Economic Development Commission

For additional EDC information, click HERE. Where it says USER ID, type in the word: Highland.

• David "Skip" Butler – Chairman of the EDC, Johnson Properties
• Larry "Biddy" Essenpreis - Vice Chairman of the EDC, First Mid Illinois Bank & Trust
• Darell Bellm - EDC Commissioner, Broadway Battery & Tire
• Phil Hardas - EDC Commissioner, Coldwell Banker Realtors
• Marilyn Frey - EDC Commissioner, Basler Electric Company
• Brant Frey - EDC Commissioner, EF Trucking
• Gordon D. Smith – EDC Commissioner, First Mid Illinois Bank & Trust
• Robert E. Bowman - EDC Commissioner, Terra Properties
• Jay Boulanger - Ex-Officio, Spengle-Boulanger Funeral Home
• Brad Korte - Ex-Officio, Highland Machine & Screw Products
• Mike Riffel – Ex-Officio, Lucco Financial Partners

    The purpose of the Economic Development Commission, a volunteer commission, is to assist the City Council in an advisory capacity by:

• Formulating economic development goals for the City; Assessing current City policies and recommending modifications, and identifying new strategies and policies, as may be used in achieving the City’s economic development goals;
• Assessing the needs of, and proposing plans for retaining and enhancing the existing commercial and industrial base of the City;
• Identifying opportunities and strategies to attract and retain new business and industrial development; and
• Identifying and evaluating incentives, in providing an appropriate enhancement and distribution of residential, commercial, service and industrial development of the City of Highland and of areas near the City of Highland.