RCGA PLAYS LEAD ROLE TO SECURE THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR I-66

Since an initial fundraising effort in 1989-90 generated about $140,000 from cities, counties, and economic development organizations, most of the support for promoting the I-66 concept has come from the Cape Girardeau Regional Commerce and Growth Association.

At a national meeting of supporters of I-66 Project, Inc. last November in St. Louis, a proposed budget called for having a 22-member task force responsible for raising $395,000 from regions along the corridor of the 3,000 mile long coast-to-coast highway.

The budget also showed that the RCGA was owed $30,000 for expenses it had incurred on behalf of the project and had forgiven another $15,000 worth of expenses incurred over the last year for travel and office expense.

That does not include the salary of Walt Wildman, executive director of RCGA, who assumed that position in November of 1989. He also became co-director of I-66 Project, Inc. when the main office was moved to Wichita, Kan. to help generate support for the highway concept west of Missouri.

But last November, the office was moved back to Cape Girardeau into the suite of offices used by the RCGA, and Wildman became president of I-66 Project, Inc.

Wildman explained that his position with I-66 is supported by the RCGA board of directors, who have approved his devoting a large percentage of his time to the highway.

"I have never been paid anything by I-66," said Wildman. "There have been many discussions around the boardroom table about this and whether the cost to RCGA of my being involved with I-66 is worth it."

The concept of the east-west interstate originated with the RCGA and was unveiled publicly at a national meeting in St. Louis in April of 1989.

Wildman said the RCGA still strongly believes in the project and supports his work on behalf of I-66. In particular, Wildman said he is now trying to re-direct fundraising efforts toward corporations and to build a strong grassroots organization in western states comparable to what has been developed from Missouri east.

He left today for Arizona, Nevada and Utah to meet with city officials and others interested in the project. "We just don't have much grassroots support in those areas and we need that in order to get the political support that will be needed later," said Wildman.

"The RCGA has paid more than dollars. My time has been virtually 100 percent on I-66 and if not for the dedication and interest of a lot of our members, the RCGA would be having trouble staying afloat," he said.

A financial report for I-66, which covers the fiscal year ending June 30, will be ready next week and it will show that the $30,000 debt I-66 Project, Inc. has incurred with RCGA will have swelled to between $50,000 and $60,000.

Last spring, Wildman said he was told by the RCGA board to pay for trips promoting I-66 only with funds raised for I-66, in an effort to keep funds payable to RCGA down.

Wildman acknowledged that his focus on I-66 has severely limited committee work, membership recruitment, and other RCGA projects. Wildman said he also realizes that many people do not see a difference between the two organizations.

"We have spent a great deal of focus and time on I-66, unashamedly. It is a decision the board made," said Wildman.

During August, September and October, Wildman said he will be devoting more of his time to membership recruitment and other goals of the RCGA.

Wildman said anyone who thinks I-66 is the only thing keeping RCGA operating is wrong.

"If I-66 was not deemed as viable and went away as a project, the RCGA would not go away, and would probably be better off structurally. We would be back looking at regional highway issues such as a new highway from Cape to Paducah and a myriad of other things," said Wildman. "If I-66 died today I would we relieved of a lot of pressures ... we'd have black financial reports instead of red."

When I-66 first incorporated, the original plan was to ask cities along the proposed route to pay a one time assessment and annual dues to provide operating costs and also help fund a feasibility study. As a result of that effort, the city of Cape Girardeau contributed $8,600, Jackson gave $3,000, and Marble Hill $1,000.

Cape City Manager J. Ronald Fischer said the $8,600 "is the only committment the council made. To my knowledge, we have not been solicited for more funds, though someone may have talked to individual council members."

Once federal funding was authorized in a highway appropriations bill for a feasibility study in November of 1990, Wildman said the group stopped fundraising because there was no pressing need, and because a new fundraising approach was needed.

"It became obvious to us that future fundraising was in the corporate side, because as supportive as cities and counties may be, they are facing struggles with limited funds," Wildman said.

Last November, Wildman said I-66 backers hoped the task force could raise funds, but by early this year realized most of the people in the task force were not the people to ask for money. Many were already involved in fundraising efforts in their own areas for other projects.

Wildman said he is following up on most fundraising prospect. "We have decided our best approach is to go to folks in industries that will benefit quickest from such a project," said Wildman. "We are seeking large corporate gifts."

Other things that have slowed fundraising in the past, he said, is that the feasibility study took a year longer to complete than originally planned and won't be in a final form until August or September.

Also making general fundraising difficult is the draft summary of the feasibility study that was released recently, indicates the I-66 concept is not economically feasible on a national scale. Wildman and other proponents of I-66 have taken issue with the conclusions and have cited examples of other data that could be used to show certain options feasible.

But Wildman said that while he is confident Congress will keep the project on track after a closer look, he admits the report has been a public relations setback for people like himself trying to promote I-66.