Peoria (March 13, 2013) – Fundraising from the public and private sector for Focus Forward Central Illinois (FFCI) has been ignited with major pledges from key community investors.
The West Central Illinois Building Trades Council is among investors. “A financial commitment to Focus Forward CI is a sound investment in the future of our members, their families and central Illinois,” said Marty Helfers, Executive Director of the West Central Illinois Building and Trades Council. “FFCI is an all-inclusive grass roots effort with world class leadership and direction, mapping the economic future of central Illinois.”
The Collaborative Funding Plan will raise $3 million in each of the next five years through 2018 from a variety of sources: public and private, not-for-profit sectors, unions and foundations, and monies from state and national grants. FFCI will be a public-private partnership, including 60 percent of funds from the private sector and 40 percent from the public sector.
FFCI – though a formal agreement – has partnered with the Community Foundation of Central Illinois (an established 501c3) to create a pass through fund that allows a neutral organization to serve as a tax deductive repository for resources dedicated to the effort. That provides transparency for all investors as to what the funds are being used for.
“This is planting the seed to benefit the future. The Community Foundation is a neutral entity with no vested interest other than improving the quality of life in this community,” said CEO Mark Roberts. “At our core our work is about the promotion of philanthropy about leveraging philanthropic resources within this community and outside this community.”
FFCI already has pledges from: Caterpillar Inc., OSF St. Francis Medical Center, Methodist Medical Center, Kress Manufacturing, Excel Foundry & Machine, IBEW Local #34, Plumbers Local 63 and Steamfitter’s Local 353, Peoria County and Chuck Weaver.
Mike Everett, President of the West Central Illinois Building and Trades Council lauded FFCI’s “inclusive, comprehensive, and intelligent, approach to regional planning and continuous economic development.”
The 60-month agreement with the Community Foundation of Central Illinois states the fund will serve to receive charitable contributions used to provide collaborative funding support to community economic development initiatives approved for implementation. They must enable accomplishment of five-year SMART goals to transform the economic, social and environmental prosperity of the region.
“This is good for us and it’s good for the community. This effort, for the first time, is calling together disparate groups of the community I don’t think have been talking. This really intentional approach that FFCI has taken is calling together labor, business, people, neighborhoods, villages, cities, counties and regions,” Roberts said.
The Community Foundation of Central Illinois is a philanthropic resource that works with donors to establish funds to be used as charitable capital for enhancing the quality of life in the Central Illinois community.
FFCI has involved more than 1,000 individuals throughout the region. The 2018 goals, if achieved, add $1.75 Billion to the annual payrolls of our region and estimated state and local tax revenue is estimated at $33 to $34 million annually.
“Our area should be very proud that we have two organizations joining hands to focus on the growth of our region. Focus Forward CI continues to gain momentum as we spread the word about all the possibilities that working collaboratively can produce for Central Illinois and the Community Foundation of Central Illinois is the ideal organization to be the repository for funds that are already being received as an investment in our future,” said Diana Hall, Vice Chairman of the Policy Steering Committee for FFCI and President/ Owner of Bard Optical.
To invest, contact Mark Roberts at The Community Foundation of Central Illinois 674-8730 or mark@communityfoundationci.org.
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Karen McDonald
Tri-County Regional Planning Commission Government Relations Consultant
www.focusforwardci.com
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AttachmentsCommunity Foundation FFCI Release March 2013.pdf Download All
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