MARION, Ill. – More than 150 business leaders, elected officials, economic developers, educators, workforce partners, and community stakeholders from across Southern Illinois gathered Thursday at the ThrillHouse Event Center in Marion for Southern Illinois Now's (SI Now) fourth annual Economic Development Day. Centered around the theme "Our Region. Our Future. Our Opportunity!", the event focused on collaboration, innovation, and the opportunities shaping the future of the region.  

The day brought together representatives from local, state, and federal organizations to discuss the issues and initiatives driving economic growth throughout Southern Illinois. Attendees had the opportunity to network with peers, exchange ideas, learn from industry experts, and strengthen relationships that will continue to move the region forward. 

"Economic development has never been about one organization or one community," expressed SI Now executive director Deb Barnett, PhD. "It happens when the business community, local, state, and federal partners come together, share ideas, build relationships, and work toward a common vision. Seeing more than 150 leaders investing their time to learn from one another and collaborate for the future of Southern Illinois is exactly what this event is all about." 

From Opportunity Zones 2.0 and potential scenarios for rural areas like Southern Illinois to site readiness, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and succession planning. Interactive breakout sessions allowed participants to engage directly with subject matter experts while sharing ideas and best practices that can be implemented within their own communities.  

"One of my favorite parts of the day was seeing communities openly share their successes and lessons learned," explained SI Now regional development coordinator Nick Holdinghausen. "That kind of collaboration is what makes Southern Illinois stronger, and I hope everyone left with new ideas, fresh inspiration, and even greater ambition to continue growing their own communities." 

Southern Illinois Now extends its sincere appreciation to the speakers, moderators, panelists, partners, and attendees whose participation made this year's Economic Development Day a tremendous success. The organization looks forward to building on the momentum created during the event as communities across the region continue working together to create new opportunities for Southern Illinois.