McLean County Board chair praises performance of EDC

McLean County Board Chair Elizabeth Johnston said she disagrees, in part, with Twin City mayors Dan Brady and Chris Koos who have criticized the performance of the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council (EDC). Johnston said she thinks the EDC has delivered a lot of bang for the buck, citing a $4.25 billion investment in the community based on the EDC's efforts under CEO Patrick Hoban. Johnston acknowledged that there is a funding imbalance at the EDC, with the bulk of the money coming from local governments instead of from the business community, as is the practice in many municipalities. She said she would like to see the business community more invested in the EDC. The county recently approved a zoning text amendment dealing with the placement of data centers, which Johnston said requires protections on issues like noise, light, water, and energy. She said the county will continue looking at how other communities regulate data centers to ensure they do not create detrimental impacts.