Special to the Clinton Journal

CLINTON – DeWitt County Development Council (DCDC), in its second of a three-year State Farm Bank grant challenge, continues fundraising efforts to earn $25,000 in matching funds needed to support local businesses.

DCDC qualified for the program in 2016, and with help from a host of local business leaders raised the needed funds to earn the matching grant. According to DCDC Executive Board President David Torbert, the effort is meant to bring local leaders together through DCDC to strengthen the local business climate.

“We wanted to create an opportunity for these businesses to be part of DCDC,” Torbert said. “Whether it is being a resource to answer a question, or present at one of our events, we want to be the critical resource businesses can use to create opportunities for future businesses growth in the area.”

This year’s deadline is December 31, 2017.

Since earning last year’s matching funds, DCDC has since been actively engaged in discussions to support the Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities (CEO) program to Blue Ridge High School in Farmer City, and Clinton High School. Torbert says no set plans are in place to fund the program right now, but DCDC supports the effort to educate high school students in business management.

“These students are the key to our future economic success, so we are in favor of giving them the needed knowledge and networking opportunities to be successful,” Torbert said. “We know not all students will stay close to home, but we want them to know that terrific career opportunities already exist here.”

In addition to ongoing CEO efforts, DCDC hosts regular breakfast meetings for business leaders. These events help educate audiences in key business areas such as digital marketing, business communications and a variety of other topics. 

DCDC aims to actively engage current and potential businesses to market DeWitt County to attract commerce and encourage job growth. DCDC promotes ideas for local business expansion and workforce development, and provides direction for new and existing business or commerce seeking resources for enhance business operations.