FULTON, Ill. —
City officials are planning for expansion and growth as the Thomson prison is set to open in the near future.
The Fulton City Council held a special meeting to hear the results of an economic assessment by Terry Rumery of Rumery & Associates to determine the position of the community as the new facility opens.
Fulton had both positive and negative findings in several areas addressed in the study. Rumery commended Fulton for its overall appearance and cleanliness and utilization of the downtown area.
Suggested improvements included putting in more eye-catching signs and showing more town pride using signs with the school mascot. Rumery said Fulton has a nice park system, but recommended expanding and offering more parks. He suggested that the city develop the piece of property where a downtown building had burned, painting a mural and putting in a small pocket park. The small park would give residents a place to sit and relax.
Retail was a major topic of the assessment. Rumery pointed out that Fulton currently lacks fast-food restaurants. Putting in one or two would help keep visitors and residents from going into Clinton to feed their fast-food appetite. He suggested the city develop a retail plan to assess all retail areas available, including downtown, and then make a list of stores and businesses that officials would like to see in Fulton.
Instead of putting mixed-use housing in a large open plot of land, Rumery recommended making it an industrial area. To draw in businesses and families, Rumery suggested offering incentive packages from cash to low-interest loans.
Overall, Rumery said Fulton has many good things going along with things to improve. He assured the council that the prison is coming and that it will offer tremendous opportunities for growth.
“This is the icing on your cake,” Rumery said. “Communities with prisons see a lot of job growth.”
Rumery said the city has about an 18-month window to draw in new employees from the prison.
Fulton
February 1, 2013
Fulton learns economic study results
- Fulton
-
- Krumpets will be moving to Fulton FULTON, Ill. — A Clinton restaurant will be moving into the old Corner Treasures & Treats building at 1016 Fourth St. in Fulton. Charles Dykstra, of the Fulton Retail Development Group, made the announcement during the Fulton City Council meeting thi
-
Warning siren to be tested Thursday in Fulton
A test of Fulton's new severe weather siren will be 10 a.m. Thursday.
-
SLIDESHOW: Dutch Days festival
Much-anticipated rain held off Saturday for the annual Dutch Days festival in Fulton, Ill., which was celebrating its 39th year of highlighting Dutch heritage.
- Sophomore coach is reinstated FULTON, Ill. -- It took 4 1/2 hours in closed session, but Jeff Hoese eventually earned reinstatement to two positions within the River Bend School District. River Bend School Board members deliberated from 6:30 to 11 p.m. Monday regarding personnel
-
Fulton deals with vandalism
FULTON, Ill. -- The city of Fulton hopes to discourage vandalism at the city parks. "Somebody is sick, sick, really sick," Alderman Eugene Field said. Field told the rest of the Fulton City Council that the restrooms at School Park on 10th Avenue wer
-
Driving down memory lane
FULTON, Ill. -- A program this weekend will feature a discussion on the Lincoln Highway. Lynn Asp, director of the Lincoln Highway Association headquarters in Franklin Grove, Ill., will present the program at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Fulton (Martin House
-
They've got the look: Students turn duct tape into wearable art
River Bend Middle School eighth-grade students strutted around the school's gymnasium Wednesday in dresses and other apparel made entirely out of duct tape.
-
Sales tax rejected
FULTON, Ill. -- A proposition that could have brought money into school districts in Whiteside County was once again voted down in Tuesday's election. A referendum for a county-wide 1 percent sales tax received 3,599 "yes" votes and 4,253 "no" votes
-
Fulton Book Club celebrates 40 years
For four decades a group of area women has fostered friendships and sharpened their wits through their love of reading and intelligent conversation.
-
Herald's Visitor and Newcomer Guide available for pickup
The Clinton Herald's 2013 Visitor and Newcomer Guide has arrived.
- More Fulton Headlines
