IllinoisEconomic Development

Council of the Bloomington-Normal Area

S p e c i a l A d v e r t i s i n g S e c t i o n

For more than a half century, COUNTRY Financial has called Bloomington-Normal home. Founded by Central Illinois farmers in 1925, the company is the third largest employer in McLean County.

“Bloomington-Normal not only sits in the heart of America’s breadbasket, but the cities also serve as a vibrant hub connecting us to our regional offices in Connecticut, Georgia, Minnesota and Oregon,” says Steve Denault, COUNTRY Financial executive vice president of corporate services. “The Bloomington-Normal area provides a talented pool of employees and job candidates who exhibit community-minded service and a strong work ethic.”

Denault says the region’s solid business climate, with its mixture of small, entrepreneurial companies as well as larger employers, are a perfect fit for their 2,000-plus Bloomington employees.

Customers include 1 million households and businesses throughout the United States. Businesses include COUNTRY Mutual Insurance Company®, COUNTRY Trust Bank®, COUNTRY Life Insurance Company® and COUNTRY® Capital Management Company. The company posted the lowest complaint ratio among Illinois auto, home and life insurers in 2011, according to the Illinois Department of Insurance, and has ranked among the top two home insurers for the last 13 years.

CouNtry Financial: An Illinois Success Story

This special section is published for the Economic Development Council of the Bloomington-Normal Area by Journal Communications Inc.

For more information, contact: Economic Development Council of the Bloomington-Normal Area 200 W. College Ave., Suite 402 • Normal, IL 61761 • Phone: (309) 452-8437 • Email: angie@bnbiz.org • www.bnbiz.org

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On the cover: Windmills in Illinois

“Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.” Nowhere is that more true than in Bloomington, Ill., home to the nation’s leading provider of home and auto insurance. Their 15,000 Bloomington-based insurance and financial professionals make State Farm the largest employer in McLean County.

“G.J. Mecherle, a farmer and later State Farm’s founder, found peace and prosperity in the rich, black McLean County soil. Established in 1922, State Farm celebrated 90 years of

prosperity this year. Centrally located, with top ranked universities and a variety of transportation options, the community has been an outstanding home for State Farm,” says Kellie Clapper, assistant vice president of public affairs.

Nationally, the company boasts some 66,000 employees and handles more than 35,000 claims daily. State Farm now offers nearly 100 products and services in five different lines of business to help customers stay prepared.

at Home in McLean County

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Bloomington-Normal is well connected, and it’s not just the region’s three interstates bringing people together. The Illinois community is home to comprehensive IT companies and two enterprise-quality data centers, offering more bandwidth and an unprecedented level of e-commerce to businesses in McLean County.

Leading the way in high-tech services is STL Solutions. Founded by IT veteran Tim Norman in 1991, the company has morphed into a national leader for IT services, netting some $20 million annually and partnering with companies in 23 states. STL now operates five Illinois offices with corporate headquarters in Bloomington. Services

include staffing solutions, a data center, managed IT and cloud partnerships.

“We provide the people and technology for small to mid-size businesses so they don’t have to augment their IT staff or outsource it,” Norman says. “We’re filling a niche and offering more services than a typical IT provider.”

Among STL’s largest clients is NTT Data. The Tokyo-based company has some 60,000 employees worldwide including 500 at their Bloomington-Normal headquarters.

“We deliver high-value services to a number of clients including several Fortune 500 companies,” says Greg Severns, vice president of client management.

Since 1993, Bloomington, Illinois’ Integrity Technology Solutions has offered trusted advisement and customized IT solutions for Central Illinois businesses.

“We provide everything from business consulting and technology advisement to network infrastructure and help-desk support,” says Integrity President Mary Bennett. “Whatever clients need in terms of consulting and support, we can do it all.”

While clients range from medical providers to professional services, the company partners with those that value technology and understand its importance in moving business forward. Bennett says the area’s thriving business community has contributed to their 20-year longevity.

“A lot of the businesses here are very forward thinking in terms of how they want to use technology to benefit business,” Bennett says. “It’s an exciting time for technology because of the new infrastructure being built that wasn’t here a few years ago.”

Bennett says clients in McLean County experience a level of connectivity not available in many places.

“For our clients, being more connected to data means

access to the cloud and more mobility no matter where they are,” Bennett says. “People want to be able to work seamlessly from wherever they are, and we have access to that.”

Industry With Integrity

Bloomington-Normal: An Information Destination

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For more than 86 years, GROWMARK has provided ag-related products and services to farmers in McLean County and beyond. The regional cooperative began in 1927 when Illinois Farm Bureau members organized local co-ops to meet their growing demand for a reliable fuel supply. GROWMARK Inc. was established following mergers with similar organizations in Iowa and Wisconsin. Today, the system nets $10 billion in sales annually and provides products, services and grain marketing in the Midwest and Ontario, Canada. GROWMARK also owns the FS trademark, which is used by affiliated member cooperatives.

On the heels of their most profitable year to date, GROWMARK president and McLean County farmer Dan Kelley says their success is directly tied to the success of area farmers.

“Demand for agriculture products and commodity prices are both strong, so the crop process is strong, with producers using more fuel, fertilizers and higher quality seeds,” Kelley says.

Half of GROWMARK’s sales remain energy related, with the rest rooted in agronomy and grain. He attributes the industry’s success to rich soil and an outstanding infrastructure that allows for timely transport of grains to processing plants statewide.

Agriculture in McLean County is in full bloom. In fact, farmers in the Illinois community produce more corn and soybeans than any other county in the United States.

Mike Swartz, executive director of the McLean County Farm Bureau, says the region’s deep, rich soil makes Bloomington-Normal the ideal place to grow just about anything.

“McLean County is one of the top seven counties in the nation to grow corn, soybean or almost any plant,” Swartz says. “We have a long history of agriculture, which means our suppliers and crop providers have grown as well.”

Now entering its 100th year, the McLean County Farm Bureau® is affiliated with the Illinois Farm Bureau®, a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation®. The organization of farmers and ranchers is responsible for Farm Bureau® memberships and programs, including discounts from the bureau’s insurance provider, COUNTRY Financial. Members also are represented through state and national legislation on behalf of Illinois farmers.

“We work as advocates for farmers because we understand the issues and make sure they have a voice,” Swartz says.

Growing a Legacy

Greener Pastures: Bloomington-Normal an Agrarian Leader

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Business is on the move in Bloomington-Normal, where Nussbaum Transportation has been operating since 1945. In 2012, Industry Logistics magazine ranked the dedicated and truckload carrier one of the top motor carriers in the United States for the second year in a row. President and CEO Brent Nussbaum says the region’s central location make the company a natural leader.

“Central Illinois is a great area for moving goods via truck across interstate, whether you’re going north-west or east-south,” Nussbaum says. “People often characterize this area as white collar, but the road system itself and potential for transportation services in the area make it very attractive for warehousing and transportation. Bloomington-Normal has an absolutely perfect road system for facilitating freight warehousing and movement in any direction. Even around Bloomington-Normal, the roads are set up to facilitate quick movement of traffic.”

In 2012, Nussbaum Transportation reported $45 million in revenues. The company’s 260 employees, 220 trucks and 500 trailers handle dedicated contract carriage, truckload and logistics services to a variety of industries. Clients represent 100-plus companies including service-oriented and multiple-stop truckload businesses. Caterpillar and Case New

Holland are just a few Nussbaum clients who require just-in-time-type overnight transport from plants to vendors.

“Our people are what set us apart,” Nussbaum says. “We hire strictly for culture and people who care about other people. We take care of our drivers, and when you take care of employees they take care of your customers.”

Nussbaum is a longtime member of Truckload Carriers Association, the Illinois Trucking Association, and the Transportation Intermediaries Association, and is a supporter of the SmartWay Transportation Partnership, which works to reduce transportation-related emissions.

on the road Again: trucking and Logistics in McLean County

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that almost 14,000 persons work in the trade, transportation and utilities sectors in Bloomington-Normal.

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Educational options abound for students in Bloomington-Normal. From state and private universities to community colleges, McLean County boasts degree and continuing education programs for any career path.

Illinois State University, the state’s first public university, offers a diverse selection of undergraduate academic programs to more than 20,000 students each year. The university ranks in the top 100 in U.S. News and World Report and has many nationally ranked programs in business, education, the arts and sciences, applied science and technology, nursing, and fine arts.

“Over the past decade, Illinois State has risen dramatically in prominence and popularity among high-achieving Illinois schools,” says Dr. Al Bowman, Illinois State’s 17th president. “The town of Normal provides a beautiful and safe environment for students, with a vibrant uptown and venues

that attract students, their families, faculty and staff members.”In Bloomington, Illinois Wesleyan University has

become one of the nation’s leading liberal arts institutions. “The quality of the students we attract and our

unique curriculum is what sets us apart from other liberal arts colleges and state universities,” says Dr. Richard Wilson, president of Illinois Wesleyan. “Top students select us because of our small size and the quality of our faculty and programming. How well we do is reflected in how attractive our graduates are to major employers and their acceptance to top graduate and professional schools.”

Quality faculty and programs also allow the school to compete for enrollment with larger nationally regarded institutions like Northwestern, the University of Chicago and Notre Dame.

ISu & Wesleyan offer More Choices

The youngest community college in Illinois, Heartland Community College is an affordable, comprehensive college offering two-year degrees and vocational programs.

Centrally located in Normal with convenient access to I-74, I-55 and I-39, Heartland’s main campus is home to more than 40 programs and 5,600 credit students. Mary Beth Trakinat, vice president of continuing education, says many of HCC’s students go on to complete their studies at larger universities.

“Because of the closeness of Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University, many programs have been focused on transfer,” Trakinat says.

Continuing education at HCC includes adult basic education, ESL instruction and customized training solutions for area employers. HCC also is one of 48 sites nationwide to house a Challenger Learning Center for simulated space travel.

A founding member of the Illinois Green Economy Network, HCC also has the first state-funded LEED building in Illinois through their Workforce Development Center.

Principles of sustainability are incorporated campus wide, with a commercial-grade wind turbine supplying 50 percent of the campus’s electrical needs.

“From our facility to curriculum planning, we try to be good stewards of the environment as well as our resources,” Trakinat says.

Heartland Community College Creates Lifelong Learners

Illinois Wesleyan UniversityIllinois State University

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From trendy lofts to sidewalk cafes, Uptown Normal and downtown Bloomington are picture-perfect postcards of Main Street America.

“Uptown Normal is developing as a special place to live, work and shop,” says Wayne Aldrich, development director of Uptown Normal. Since 2002, city planners have been carrying out a master plan to convert Uptown Normal to a full-scale mixed-use community. Over 10 years, the city has completed infrastructure and major redevelopments, added a hotel and conference center, parking decks and the Children’s Discovery Museum. Next on their list: More private-public partnerships and a mixed-use development to include more residential space.

Uptown retailers offer a healthy mix of old and new shops, cafes, and services balanced by local and national retailers. Aldrich anticipates more retailers following completion of 300,000 square feet of mixed-use space.

The district’s attractive water feature roundabout has earned Normal national accolade for excellence in transportation planning. In 2001, Normal also became the first community in the nation to adopt LEED for private buildings more than 7,500 square feet. That is an eco-friendly trend spreading across Uptown Normal. “Uptown Normal has great architecture, and it’s clearly a place stemming from a master plan,” Aldrich says. “People appreciate the sense of place here.”

uptown Normal

The city of Normal shares a symbiotic relationship with downtown Bloomington, designated an Illinois Main Street community for its preservation efforts.

Maintaining that integrity is the Downtown Bloomington Association. Their premier event is a year-round farmers market, which heads indoors from November to April. But from May to October, more than 55 vendors line three city blocks showcasing the best in local food, arts and entertain-ment. During Bloomington’s monthly First Fridays celebration, shops stay open late to promote the district after hours.

“People can discover what downtown Bloomington has to

offer, from retail to dining, arts and enrichments,” says Tricia Stiller, executive director of the Downtown Bloomington Association. “We create an atmosphere with a unifying theme, and visitors can rediscover downtown.”

The district is home to more than 35 retailers, 17 restaurants, 19 art venues and more than 35 service industries. Some 16 bars and taverns add to the district’s nightlife. That growth has created an unprecedented demand for downtown living, with property owners scrambling to renovate houses, townhomes and lofts as more people come home to downtown Bloomington.

Downtown Bloomington

One of the finest regional museums in the United States, the McLean County Museum of History showcases Illinois’ rich past to more than 40,000 visitors each year.

“The museum is a heartland story about how people of

diverse backgrounds came into central Illinois and made a life for themselves, and they did that by bringing parts of what home meant for them and creating that here,” says Greg Koos, executive director of the museum.

Located on North Main Street in Bloomington, the site is among 5 percent of museums accredited by the American Association of Museums and has won more than 100 state and national awards.

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The Economic Development Council leads initiatives to help businesses and communities in the McLean County area prosper. The leadership organization invests the community’s assets to grow and improve our prosperity and quality of life.

Services offered by the Bloomington-Normal EDC include attraction and incentives negotiation, mentoring, incubation, startup support, programs for business assistance and financial assistance.

FACtS & StAtS

• In 2012, Newsweek named Normal’s University High School No. 547 among the top 1,000 Best High Schools in the nation.

• Best-Performing Cities – Smallest Metros (Milken Institute) No. 44 out of 124 – The Best Performing Cities Index ranks U.S. metropolitan areas by how well they are creating and sustaining jobs and economic growth. Components of the rankings include jobs, wage and salary, and technology growth. The Bloomington-Normal MSA scored particularly high in the area of one-year wages and salaries growth (ranking No. 26).

• Best Small Places for Business and Careers (Forbes) No. 22 out of 184 – The ranking is created by looking at 12 metrics relating to job growth, costs, income growth, educational attainment and projected economic growth. They also factor in quality of life issues. Bloomington-Normal ranked sixth in education.

• Top 25 Communities for Recent College Graduates to Live (The Atlantic magazine) No. 15 out of 25 – Factors considered were median earnings, unemployment rate and share of workforce in professional, technical, management or creative jobs.

• Top 100 Public Spaces in the U.S. and Canada (Project for Public Spaces) – The Circle in Uptown Normal was ranked No. 1 out of 100.

• 100 Best Communities for Young People (The America’s Promise Alliance and ING) – Bloomington-Normal was named one of the Best 100 Communities and was the only community in Illinois to receive the designation.

• Illinois Wesleyan University named No. 57 out of 100 – Best Value Among Private Liberal Arts Colleges (Kiplinger Personal Finance) – Kiplinger names the top 100 private liberal arts colleges based on a combination of factors intended to measure academic quality and affordability.

• Illinois State University named No. 95 out of 100 – Best Value in Public Colleges (Kiplinger Personal Finance) – Illinois State was only one of two public colleges in the state to make the list.

• Illinois State University’s College of Business named No. 46 out of 100 (Businessweek) undergraduate business schools nationwide. Illinois State placed 93rd out of all public and private universities.

• Illinois State University named No. 83 on a list of nation’s top public schools (U.S. News & World Report)

Bloomington-Normal is a twin-city metro area with a lot to offer. 2012 brought a record number of “bests” for Bloomington-Normal including:

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