East Central Illinois: Where Jobs are Created and Sustained?

According to a new report from the Milken Institute, Champaign-Urbana and Danville are both on the list of best performing small cities, but what does that really mean? The report shows Danville climbing in ranking while Chambana was slipping. During this hour on Focus, host Jim Meadows talks with Vicki Haugen, President and CEO of Vermilion Advantage and Mike Kirchoff, President and CEO of the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation.

We’ll talk about new development projects in the area, trends with unemployment rates and Danville’s retail resurgence. We’ll also talk about the health of the manufacturing industry in East Central Illinois, what’s ahead for the region and how we can keep local economies healthy in spite of state budget woes.

Do you live and work in Danville or Champaign-Urbana?  Maybe you’re a local retailer and want to share your story. Is the local economy healthy? We want to hear from you! Join our conversation on Facebook and Twitter or post in the comments section below.