Southern Illinois — Southern Illinois Now (SI Now) has been selected as one of just eight economic development organizations across Illinois to participate in the Illinois Economic Development Corporation's new Regional Research Pilot Program (R2P2), an initiative designed to provide advanced economic analysis and data-driven strategies that strengthen regional competitiveness and improve business attraction efforts.
Through the year-long pilot program, SI Now will receive customized research examining Southern Illinois' economic trajectory, workforce strengths, industry clusters, and competitive advantages. The analysis will help identify emerging opportunities, better align regional assets with market demand, and provide data that supports recruiting new employers while helping existing businesses grow.
For Southern Illinois, the program represents another important tool in building a stronger business case for investment. By combining regional expertise with statewide economic research, SI Now and its partners will be better equipped to identify target industries, respond to site selectors with stronger data, and develop long-term strategies that create jobs and attract private investment.
"The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is proud to support the Regional Research Pilot Program as part of our ongoing commitment to strengthening economic growth in communities across the state," said Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Kristin Richards. "The insights generated through this program will further inform our approach to strategic economic development throughout Illinois."
SI Now Executive Director Deb Barnett said the program will help the organization continue positioning Southern Illinois as a competitive location for future business investment.
"Today's economic development decisions must be grounded in data and strengthened through meaningful partnerships. Illinois EDC has been an exceptional partner to Southern Illinois Now, consistently providing the tools, insights, and leadership that help communities across our region and throughout the state succeed," Barnett said. "The Regional Research Pilot Program (R2P2) is another powerful resource that allows us to move beyond assumptions and align our strategies with real market demand, workforce trends, and long-term growth opportunities, advancing not just our region, but Illinois' broader economic development goals."
The Regional Research Pilot Program is designed to help communities move beyond individual projects by providing long-term economic analysis that guides strategic decision-making. For Southern Illinois, the initiative will strengthen regional business recruitment efforts while helping local leaders make informed investments in workforce development, infrastructure, and industry growth.
“Illinois EDC is committed to helping communities compete in a rapidly changing economy by pairing Illinois’ unmatched assets with rigorous, future-oriented analysis,” said Illinois EDC President and CEO Christy George. “R2P2 strengthens our ability to support economic developers at the regional level—ensuring that growth strategies are grounded in shared data, aligned with market realities, and focused on long-term opportunity.”
Southern Illinois Now serves as a regional economic development organization for the 17 southernmost counties of Illinois, working collaboratively with communities, businesses, and partners to attract investment, create jobs, and strengthen the regional economy.