- City of Chester located at confluence of Kaskaskia and Mississippi rivers. Important barge shipping location with a port district.
- Home to corporate headquarters of Gilster Mary Lee, a food label manufacturer with over 500 employees in Chester.
- Access to recreational activities such as fishing, shooting, and camping at the 1,600 acre World Shooting and Recreational Complex located near Sparta.
- Close to St. Louis metro area just over 320,000 people located within a 35 mile radius of Sparta.
- Other incentives: Enterprise Zone, New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC), TIF District (in Sparta).
Randolph County
Important Assets
Top Industries (Private Sector)
2018
- Manufacturing: 2,976 Employees
- Health Care and Social Assistance: 2,243 Employees
- Retail Trade: 1,362 Employees
Total Private Sector Employment (All Industries): 11,097
By the Numbers
Population
32,829
Median Household Income
$49,717
Poverty Rate
12.3%
Sparta Opportunity Zone
Randolph County: Sparta Broadband and Fiber
The Assets
- Federal and state incentives available to install high speed broadband in rural areas:
- $400 million in grants available through Connect Illinois program for activities related to expanding broadband access.
- USDA ReConnect program offers loans and grants to provide funds for broadband construction, improvement, and equipment.
- Rebuild Illinois grant programs offer funding for infrastructure improvements. - Sparta is commercial hub of Randolph County. Increasing demand from local businesses and residents for affordable high speed internet.
- Downtown located in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district and Empowerment Zone.
The Opportunity
- Invest in expansion of Sparta’s broadband and fiber infrastructure.