it matters: LaSalle County pays membership dues for regional services and maintains a county…