A bridge to the future: Milan launches new economic development group

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By Jennifer DeWitt | Monday, June 11, 2007 1:07 AM CDT | () comments

Having seen the renewed interest in Moline and the behind-the-scene efforts of Renew Moline, Milan business leaders have created a similar group to stir economic development there.

Launched in December, the Milan Economic Development Association, or MEDA, still is in its infancy, recruiting membership, mapping out its mission and raising funds.

“We’re now in the process of raising some seed money to go out and be a separate economic group from the village of Milan,” said Jim Huiskamp, a founding member and vice president of Milan-based Blackhawk State Bank. While independent of the village, he said “MEDA would work with Milan so we can try to act quicker and economically make things happen quicker.”

Annette Ernst, Milan’s new economic development director, has been assisting in the group’s formation, but she expects to have more of a support role as the development association evolves and the business leaders take over.

“It’s a spin-off of a number of groups that have been forming and storming in the past years,” she said, comparing the association to Renew Moline, East Moline’s REDEEM and the Development Association of Rock Island.

To date, the group has recruited Blackhawk State Bank, the Milan McDonald’s restaurant, Stern Beverage and Eriksen Chevrolet-Buick as members. But Huiskamp said others are considering some level of involvement. The Village of Milan is a non-voting member.

Both Ernst and Huiskamp pointed to the battle waged over the abandoned Milan Motel as the type of project the group could have helped to expedite. The village received court approval last month to demolish the long-vacant motel.

“Where the village may have had to go through hoops to acquire a piece of ground, MEDA may acquire it quicker and turn something around in a quicker fashion,” Huiskamp added.

In fact, Ernst said the development association is eyeing the motel property as its first project and hopes to raise enough seed money to purchase it at auction. But the group was not involved in the court proceedings.

The group has a list of other economic development projects it would like to see done — including other abandoned properties as well as beautification projects around the village. “This shows the business people of the community, whether they are residents or not, that they care about the places that need to be flipped, bought and sold.”

The initial plan is to recruit 10 sustaining members, who donate $5,000 a year, as well as 10 regular board members, Ernst said.

She said the interest level increased as prospects were told that the group will be fashioned after Renew Moline or REDEEM. Organizers have held meetings with Renew officials seeking advice on launching the Milan organization.

Jennifer DeWitt can be contacted at (563) 383-2318 or jdewitt@qctimes.com.