Metropolis….State Representative Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis) announced this week that he has been appointed to serve on a Task Force he helped create. During the spring 2019 Session, Rep. Windhorst was the chief legislative sponsor of HJR 37, which creates the Rural Economic Development Task Force.
“The 118th district is home to many rural communities that have suffered job losses and economic stagnation due to Illinois onerous regulatory environment for businesses and because of our crushing tax burden,” Windhorst said. “But it is not just my district that needs help. We must work as a state to bring jobs back to rural Illinoisans in every area of the state.
Rural Illinoisans are ready, willing, and able to work good-paying jobs, and we need to connect potential employers with our rural communities.”
Windhorst thanked the Illinois Farm Bureau for their help in passing HJR 37 through the Agriculture and Conservation Committee.
“A big thank you is due to the Illinois Farm Bureau for their help on this issue,” Windhorst said. “The Rural Economic Development Task Force will study the conditions, needs, issues, and problems in the agriculture industry and evaluate any action or legislation that may be necessary to promote economic development in rural areas of the State of Illinois,” Windhorst said. “Ag is still the number one industry in Illinois, and especially important to the economy of Southern Illinois. We cannot overvalue the impact that farms, agribusinesses, ag-science, and associated research at SIU-C will have as this Task Force works to find ways to build Southern Illinois’ economy back into a regional, national, and international powerhouse.”
The Task Force shall submit its final report to the Governor and General Assembly no later than December 31, 2019.