7am News, Sports and Obits
Latest WGIL news
Click to play or
Right click and "Save Target As" to download
Click for Galesburg, Illinois Forecast
Home - Cancellations - Community Events - Contact Us - Mornings - News - Obituaries - Pictures - Programs - Special Events Audio - Sports - Weather
New Chairman of GREDA Elected
There's a new man in charge of the Galesburg Regional Economic Development Association.

GREDA announced at Thursday night's annual meeting that First-Mid Illinois Bank local president Mark Blackburn was elected to fill one year left in a term as chairman, replacing former Galesburg Mayor Gary Smith, who will remain on the board.

Blackburn tells WGIL first on his list is working closer with the City of Galesburg on Economic Development Efforts, and that's what led him to take the chair's role.

"Speaking with Mayor Garza and determining that we both agree to agree to sit down," he said. "Right after the Christmas holidays and talk about what we can do together from the board chair of GREDA and the mayor of city of Galesburg to redirect and reposition economic development in the area."

Blackburn says he doesn't know if that means trying to court the city as a member of GREDA yet or not, but that he'll approach Mayor Sal Garza again next year.

Blackburn says he has a wish list of things he'd like to accomplish in his year term which starts January first, but he's not ready to disclose those yet -- at least until he officially takes over.

He does say Smith and GREDA president Tom Schmidt do have the organization in a much better place than a few years ago.
12 09 11 by Newsroom
News management powered by Xpression News

Click here for the WGIL News Archive

Click here for national news

The following provision applies to all visitors (which shall include persons and representatives of legal entities, whether such representatives are persons or digital engines of a kind that crawls, indexes, scrapes, copies, stores or transmits digital content). By accessing this Web site or digital service, you specifically acknowledge and agree that: (i) Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium; (ii) No Associated Press materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use; (iii) The Associated Press will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing; (iv) The Associated Press is an intended third party beneficiary of these terms and conditions and it may exercise all rights and remedies available to it; and (v) The Associated Press reserves the right to audit possible unauthorized commercial use of AP materials or any portion thereof at any time.