By Howard Packowitz

NORMAL – An overhaul might be necessary in the way McLean County tries to entice businesses to locate here, according to one of the leaders of local economic development efforts.

Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council CEO Kyle Ham announced Friday he’s leaving the EDC to head-up client services for Morton-based Core Construction.

Jeff Fritzen is the Normal Town Council’s EDC representative. He said Ham’s departure and selection of a successor might give area leaders a chance to make some changes.

“While Kyle is taking advantage of a personal opportunity, it may really provide us an opportunity as public bodies and some of these other entities, let’s review and be serious about perhaps looking at how we do this, because we all understand right now it’s imperative that we get busy and try to make some things happen,” Fritzen said.

Some local taxing bodies, particularly the town council and the McLean County Board, have criticized the EDC in recent weeks for failing to provide frequent and detailed reports on how the council spends taxpayer money.

“We really need to be stepping up our game and making sure we’re getting some return on the investment,” said Fritzen.

“One, because we’re all challenged fiscally, but two, because it’s not business as usual in our business community in Central Illinois anymore,” he added.

McLean County’s top employer, State Farm Insurance, announced last week its cutting almost 900 information technology jobs from its Bloomington headquarters.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected].