Champaign County First

Champaign County First, a public-private community partnership, is an initiative to bridge the academic, private and public sector interests to develop a common agenda for action. This partnership is a united effort for economic development and encourages investment in local infrastructure because we recognize that infrastructure investment is job creation.

Champaign County First supports specific infrastructure projects to help grow our local economy. We support investment in multiple modes and infrastructure types, addressing long-term funding sustainability, harnessing private sector investment and creativity to advance and protect the public interest and embrace and support innovation.

Champaign County First advocates have garnered our elected officials’ support, leading to successful investment in many priority projects. The Champaign County First members would like to thank our elected representatives and government agencies for supporting investments in Windsor Road, Olympian Drive, North Lincoln Avenue, Multimodal Corridor Enhancement Improvements, the Interstate 57/74 interchange, the Interstate 57 Windsor Road Bridge, Kickapoo Rail Trail, Mahomet Aquifer and Urbana’s Main Street Complete Street.

Investment in these projects and future projects directly impacts our local economy. For example, the City of Champaign’s investment in storm water management projects along the Boneyard Creek and the reconstruction of Green Street have led to $600 million in private investment. These are the transformative types of projects that we continue to advocate for on behalf of our county.

Champaign County First:
• Supports economic development in every corner of Champaign County
• Supports public-private investment in local infrastructure
• Believes these investments have made a positive impact on our local economy
• Maintains that the community will have continued success with further investment in our vetted projects

We are committed to promoting infrastructure investment to create jobs and expand our economy to shape Champaign County’s future.