Technology Park Task Force

Plan To Attract New High Tech Manufacturing Facility to the Growth Cell

Friday 24 April 2009 at 2:00 pm

Fire Station 1 at 505 NE Monroe

Meeting Notes

Members Present:

Vicki Clark EDC

Ryan Spain EDC

Tony Rolando State DCEO

Patrick Urich Peoria County

Scott Sorrel Peoria County

Pat Landes COP PGM

Matt Fick COP ED

Steve Austin COP PW

John Remsen Bauer Power

Dr. Amir Al-Khafaji Chairman Sustainable Commission

Bobby Gray COP ED

Craig Hullinger COP ED

Susan Schlupp COP ED

1. Introductions

2. Summary of actions to date – Tony Rolando noted that Governor Quinn met with Senator Koehler, Representatives Gordon and Leitch, Jim McConoughey, Vickie Clark,Tony Rolando, and the CEO of the Company briefly today at the Gateway Building. Governor Quinn told the company that he wants them in Illinois.

Hullinger  noted are working to attract a high tech company to Peoria that would construct a million square foot building that would have a market value of approximately $30,000,000 plus equipment and hire 850 employees. This company is sought after by a number of other areas, including Michigan, Ohio, California, and other locations in Illinois. 

The City, County, and EDC have shown the business a number of sites. In the City they prefer a Growth Cell site near Route 6 and Allen Road, if the site can be made free or low cost to match offers being made by other States and areas. 

3.  County Update - Patrick Urich says the County will join with the City on the land purchase and donation to the company.  They will buy the entire piece and finance the City 1/2 share at 2 points above prime.  

Patrick agrees that we need a high level meeting of the Mayor and County Chairman, all the Federal and State elected officials, and the leadership of the company to close the deal for one of our sites. 

3. Site Acquisition Costs – Hullinger discussed the alternate sites. We have cost estimates for the 7 sites in the Growth Cell of Pioneer Park. Cost estimates ranged from a low of $3,225,000 for site 6 to a high of 9,825.000 for site 7. In addition, the estimated cost for the extension of Pioneer Parkway from Allen Road to Radnor Road would be $10,600,000. Hullinger noted that grants could cover all or a substantial amount of this cost.

The company prefers a growth cell site with convenient access to Route 6. Site 1 adjacent to Route 6 and west of the Allen road appears to be the favored site. The grant application is being prepared with that in mind.

Four of the sites could be acquired by the City or County government with a purchase / donation from the owner for $50,000 per acre. The two available sixty acre sites would cost $3,000,000, with the remaining approximately 55 acre site $2,750,000. We do not yet have prices for the other potential sites. Staff have sent letters to all the property owners, and are getting calls back with asking prices.

5. Planning & Zoning – Pat Landes noted that her staff are developing regulations for the Sustainable Technology park, mixing technology uses with industrial uses, and figuring out how to mix solar and wind energy into the district. 

6. Incentives - Enterprise Zone, Longer Abatement agreements. Craig Hullinger and Susan Schlupp met with the Dunlap School District, and will meet with Kickapoo and Radner Township. We are proposing that they join in the Enterprise Zone and provide Property Tax abatement. The Enterprise Zone only runs for 4 more years, ending in 2013 with the last taxes payable in 2014. We are asking the State to extend the Enterprise Zone to reauthorize and extend the Zone so we can get the full 5 year abatement.  Dunlap initially indicated that they would discuss this issue with their new Board, but subsequently have stated that they will not participate.

7. Stimulus Grants, Federal and State - Bobby Gray and Matt Fick are working with the EDC to apply for grants from the Federal and State to help pay for infrastructure and land acquisition costs. The stimulus bill is creating several possible paths for assistance. EDC is assisting in applying for these grants. We will apply for both DOE and EDA grants. Standards and requirements are evolving for both these grant programs, but it appears that we qualify. Grants can be 20% local and 80% Federal.

8 . State assistance for road, utility, and rail extensions – Tony Rolando is reviewing State programs. With the Governor on Board, things become very good.  IDOT normally pays ½ the cost of industrial road extensions up to a maximum of $2,000,000. They also pay for a substantial amount of the cost of rail extensions.

9.  Steve Austin has prepared the surveys for site 1 for the conveyance of 60 acres, and for the Free Trade Zone application.  Since a site has not been firmly chosen, we won’t proceed until the site is chosen.

10. Free Trade Zone – the EDC will fill out the required paperwork to designate the area as a FTZ. We will seek for all business in the area to be part of the FTZ. We will submit the entire site for the FTZ

11. Wind and Solar Power  - Hullinger noted that the grant application has 4.5 million for wind and solar power. The City has requested that Bauer Power assist in developing the proposal. We envision solar panel s and wind turbines being used throughout the park, in sites visible from Route 6 and major roads.  John Remsen from Bauer Power will work on the proposal. If the grant is awarded, the work must be bid.

12. Sustainable Development Commission  - Dr. Amir Al-Khafaji,  Chairman of the Peoria Commission on Sustainability and Green Techology will assist in developing the “green technology aspects of the Sustainable Technology Park.