Speaking on job creation at Madison County Community Development’s (MCCD) Model Innovative County (M.I.C.) Summit were (from left): Matt Jones (Madison County Employment and Training), Melissa Erker (Phillips 66), Patty Hagen (T-REX), Kristen Poshard (MCCD), Marquita Wiley (Trenier Enterprises, LLC.), and Eric Gowin (Contegra). (Photo courtesy of Madison County Community Development)

As anticipated, discussion at Madison County Community Development’s (MCCD) Model Innovative County (M.I.C.) Summit, April 6 – 7, often centered around major road and bridge improvements —notably replacement of the Merchants Railroad Bridge — designed to help reinforce the county’s status as an emerging, national transportation hub.

However, the conference, at Lewis & Clark Community College’s N.O. Nelson Campus in Edwardsville, also outlined plans for other types of infrastructure projects, including expansion of broadband internet access and upgrading of the region’s electrical grid.

And speakers also outlined proposals to address a broad range of education, health, housing, social, and economic issues related to job growth and the overall well-being of Metro East’s largest county, according to MCCD staff member James Arnold.

The agenda for the two-day conference — covering job creation, education, leadership training, alternative energy, healthcare initiatives, technology/broadband, infrastructure upgrades, transportation extensions, affordable housing, and parks, recreation and arts — was based almost entirely requests from area business people for action on specific issues, Arnold said.

In many cases, conference presenters reported action was already underway, he added.

Countywide cell service — MCCD is scheduling talks with AT&T regarding construction of additional cell towers or other steps necessary to ensure cell services in Madison’s County’s remaining “dead zones.”

Countywide broadband — Similarly, MCCD is scheduling talks with the Michigan-based technology company Aegis Concepts on ways to expand fiber optic cable service to outlying area of the county

Transportation — A proposal to expand the MetroLink light rail system into Madison County, was outlined by John Nation, CEO of Bi-State Development. Nation proposed a new Metro-Lin extension connecting Madison County’s three post-secondary education centers; Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Southwestern Illinois College’s Granite City campus and Lewis and Clark Community College as well as the county’s three major employment centers, which are its three enterprise zones.

Alternative energy — Complementing the MCCD’s new Solar Madison County initiative to encourage solar panels on homes and businesses, Ameren UE is planning to develop local “pocket grids” in the county, according to company spokesperson John Barud.

Pocket grids allow electrical system customers with solar panels to not only draw power from the area’s electrical grid as necessary, but sell excess power generated by their solar panels to other customers or to the grid, Barud explained. The pocket grids are being developed as part of the company’s implementation of statewide “smart grid,” he added.

Affordable housing — Representing the “new face” of affordable housing, East Alton’s Emerald Ridge development offers contemporary homes, complete with loft-style decor, on a rent-to-own basis, Arnold said. After leasing the homes for 15 months(?), tenants have the option to purchase them and become homeowners.

Alan Quick of the Illinois Housing Development Authority told the summit his agency offers financing programs to facilitate such ownership arrangements. Opened in 2012, Emerald Ridge has sold all 45 of its homes. Administrators are now planning to expand to the development.

Aging-in-place — With Metro East’s population rapidly aging, MCCD is hoping to develop “golf cart communities,” like Arizona’s famous Sun City, that will allow older adult convenient access to shopping, healthcare and recreation all without driving, Arnold said.

Also squarely in the MCCD’s sights: a co-working space and technology incubator similar to St. Louis’ T-REX Technology Entrepreneur Center to encourage small tech enterprise startups, Arnold said.

T-REX President/Executive Director Patricia Hagen was on hand at the summit to explain the development process for her facility. MCCD staff hopes to meet with Hagen again in the coming weeks, Arnold said.

Honored during the summit for “model leadership,” exemplifying the type of achievement MCCD hopes to spur across Madison County, were:

* Edwardsville High School wrestler A.J. Ciccarrelli,

* Wood River’s Riverband Family Ministries which over the past nine years, has helped provide services for over 5,000 families, through its Open Hearts, Open Hands, Open Doors program, and

* First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust, the community bank chartered in 1865, which has since grown into a more than $2.8 billion network of 53 banks in 37 communities, including six opened last month.

The MIC Summit drew about 125 area business and government leaders each day well above the 25 generally anticipated for such conferences, Arnold said. Based on favorable responses on attendee feedback forms, MCCD is considering a second MIC Summit next year, Arnold said.