FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Sarah Miller
Public Relations & Media Director
304 Eighth Street
Charleston, IL 61920
217-348-8475
smiller@insidethegreenbox.com
November 4, 2008
Green Mill Village bringing commerce and growth to Small Town U.S.A.
Community partnerships will be key to resort's success
Arcola, Ill. - Representatives from local government, tourism and economic development agencies learned how Green Mill Village (GMV) will bring a new way of thinking about tourism and community development to Arcola and the surrounding communities. The developers will focus on bringing innovation in energy, agriculture and wellness together into one destination.
The Groundbreaking Ceremony, which was held on October 30 at the construction site in Arcola, Ill., focused on the future of GMV, the people who are making the project a reality and the concept of Small Town U.S.A.
Bill Wagoner, Arcola City Administrator, recapped the initial meetings between Bob McElwee, developer/partner, himself and the Arcola City Council that began in 2005.
"It's a really unique project in that there's so many people involved," Wagoner said. "We're hoping that this will develop into something really big that our community will have as an asset for years to come."
Although it took a while for the project to get off the ground, construction of the roads and sewer lines is now moving along at an amazing speed, Wagoner stated.
With sustainability a key element for GMV, even construction is taking a "green" approach. Local contractors have brought in local fill dirt from another nearby project, no dirt has left the site and trees that were removed have been mulched to use on the property, said Dr. Charles Page, project engineer and LEED planner. All aspects of waste disposal, water usage and sewer placement have been considered.
"That's what green is all about," Page said. "It's what we want to accomplish. Saving what we have here and just making it a little better without taking anything away from it."
While Arcola stands to gain a larger tax base and a growth in jobs thanks to GMV, the success of GMV will come from the involvement of other communities as well, said Arcola Mayor, Larry Ferguson.
"We don't want to be just Arcola anymore," Ferguson said. "You can't sustain your growth just by looking inside what we have here. You have to be partnered with other communities."
That concept is the backbone of what McElwee has deemed Small Town U.S.A. - the mix of small towns and cities throughout the region coming together to provide their own unique experiences for guests of GMV.
"The thing that we have here that's really important and that we need to bring together is the idea of Small Town U.S.A.," McElwee said. "What we're creating is an experience that combines Small Town U.S.A. with the green aspect - a truly sustainable community model."
GMV is giving back to the area communities by utilizing as many local resources as possible. The 1940s style furniture, lotions, soaps, bed sheets, items in the retail shops and even the food in the restaurants will be produced locally. Guests can essentially buy anything they see in their rooms and selling those items creates local jobs and keeps the money in the community, McElwee said.
McElwee also announced a partnership with Dr. Gary Lake from the University of Wisconsin to create an adventure center at GMV, which will explore energy, agriculture and wellness. An online component means the adventure center will be accessible not only to local groups and GMV guests, but the world. Lake and McElwee will be working with large corporations to make the non-profit adventure center a reality.
"When we have an adventure center and educational experience that keeps changing, you can constantly be bringing people back for a different experience each time," McElwee said.
Upcoming announcements will focus on the hotel and spa, adventure center and how the partnership with Agri-Fab Holding Company of Sullivan will provide opportunities other than tourism.
"What we have here is a model that can be taken to different parts of the country and used in much the same way - bringing commerce and growth to Small Town U.S.A.," McElwee said.
For more information about Green Mill Village, visit www.greenmillvillage .com or contact Sarah Miller, Public Relations & Media Director at smiller@insidethegreenbox.com.
Photos and video from the Groundbreaking Ceremony are available on the Web site.
About Green Mill Village
Green Mill Village (GMV) is scheduled to open in 2010 and will include a lodge/conference center, spa, restaurants, retail center and education center - powered by wind turbines and solar power. Developers have said this will provide a new way of thinking about tourism and community development. They will focus on bringing innovation in energy, agriculture and wellness together into one destination.
Located in the heart of Illinois Amish country, the Green Mill Village site is in the center of a triangle formed by the three major cities of St. Louis, Indianapolis and Chicago, and just over two hours from each. The conference center, lodge and spa facility will be designed with a 1940s era theme, reminding visitors of a simpler time with a slower pace. The conference center will accommodate meetings for 500 people with a staff trained to support "green" meetings.
Green Mill Village will emphasize key elements of responsible tourism, which include not only environmental considerations but also respect and appreciation for different cultures and ensuring that the local people benefit economically from tourism activities.
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