Extension, Rural Partners hosting May 24 webinar on blending TIF, BDD, for community growth
A free online webinar is on tap for 12 p.m. (Noon) Wednesday, May 24, to discuss “Blending TIF and Business Development Districts for Community Growth.”
To register, visit online at https://registration.extension.illinois.edu/start/tax-increment-financing.
Co-hosted by the University of Illinois Extension and Rural Partners, this free online webinar will provide examples of how local leaders may creatively blend the best features of TIF and BDD to create a unique recipe for enhancing local business retention efforts and stimulating new private investment for community growth. Time will be allocated during the webinar for open Q&A with participants.
Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and Business Development Districts (BDD) are two powerful tools that can be used by municipalities to stimulate small business development in Illinois.
About the presenters:
Steve Kline is president/CEO and Registered Municipal Advisor Representative of The Economic Development Group, Ltd. In tandem with Jacob & Klein, Ltd., EDG offers professional services for the creation and administration of Tax Increment Financing Districts, Business Development Districts, and other economic development tools available to municipalities located throughout the State of Illinois.
Kline received an undergraduate degree in Agricultural Science and a Master of Business Administration from Western Illinois University. Prior to joining EDG, Kline was a research associate at the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University where he helped create and administer the MAPPING the Future of Your Community program. As an advocate for rural development and the creation of broad-based public-private partnerships, he is an active member of Illinois Rural Partners, the State Rural Development Council representing the State of Illinois in the National Rural Development Partnership of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He is a contributing author to economic development publications and a frequent speaker at state and regional economic development conferences.
Gwen Crawford is vice president of Financial Analysis and a registered municipal advisor representative for The Economic Development Group, Ltd. Gwen prepares various long-range financial analyses, including bond analyses and other projections, and economic impact studies relating to existing and proposed redevelopment projects undertaken within TIF and BDD Districts. Crawford and her team prepare TIF and BDD Redevelopment Plans, and annually track hundreds of written agreements that are enabling the completion of TIF and BDD projects across a wide spectrum of community and economic development. Crawford also manages the company’s TIF/BDD Manager® database, a vast depository containing thousands of parcel records, TIF increment history files and annual TIF/BDD administrative procedures which are unique to each municipality. She received her Bachelor and master’s degrees in mathematics from Illinois State University.
Herb Klein is the president of Jacob & Klein, Ltd., focusing on areas relating to Government Law – (representing both municipalities and other taxing districts); Economic Development Law; and Real Estate Law. He has extensive experience in all aspects of Tax Increment Financing and Business Development Districts.
