Greene County's economic development movement established by the county in the 1980's incorporated in 1985 stalled in the mid 90's. In 2005 Thomas H. Boyd Memorial Hospital hosted a health "MAPPING", Management and Planning Program, to promote community ideas regarding a critical shortage of healthcare professionals. An outgrowth of this "MAPPING" was a group of citizens who, with the assistance of the Illinois Coalition of Community Service, formed and economic development committee. Subsequently in 2006 the committee reinstated the original corporation that today is known as the Greene County Economic Development Group, Inc. a 501(c) (3) not for Profit Corporation.

The first goals of the newly reestablished group were ambitious. Conduct a business retention and expansion survey and plan to promote local entrepreneurship; create a countywide economic development group; encourage zoning and building codes countywide; and promote and coordinate tourism accenting what is unique in the county. They started forming affiliations with several support and resource organizations like the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), West Central Development Council, Inc., University of Illinois Extension - Carrollton, The Entrepreneurship Network - Carlinville, Illinois Rural Electric Cooperative, Illinois Valley Cultural Heritage Association and Corridor 67 Inc.

Since 2006 GCEDG and its dedicated group of volunteers have accomplished a great deal. They created a free business directory and conducted a successful marketing campaign to launch the new site. They completed a Business Retention and Expansion Survey, a free business directory. They applied for and received a matching grant from Landmarks Illinois to stabilize the Greene County Almshouse. In 2006 the group recieved an award from the Illinois Coalition for Community Service for working to better the economic future of Greene County. In 2007 they acquired donated office space in downtown Greenfield to have a public "face."

In the ensuing years GCEDG has become a public/private countywide group funded by sponsors, businesses, clubs and associations, municipalities, and individual members. A business park between White Hall and Roodhouse was purchased in 2010 with the goal of bringing light manufacturing to Greene County. GCEDG has been involved in "Community" since its beginning through food drives, parades, events and fundraisers. Today, GCEDG is part of the social media with a Facebook page, is part of a regional tourism website, www.visitwestcentralillinois.com, and continues to updated and ad to its own websites. Current and future goals include: expanding membership, developing services for businesses, municipalities and entrepreneurs such as advertising though our websites, event announcements, loan programs and grant writing services

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Carrollton  - Carrollton Square Initiative                    
White Hall
Greenfield  -  Greenfield Revitalization Project
Roodhouse

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