ABOVE: Vermilion Advantage CEO Mike Marron during a recent presentation with the Danville High School Future Problem Solvers in the Danville City Council Chambers.
While the Vermilion Advantage office continues to await additional information on the Village Mall auction (as of Thurs morning May 16th), there’s been plenty more to talk about this week as well. On Tuesday, Vermilion Advantage CEO Mike Marron joined Danville’s Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr and other local officials in a meeting with Governor J.B. Pritzker. Marron says much of it was about the Quaker Oats facility, and trying to update its condition for a new tenant after the recent closure. He says this is definitely a long term project, and it’s good to be talking about it right now.
AUDIO: We’re in the planning phase, and we’re trying to identify what sources of public money may be available out there; on a federal level, on a state level, and on a local level. Eventually, hopefully, if we’re successful, we’ll have utility infrastructure construction there; and then hopefully market it to a viable employer that would want to come to this community.
Marron says he felt good about the governor’s desire to help market the Danville community. Also this week, Vermilion Advantage was announced as one of the recipients of a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Marron says Vermilion Advantage is basically the middle man here, as this is a state run program for economic empowerment centers. So locally, the funding is benefitting Danville Alderwoman Tricia Teague’s TREP School at the Soar Space Business Center. Vermilion Advantage acts as a partner and as a fiscal agent for the TREP school; located in the Danville Towne Center, and designed to help new and upcoming small businesses. Marron says Alderwoman Teague and her staff are the engine making it go.
Danville Alderwoman Tricia Teague outside the Soar Space Business Center where the TREP School is located.
AUDIO: She actually implements the program, with the assistance for the small businesses. Vermilion Advantage is compensated for the work that we do, which is we manage the finances of it.
Alderwoman Teague says the TREP OnTrack Business Boot Camp is ready to grow, with various future program ideas.
AUDIO: I know that there’s lots that we’ve already done to the number of businesses that we’ve worked with, that have gotten started or expanded. So, this is really, in my mind, a continuation of that work; and an opportunity to take that work to the next level.
Vermilion Advantage’s share of the announced DCEO funding is $250,000. As for the Red Lobster issue, Mike Marron says efforts are indeed underway with the city to try and get someone new into the building as soon as possible.
