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Randolph County

Important Assets
  • 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).
Top Industries (Private Sector)
2018
  • Manufacturing: 2,976 Employees
  • Health Care and Social Assistance: 2,243 Employees
  • Retail Trade: 1,362 Employees

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.
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