Some of the nation's most well-respected utilities - Ameren, Verizon, and the Rend Lake Conservancy District - are dedicated to serving the needs of small, medium and large business. While this includes service to existing business customers, there is an emphasis at these utilities on aiding economic development and business expansion in our community.
The utility infrastructure is in place in Franklin County. Just as importantly, so is the commitment to serve existing and new business in the community.
Electric and Natural Gas
Ameren supplies Franklin County with its electricity and natural gas through AmerenCIPS.
Ameren offers a comprehensive approach to its customers' economic development needs. Ameren's economic development team brings decades of experience to the region's requirements for expertise in economic development, engineering, operations, urban and rural planning and site development.
Site Selection magazine named Ameren one of the nation's top utilities in 2007. Specifically, the publication was recognizing leaders in the area of capital investment, job creation, capital investment per capita, and jobs per 10,000 in population. In a broader sense, Site Selection was gauging the ability of utilities to complement power delivery with persuasion and innovation in creating a culture for corporate investment.
Ameren has two programs - Partners in Development and InSite -- that can be tailored to meet the needs of the region's business development. Partners in Development is focused on providing communities with an economic development assistance tool. The InSite shovel-ready program helps communities certify industrial properties of 10 acres or larger
Telecommunications
Verizon is the primary telecommunications carrier for business and industry in Franklin County.
Verizon Business, one of three operating units of Verizon Communications Inc., delivers advanced IP, data, voice, and wireless solutions to large business.
Verizon Wireless announced in early-2008 that its national rollout of its high-speed wireless network would include 18 Southern Illinois counties. Business will now have access to the latest wireless technology and will have an untethered mobile office experience.
The region has seen a multi-million dollar expansion that has included installation of high-tech wireless hardware and software at transmission sites.
Water and Sewer
The Rend Lake Conservancy District provides the water supply for 160,000 people in six Southern Illinois counties.
The RLCD was created in 1955 to address water supply problems. Rend Lake was built by the Illinois Department of Conservation, the Rend Lake Conservancy District, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1960s to provide Franklin County and Jefferson County and its communities with a dependable water supply. Since 1972, the RLCD has operated the Rend Lake Intercity Water System which today supplies water to 60 communities in the region.
Further information can be obtained by contacting the Rend Lake Conservancy District at 11231 Marcum Branch Road, Benton, IL 62812. Or, call the RLCD at (618) 439-4321.
Rend Lake Water Conservancy District
Internet Access
AccessUs.net (800) 638-6373 www.accessus.net
Earthlink.net (800) 466-3624 www.earthlink.net
Neon Internet, Inc. (800) 759-3658 www.neondsl.com
Peoplepc Online (800) 627-3571 www.peoplepc.com
ShawneeLink (800) 461-3956 www.shawneelink.com
SpeedNet (888) 235-9924 www.speednet.com
Verizon Online (888) 649-9500 www.verizon.net