Last Friday, I was happy to join friends from the Leadership Council of Southwestern Illinois and colleagues from the House and Senate for a legislative update of last session. This is a great group of leaders that focuses on growth and opportunity for the region.
Southwestern Illinois is made up of a nine-county area, which includes Madison, St. Clair, Macoupin, Clinton, Monroe, Jersey, Bond, Washington and Calhoun Counties, and is the second largest population center in the State of Illinois. Southwestern Illinois represents over 700,000 individuals and ¼ of the St. Louis MSA, and is a great place to live, work and raise a family.
Since 1983, the Leadership Council has been the premier organization fostering economic growth in Southwestern Illinois. The Council developed the first regional economic development agenda, and for over 35+ years, our organization has strengthened public/private partnerships throughout Southwestern Illinois to lay the foundation for job growth and retention.