Dear Du Quoin--Mayor Rex Duncan's Column

I have a confession to make. I've developed an addiction to TED. You know, Technology-Entertainment-Design (www.ted.com). TED is a virtual celebration of thoughts, ideas, innovation, and uniqueness. It's the place where people throughout the world share their "ideas worth spreading." I've become increasingly enamored of good ideas, because good ideas - smart innovations and particularly those driven by smart innovators - are the growth engines of today and tomorrow, and Du Quoin must be a place that is hospitable to innovators and entrepreneurs.

An important part of that hospitality is that of a local mind-set that understands and appreciates the value that entrepreneurs bring to our community, and that rises to help meet the challenges that face those who take smart risks in launching new or expanding existing businesses. Part of that understanding is an appreciation for both success and failure, for surely some entrepreneurs will succeed and many will fail.

In a society that celebrates success and disdains failure, Du Quoin needs to be different by recognizing that some entrepreneurs' businesses will indeed not be successful and that we should be thankful for their efforts and encourage them to try again. Serial entrepreneurs, those who start multiple businesses, should feel that they have a welcome place in our community.

I was talking to someone recently about a small business starting here. I expressed my excitement because the entrepreneur behind that small business sees a future in Du Quoin. Anytime a small business starts here, someone is saying "This town is worth investing in." I find that to be enormously encouraging, something we should all take some pride and satisfaction in.

When you think about it, though, why wouldn't someone invest here? We as a community are investing as well. Du Quoin is a very connected community, with extremely high levels of broadband connectivity. So what? Broadband allows us to market our goods, services, and ideas and innovations to 6 billion people instead of 6,000. Broadband is an essential requirement for innovation and entrepreneurship today, and we've got it in spades.

By this time next year the downtown renovation project will be nearing completion. By this fall the new sidewalks will be completed. The old Bradford pear trees will be replaced by more appropriate foliage, the bus stop will be in place, and Main Street will have a new surface. The storefront renovations continue to improve the appearance of the business district. Downtown Du Quoin will have a fresh, yet still traditional look to it that will prove even more attractive to new businesses.

I'm so grateful to those, including Commissioners Kathy West and Yvonne Spencer, who have driven the Art on Main program. That celebration of things artistic and creative in Du Quoin is also recognition of a modern major impetus for growth - the development and expansion of areas that are friendly to artists, art galleries, and "art incubators", places where artists of all stripes can go to convert their creative impulses into marketable artwork. I would love to see an art incubation cooperative develop in Downtown Du Quoin. Art on Main is a great step in that direction.

The City needs to be as innovative as possible in making the community a landing spot for entrepreneurs. Our economic development coordinator, Jeff Ashauer, is incredibly creative and finds smart ways to finance his ideas to minimize cost to the City. The solar energy field at the industrial park is going to generate a lot of interest and activity in the years ahead thanks to Jeff's vision and determination.

With the TIF districts in place we can do creative things to help nurture start-up and expanding businesses. The evolving sales tax district along Route 51 south will further increase commercial activity along that corridor. The Champion Community has proven to be a strong financial platform from which the financing needs of businesses can be supported. SIU's Small Business Development Center does a great job providing start-up assistance and training.

Old storefronts are being restored, re-purposed, and made newly productive. New businesses are being created. Existing businesses are expanding. In the months and years ahead others will close. Sometimes it's hard to keep up with all that going on these days, but I'm confident that more growth lies ahead.

Commercial and industrial growth in the months and years ahead will be driven in Du Quoin by great ideas, smart risks well taken, and the perception and fact that our community is a great place to do business. We have to set ourselves apart as a town that encourages small business development and entrepreneurship, has the structural and financial infrastructures to support such growth, and continuously embraces those who seek opportunity at its highest levels. I'm hopeful that Du Quoin can be a TED town, a place where technology, entertainment, and design come naturally as great ideas find a home here.

We'll talk again soon.