UNION COUNTY GROUP GETS NEW HEADQUARTERS

ANNA, Ill. -- The new Union County Economic Development Corp. has a new headquarters building.

"We're located in a 12-by-14-foot structure at the intersection of highways 51-146," said Jerry Reppert, president of the group, which was founded in March to seek new industry in efforts to offset the closing of two industries this year. The closings cost the area more than 450 jobs and payrolls of more than $5 million.

The new headquarters is a "portable" building provided by Cook Manufacturing and Sales Co., manufacturer of portable buildings in Union County. It is donating the building, which includes heating and air-conditioning, for as long as the corporation needs it.

"This is the type of support and cooperation the new economic group is having," said Reppert. "Businesses throughout the county are showing their support through donations and loans of equipment copier, desks, conference table, chairs, and other supplies."

A special dedication of the office will be held Saturday at 1 p.m., with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The office will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, noted Theresa K. Bradley, public information chairman for the new group.

"Volunteers will staff the office," said Reppert, adding that the group was working on a number of leads concerning possible new business for the area."

"We lost a potential business recently that could have occupied the recently-closed shoe factory," said Reppert. "Roadmaster Corp., a large, bicycle firm, located in another Southern Illinois area (Effingham)."

Florsheim Shoe was one of the two industries that closed its doors in February; the other was Bunny Bread Bakery.

Meanwhile, the development group is still looking into the possibilities of obtaining a new super-maximum security prison.

The Illinois Task Force on Crime and Corrections has recommended a new "Super Max" facility to house dangerous and predatory inmates.

"The bill for the new center has passed the Senate in the General Assembly," said Reppert. "Now it is a House bill. The legislature is expected to adjourn in late May, and we're hopeful that this legislation will be passed by then."

Sen. Jim Rea (D-Christopher), said the Senate approved two pieces of legislation last week that contain authorization to sell $60 million worth of bonds to construct a Super-Max prison. Rea is one of the sponsors of amendments authorizing the bond sale.

Dick Hodges, chairman of the Union County Economic Development Corp.'s Prison Project Committee, reported that the committee is looking into locations in several areas.

"This is now a multicounty effort," said Reppert. "Alexander, Pulaski and Johnson counties have signed on to help make this an effort to get the prison in Southern Illinois."

Reppert said Hodges wants to have four sites ready to be submitted to the state when the bill passes, and "we want our request to be the first on the desk of Howard Peterson, director of the Illinois Department of Corrections."

A final phrase of a petition has been added, said Reppert. The added phrase reads, "Locate the proposed maximum prison in the Union our adjacent county area."

Reppert said the economic group has established a goal of 5,000 signatures for the prison petition.

"We have about 4,000 signature now," said Reppert.