Innocent man represented by UIS Illinois Innocence Project receives executive clemency 23 years after his death in prison

The Illinois Innocence Project at the University of Illinois Springfield is pleased to announce that Grover Thompson, who was wrongfully convicted in 1981 and died in prison in 1996, has received executive clemency based on actual innocence by former Gov. Bruce Rauner. This is the first posthumous exoneration to occur in Illinois and only the 21st such exoneration nationwide, as documented by the National Registry of Exonerations.

“We applaud Gov. Rauner for bringing justice to an innocent man who had no chance to fight for himself,” said John Hanlon, executive director of the Illinois Innocence Project. “We also applaud members of Illinois law enforcement who recognized Grover’s innocence years ago and, with incredible involvement and devotion, fought with us to clear Grover’s name 23 years after his death.”

Lt. Paul Echols (retired), of the Carbondale, Illinois Police Department, was instrumental in uncovering Thompson’s innocence. While investigating several cold case murders in Carbondale, Lt. Echols along with Detective Jimmy Smith, of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, obtained a confession from serial rapist and murderer Tim Krajcir for the crime Thompson was wrongfully convicted of committing.

The case caught the attention of two Southern Illinois University (SIU) School of Law students working for the Illinois Innocence Project. In 2011, Thompson’s nephew, S.T. Jamison, and the Illinois Innocence Project filed an Executive Clemency Petition with the Illinois Prisoner Review Board asking for Thompson’s posthumous exoneration. No one opposed the petition. In December 2015, Gov. Rauner denied Thompson’s exoneration without explanation.

“Grover’s case is the poster child of injustice,” said Lt. Echols. “In my 28 years as a police officer and 10 years as a criminal justice professor, this was the most disturbing case of injustice I have ever seen. I’m proud to have been part of the team that finally found justice for Grover.”

In 1981, 46-year-old Thompson, a black man, was traveling by bus to visit family in Mississippi and stopped to rest in a Mount Vernon, Illinois, post office lobby. At the same time, Krajcir, a white man sometimes mistaken for a dark-complexioned man, broke into 72-year-old Ida White’s home and stabbed her repeatedly while she resisted his attempts to rape her.  

The police quickly set their sights on Thompson after a neighbor reported a black man fleeing the scene. Despite that, Thompson, who was found sleeping in the post office across the street, could not have committed the crime due to a disability and was not wearing clothing that fit the description of the attacker. He was arrested, convicted and sentenced to 40 years in prison.

“Uncle Grover suffered a tragedy that never should have happened,” said S.T. Jamison, Grover’s nephew, from his home in Minnesota. “He was an innocent black man just trying to get home to his family and he never came home.”

“I am thrilled beyond words that his innocence has finally been acknowledged,” he said. “I thank the good people of the Illinois Innocence Project and God for justice for my dear Uncle Grover. I also am grateful to Gov. Rauner. I and my family members are unspeakably elated!”

Posthumous exonerations are extremely rare. Of the 2,363 exonerations documented since 1989 by the National Registry of Exonerations, only 20 are posthumous. Ten of those posthumous exonerations are of individuals, like Thompson, who died in prison.

“We’ve learned about the many reasons wrongful convictions happen, including tunnel vision and witness misidentification,” said Brandon Klages, a UIS senior and student worker at the Illinois Innocence Project. “Grover’s case is an example of how police can build a case around an innocent person because of their race and class, instead of allowing the evidence to lead the way.”

Lt. Echols details Thompson’s story in chapter 21 (titled “Another Victim”) of his book “In Cold Pursuit: My Hunt for Timothy Krajcir – The Notorious Serial Killer.” All proceeds from the book support the Nine Angels Memorial Scholarship at Southern Illinois University, named for the victims of Krajcir.

“I am very pleased Grover’s family finally has closure, confirming what they knew so many years ago, that Grover did not commit this crime,” said Lt. Echols, who received the Illinois Innocence Project’s “Defender of the Innocent” award in 2018 for his commitment to bringing justice to Thompson. “This closes another chapter in the sad stories caused by Krajcir. May Grover now rest in peace.”

UIS Economic Outlook Survey finds Sangamon County businesses moderately optimistic about the next year

The Survey Research Office at the University of Illinois Springfield has released the Fall 2017 Sangamon County Economic Outlook Survey. The study examines the economic perceptions, expectations, and evaluations of Sangamon County employers.

The fall 2017 survey shows that expectations for the economy of Sangamon County have changed little since the fall of 2016, with about a third of respondents in each year expecting things to improve over the next 12 months. Expectations for employment have brightened some, with 32% of 2017 respondents saying they expect job increases compared to 27% in 2016. Two-thirds of respondents expect inflation and interest rates to rise, about the same as a year ago.

Survey respondents’ expectations for their own firms/organizations are somewhat more optimistic than for the economy overall. More than half of those surveyed (55%) say they expect their sales/revenue to increase in the next 12 months. Likewise, 46% expect profitability to rise in the next year, and 50% think the overall status of their businesses/organizations will improve in the coming year. These percentages all show improvement compared to fall 2016, when 49% of respondents expected sales to go up, 45% looked for profitability to increase, and 43% believed the overall status of their firms would get better.

Despite the resolution of Illinois’ budget impasse, the condition of state finances remains the top concern of local employers. Fifty-eight percent identify state government finances as one of the biggest challenges facing them in the next 12 months. Consistent with past surveys, responding employers also see consumer confidence (45%) and government regulations and taxation (40%) as significant challenges during the coming year.

Nearly four in ten employers (39%) indicate that they sell goods and services online. A plurality of respondents (38%) say online competition has not affected their firm’s growth, while another 36% say the effect has been positive and the remaining 27% report a negative effect.

The Sangamon County Economic Outlook Survey has been conducted biannually (spring and fall) since 2008. The results for fall 2017 are from 233 local organizations that were contacted in October via mail surveys and email invitations using Qualtrics Research Suite, a platform for online surveys.

The Fall 2017 Sangamon County Economic Outlook Survey is sponsored by the UIS Chancellor’s Office, the UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership, and The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. For more information on the methodology and the full report, please visit the UIS Survey Research Office website at www.uis.edu/surveyresearchoffice.

Questions about the survey may be directed to David Racine, acting director of the UIS Survey Research Office, at 217/206-7956 or draci2@uis.edu.

UIS Illinois Innocence Project client walks free after 22 years of wrongful imprisonment

Last week, William (Bill) Amor, a client of the Illinois Innocence Project (IIP) at the University of Illinois Springfield, walked free from the DuPage County Jail after 22 years of incarceration. His release came two months after a DuPage County judge overturned Amor’s 1997 arson murder conviction, finding that new arson-related scientific evidence was new evidence of actual innocence.

“It is undisputed by the experts in this case that fire science has evolved, and it has changed to such an extent that the original findings in this case are unreliable,” said Lauren Kaeseberg, legal director of the Illinois Innocence Project Chicago office, who represents Bill Amor. “In fact, the evidence points to an accidental fire – which is what we believe occurred here. Bill Amor did not murder anyone and the science finally supports that which he has claimed for 22 years – he is innocent.

“We are so happy that Bill is free,” said Kaeseberg. “He’s ready to move on with his life and hopefully soon he can close this chapter of injustice.”

Amor’s case is particularly important because it is believed to be the first of its kind in the state of Illinois in which a court has found that advancements in fire science constitute newly discovered evidence of actual innocence. In Judge Liam Brennan’s ruling vacating Amor’s conviction in April, he concluded:

“…there can be no question that the lynchpin of the State’s case at trial was the defendant’s confession, which the State and Defense experts today agree is scientifically impossible. Whatever the reasons for the Defendant’s scientifically impossible confession, the new evidence places the evidence presented at trial in a different light and undercuts this Court’s confidence in the factual correctness of the guilty verdict.”

Prosecutors have indicated they plan to retry the case and a September trial date has been set.

“Bill has already served almost his entire sentence and we remain hopeful that prosecutors will decide that it is the legal, ethical and financial interests of the State not to retry this case,” said Kaeseberg.

Bill Amor is represented by four attorneys: Lauren Kaeseberg, Illinois Innocence Project legal director, Chicago office; Erica Nichols Cook, formerly of the Illinois Innocence Project, now pro bono counsel for Amor and currently Director of the Wrongful Conviction Division for the Iowa State Public Defender; Tara Thompson, staff attorney, the Exoneration Project; and Kevin Caraher, of the law firm Cozen O’Connor and pro bono attorney for Amor.

On the evening of September 10, 1995, Amor and his wife left their Naperville apartment (which they shared with Bill’s mother-in-law, Marianne Miceli) to go to a drive-in movie. They were gone for several hours and when they returned, they found that a fire had broken out at the apartment and Miceli had died from smoke inhalation.

Amor would be convicted two years later, on September 17, 1997, of murder and aggravated arson for setting the fire that caused Miceli’s death. Amor was convicted based upon a “confession” (which has been proven false) and arson findings that are no longer scientifically reliable. What stands out in this case is that Amor’s “confession” was the basis for the fire investigators in 1995 to change their initial finding of an “undetermined” cause of fire to an arson. With the exception of giving a false confession in this case, Amor has maintained his innocence from day one. He was ultimately sentenced to 45 years in prison.

The statement attributed to Amor was given to police after he had been in jail two weeks, after 15 hours of questioning and immediately following Amor being served divorce papers at the station. The “confession” included details as to how Amor purportedly started the fire with vodka and a lit cigarette – which, at a December 2016 hearing, all experts, including the State’s own witness, testified is not possible.

“False confessions and faulty forensic science are two of the leading causes of wrongful convictions in this country,” said Tara Thompson, one of Amor’s attorneys. “We hope that the Amor case can set a new standard in this state for how old, unreliable evidence is to be viewed in light of modern advancements. We know of too many other innocent people in this state and around the country who are suffering from wrongful arson convictions.”

At the December hearing on Amor’s case, attorneys presented evidence that showed the original arson findings are no longer reliable when analyzed under modern fire science techniques. Nationally recognized arson experts testified about the new science that undercuts the conviction in this case, including: Doug Carpenter of Combustion Science & Engineering, Inc. in Columbia, Maryland, and John DeHaan of Fire-Ex Forensics in Vallejo, California. Further, ATF Senior Special Agent John Golder, called by the State at the hearing, conceded that the manner in which Amor’s confession claims the fire started is impossible and that Amor was not in the apartment when the fire started.

IIP’s work on Amor’s case was made possible by a federal grant to the University of Illinois Springfield for use by the Illinois Innocence Project.

UIS Economic Outlook Survey finds Sangamon County organizations concerned about state finances, less optimistic on health care

The Spring 2017 Sangamon County Economic Outlook Survey, conducted by the University of Illinois Springfield Survey Research Office and The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, finds that local organizations continue to worry about state government finances.

The study examined the economic perceptions, expectations and evaluations of Sangamon County businesses as well as public and non-profit organizations.

Sixty-one percent of respondents, the highest percentage ever, cite state government finances as one of the top three concerns facing their organizations over the next twelve months. This figure is higher than the 56 percent of fall 2016 survey respondents who listed state government finances as one of the three biggest challenges facing their organization.

The survey also finds that respondents are less optimistic about health care now than they have been in the past. While the fall 2016 survey found that more than two-thirds of respondents (68%) expected to see an increase in the healthcare sector, this figure has dropped to slightly over half of respondents (55%) in the spring 2017 survey. This decline coincides with uncertainty in Washington over the future of health care.

In terms of the Sangamon County economy overall, the survey finds respondents more optimistic in terms of capital investment now than the fall 2016 survey (34% compared to 25% expect to see an increase). The survey also finds that strong majorities expect to see increases in interest rates (83%) and inflation (76%) over the next twelve months.

While most organizations report that their organizations recruit from outside the local area (61%) than exclusively locally (34%), those who do recruit from outside of central Illinois report challenges in recruiting and retaining those candidates. Nearly nine in ten (89%) that recruit from outside the local area say that attracting candidates from outside of central Illinois is either somewhat or very difficult and nearly as many (84%) say that retaining the candidates they do hire from outside of central Illinois is either somewhat or very difficult.

The Sangamon County Economic Outlook Survey has been conducted biannually (March/April and September) since 2008. The full report contains results for questions asked since 2008. In addition, the spring 2017 report contains a topical section with questions pertaining to work readiness and job training. The results for the spring 2017 survey are from 282 local organizations that were contacted in March via email invitations using Qualtrics Research Suite, a platform for online surveys. The margin of sampling error for the study is +/- 5.6 percent.

The survey is sponsored by the UIS Chancellor’s Office, the UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership, and the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. For more information on the methodology and to read the full report, visit the UIS Survey Research Office website.

Questions about the survey may be directed to Matt Case, interim director of the UIS Survey Research Office, at 217/206-6293 or mwcase2@uis.edu.

UIS Illinois Innocence Project honored with the Joe Slaw Civil Rights Award from the NAACP Decatur Branch

Illinois Innocence Project (IIP) exoneree Charles Palmer and his wife Deborah stand as IIP Executive Director John Hanlon accepts the Joe Slaw Civil Rights Award from the NAACP Decatur Branch. Photo by Dennis Rumme.

The Illinois Innocence Project at the University of Illinois Springfield has been honored by the NAACP Decatur Branch with its prestigious Joe Slaw Civil Rights Award. The award was presented during the 77th Annual Freedom Fund Banquet and 4th Annual Game Changers Awards Ceremony at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel on May 27, 2017.

In November 2016, the Project was instrumental in the exoneration of Charles Palmer, a Decatur resident, who was wrongly convicted of a 1998 murder and imprisoned for 18 years for a crime he did not commit.

The Illinois Innocence Project successfully litigated DNA testing of an unknown person’s tissue, which was found under the victim’s fingernails, and another person’s hair in his hand. Both samples went untested prior to trial. Upon testing by the Illinois Innocence Project, both DNA samples were found not to match Palmer.

“The award has existed for more than 30 years, yet this is the first time we are bestowing it upon a group based outside of the Decatur community,” said Jeanelle Norman, NAACP Decatur Branch president. “The NAACP believes the service of the Illinois Innocence Project was of such magnitude that the Decatur community moved one giant step forward in criminal justice.”

Since its founding in 2001, the Illinois Innocence Project has helped to free 10 wrongly convicted individuals.

“All of us at IIP and UIS are extremely grateful to receive this prestigious award from an organization as critically important to communities and our country as the NAACP in Decatur,” said John J. Hanlon, executive director of the Illinois Innocence Project. “We are proud of our work and of the result in Charles Palmer’s case, and equally proud to be the first recipient of this award from outside Decatur.”

“We find strength in organizations, such as the NAACP, whose work has a common purpose with ours – the fight for justice, often against difficult odds,” added Hanlon. “We thank the NAACP in Decatur for this award and pledge to continue that fight.”

The Illinois Innocence Project is dedicated to releasing innocent men and women imprisoned in Illinois for crimes they did not commit. They research and investigate claims of innocence and provide legal representation and other assistance to prove credible claims of actual innocence.  

The Project reviews more than 300 requests for help from Illinois inmates each year. Undergraduate students at the University of Illinois Springfield and law students from the state’s three public law schools work with IIP attorneys to review, evaluate and, where strong evidence of actual innocence exists, investigate and legally pursue claims of innocence.

UIS partners with Illinois DCFS to launch Child Protection Training Academy

The University of Illinois Springfield Center for State Policy & Leadership has partnered with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to launch a Child Protection Training Academy.

The academy has already trained nearly 130 new DCFS investigators utilizing the Residential Simulation Lab and the mock courtroom on the UIS campus. The academy will soon expand to include new curricula for supervisors, multidisciplinary team members and a training partnership with the SIU School of Medicine.

“Investigators are faced with some of the most complex cases in child maltreatment with a constantly changing landscape,” said Susan Evans, the new director of the Child Protection Training Academy. “Training is critical and the investigators who have completed this new simulation training have overwhelmingly expressed a desire for additional hours in the simulation labs, practicing the skills they will need to be confident and competent in the field.”

Evans is a 24-year veteran of DCFS and spent 14 years in the field as a Child Protective Investigator and 10 years in the Office of Professional Development, training new staff and developing curricula.

The Child Protection Training Academy was created by the Illinois General Assembly on August 11, 2015 through Public Act 99-0348.

“This is an exciting step forward in the ability to train our employees, specifically in child protection investigations,” said Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Director George H. Sheldon. “Through this partnership with the University of Illinois Springfield, we’ve made significant progress in reaching the goal of revising the Child Protection Foundation training. The lives of children depend on us, and resources like this training academy will help improve the overall quality of our investigations and better serve the most vulnerable.”

In addition to the partnership with DCFS, the academy has been awarded two new grants. The first grant was developed in partnership with the University of Missouri St. Louis and Gundersen National Child Protection Training Center. Awarded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) the 5-year, $316,319 grant will support Project FORECAST (Foundations for Outreach through Experiential Child Advocacy Studies Training), which focuses on incorporating the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress Core Concepts within Child Advocacy Studies (CAST) curricula in universities across the United States.

The second grant was awarded by the Administrative Office of Illinois Courts. The Court Improvement Project funding will support a pilot project that brings together Illinois Court Appointed Special Advocates, DCFS Caseworkers and Assistant State’s Attorneys to train together utilizing mock courtrooms in three locations, including UIS.

In addition to training professionals in the field, the Child Advocacy Studies program at UIS provides experiential learning for students in a number of academic programs. The CAST certificate is offered online and on-ground and is an interdepartmental curriculum for students in public administration, social work, psychology, legal studies, criminal justice and teacher education.

“The CAST program provides critical course content and experiential learning for students who are interested in careers where they will likely interact with at-risk children and families” said Betsy Goulet, UIS clinical assistant professor and CAST Coordinator.

For more information on the Child Protection Training Academy or the CAST Certificate Program, contact Betsy Goulet at 217/206-8523 or bgoul2@uis.edu.

UIS Economic Outlook Survey finds state budget impasse tops concerns of Sangamon County employers

The Fall 2015 Economic Outlook Survey, conducted by the University of Illinois Springfield and the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, finds that a majority of local employers think that the state budget impasse is one of the biggest challenges facing them over the next twelve months.

The challenge is dampening expectations with employers reporting positive expectations for their business and sector, but not for the overall Sangamon County economy. In fact, the decrease in positive expectations (-22 points) of the overall Sangamon County economy is the largest decrease since fall 2012.

“It is clear that local employers are concerned about the state budget impasse,” said Ashley Kirzinger, director of the UIS Survey Research Office. “While local businesses are still reporting positive expectations for the next year, these expectations are clearly moderated by what is happening in the capitol building.”

When asked specifically about the role of the state budget impasse on their business, 54 percent of local employers report that the state budget impasse is having a negative effect on their gross revenue and sales, 51 percent report that it is having a negative impact on their profitability and 46.1 percent report it is having a negative effect on the overall status of their business.

“While the results are disappointing, we’re not surprised given the lack of a budget deal at the State Capitol, said Chris Hembrough, president and CEO of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. “Our spring survey revealed our best results in eight years. However, after nearly five months with no state budget, it’s understandable that while the majority of employers are still optimistic about the future, they’ve scaled back their expectations, at least until a budget deal has been completed.”

The fall survey results are from 263 local organizations who were contacted between September 28 and October 15, 2015 by interviewers at the UIS Survey Research Office. The margin of error for this project is plus or minus 5.4 percentage points. For more information on the methodology and the full report, please visit the UIS Survey Research Office website at www.uis.edu/surveyresearchoffice.

Questions regarding the survey may be directed to Ashley Kirzinger, director of the UIS Survey Research Office, at 217/206-7956 or akirz2@uis.edu.

UIS researchers examine attitudes towards transgender rights in national survey

Researchers at the University of Illinois Springfield are releasing results of a national survey exploring attitudes towards transgender rights and supportive policies.

The survey of 774 respondents finds 81 percent of U.S. adults believe that transgender persons deserve the same rights and protections as other Americans. Yet, support for specific policies varies by demographics. For example, 41 percent support using public funds to cover gender dysphoria treatment for transgender persons, but support is significantly higher among females (48%) compared to males (33%).

The survey was conducted by Ashley Kirzinger, director of the UIS Survey Research Office, and Jason Pierceson, UIS associate professor of political science.

The survey project, “Examining Attitudes Toward the “T” in LGBT,” asks individuals about several key policy areas including healthcare, prisons, military service, and K-12 education.

“While there is broad support for equal treatment under the law for transgender individuals, the public is currently less supportive of discrete policy proposals crucial to the support and protection of the transgender community,” said Pierceson. “This demonstrates that activists and policymakers still have much work to do to educate the public about the policy needs of the transgender community.”

Participants were recruited using Qualtrics, an online survey firm, and the survey’s questionnaire and methodology was overseen by Kirzinger.

“Developing a questionnaire that allowed individuals to voice their opinions without forcing them into answers on issues on which they might not know enough was extremely difficult,” said Kirzinger. “Yet, this survey is an important in-depth examination of public attitudes towards transgender supportive policies.”

The survey is representative of the national adult population and also includes a sub-sample of individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

For the complete survey report, visit www.uis.edu/surveyresearchoffice. The survey results will be presented by Pierceson and Kirzinger on August 29, 2015 at the Springfield LGBT Equality Institute. For more information on the Institute, visit www.equalityillinois.us/springfield-institute-2015/.

Questions about the survey may be directed to Kirzinger at 217/206-7956 or akirz2@uis.edu. Pierceson may be reached at 217/206-7842 or jpier2@uis.edu.

UIS Survey: Sangamon County citizens report better health than two years ago

The 2015 Sangamon County Citizen Survey, a collaborative project between the University of Illinois Springfield’s Center for State Policy and Leadership, the United Way of Central Illinois, and the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln, shows ninety-six percent of respondents report having health insurance. That is an increase of almost seven percentage points from the 2013 survey.

The telephone survey of landline and cell phone numbers is conducted every two years in order to assess the quality of life in Sangamon County. The survey included several questions examining the health of residents. On all health measures, the respondents report better health outcomes than they did two years.

In addition to a higher percentage of residents reporting being covered by some form of health insurance, the percent of individuals who report having poor physical or mental health has also decreased.

“The 2015 survey also found an increase in the number of residents who report having a primary care provider. Having access to health insurance and primary care could easily translate into a decrease in the number of poor health days, as demonstrated in the survey results,” said Ashley Kirzinger, director of the UIS Survey Research Office.

The survey is representative of Sangamon County, Illinois and the data was weighted for probability sampling and to match the most recent population estimates as provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. The results are based on 576 completed interviews with 68% of the interviews completed on cell phones. The overall response rate for the survey is 13.2%, the cooperation rate is 23.2%, and the margin of error is +/- 4.08 percentage points.

The survey covers nine topical areas including education, economy, culture and recreation, public safety, social well-being, government and civic participation, health, infrastructure, and the environment.

For more information on the survey, contact Ashley Kirzinger, director of the UIS Survey Research Office, at 217/206-7956 or akirz2@uis.edu.

The full survey is available at http://go.uis.edu/citizen. 

Biannual UIS survey shows support for downtown Springfield growth

The 2015 Sangamon County Citizen Survey, a collaborative project between the University of Illinois Springfield’s Center for State Policy and Leadership, the United Way of Central Illinois, and the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln, shows strong support for growing downtown Springfield among Sangamon County residents.

The phone survey, which is conducted every two years in order to assess quality of life in Sangamon County, asked residents “How important, if at all, do you thinking growing downtown Springfield is to Sangamon County?” Nearly half of respondents report that it is “very important,” (47%), with an additional 39% reporting that it is “somewhat important.” In addition, African-American residents are slightly more favorable in their responses with 68% reporting that growing downtown Springfield is “very important.”

“What is especially interesting is that this year’s survey indicates more support for growing downtown Springfield among Sangamon County residents than the survey did in 2013,” said Ashley Kirzinger, director of the UIS Survey Research Office. “Both surveys found a majority of residents think growing downtown Springfield is important to Sangamon County, but the 2015 survey has a five percentage point increase from 81% to 86% of residents reporting this.”

The 2015 Sangamon County Citizen Survey is a telephone survey of landline and cell phone numbers in Sangamon County. The survey is representative of Sangamon County, Illinois and the data was weighted for probability sampling and to match the most recent population estimates as provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. The results are based on 576 completed interviews with 68% of the interviews completed on cell phones. The overall response rate for the survey is 13.2%, the cooperation rate is 23.2%, and the margin of error is +/- 4.08 percentage points.

The survey covers nine topical areas including education, economy, culture and recreation, public safety, social well-being, government and civic participation, health, infrastructure, and the environment.

For more information on the survey, contact Ashley Kirzinger, director of the UIS Survey Research Office, at 217/206-7956 or akirz2@uis.edu.

The full survey is available at http://go.uis.edu/citizen.  

UIS Economic Outlook Survey finds Sangamon County businesses are very optimistic about the future

The Spring 2015 Economic Outlook Survey, conducted by the University of Illinois Springfield and The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, finds local businesses and non-profit organizations are very optimistic about doing business in Sangamon County over the next 12 months.

In the past two and a half years, local business expectations have increased 30 points, expectations for their sector have increased 23 points, and expectations for the overall Sangamon County economy have increased 36 points. All three measures indicate strong positive expectations for the economy over the next 12 months.

“The Economic Outlook Survey is a crucial piece to getting a true indicator of how our local employers view the current state of the economy,” said Chris Hembrough, president and CEO of The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. “The overall survey numbers are the best since 2008. The responses we received this spring not only demonstrate a healthy economy, but our employers are feeling better about doing business in Sangamon County than they have in many years.”

Three-fourths of survey respondents report that they expect an increase in their own gross revenue/sales over the next 12 months and 63.9 percent report that they expect an increase in the overall gross revenue/sales in Sangamon County. In addition to positive expectations about their own business and the overall county, local employers also report optimistic projections for almost every industrial sector with the medical/health care sector receiving the most positive expectations.

However, local employers are not without concerns. Four in ten respondents (39.3 percent) report that government regulations and taxes are one of the biggest challenges facing their organization. Other challenges were competition from other businesses, availability of skilled workers, state government finances and employee compensation and benefits.

According to UIS Survey Research Office Director Ashley Kirzinger, local employers have reserved optimism about the local economy.

“While respondents still report that there are significant challenges for local businesses and continue to identify liabilities for doing business in Sangamon County, they are optimistic about the future,” she reports.

The telephone survey of local employers was conducted between March 5, 2015 and March 26, 2015 and includes 249 respondents from the private, public, and non-profit sectors. For more information on the methodology, please visit the UIS Survey Research Office website for the full report.

If you have any questions regarding the survey, please contact Ashley Kirzinger at 217/206-7956 or akirz2@uis.edu.

Good as Gold Ceremony honors over 60 Sangamon County volunteers and businesses

The University of Illinois Springfield, the Junior League of Springfield, and the United Way of Central Illinois honored more than 60 Sangamon County volunteers and businesses during the annual Good as Gold Ceremony. The event was held on Wednesday, April 15, 2015 in the Sangamon Auditorium Lobby at UIS.  

Distinguished Volunteer Award

Edward ‘Ed’ Hohenstein of Springfield was honored with the 2015 Distinguished Volunteer Award. He volunteers full-time for Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon County. During 2014, he committed to be the general contractor for the build out at the organization’s new headquarters on South Sixth St. in Springfield.

Hohenstein has also brought two new programs to Habitat. One project developed, and trained volunteers to build pallet furniture and other reclaimed items to be sold in the Habitat Restore. He secured a location for building the items, found a steady stream of pallets and venues to recruit new volunteers. Over a 5 month period, he recruited over 100 new volunteers and sold more than $10,000 of pallet items to support Habitat’s programs.

The other program started by Hohenstein was a wheel chair ramp installation program through Habitat’s Critical Home Repair objective. His effort brought with it an additional $10,000 in startup funding as well as a trailer to carry the supplies needed to build the ramps. He trained volunteers to survey the property for the ramp installation, apply for the building permit, assemble the ramp parts, and install the ramp.

Finalists for the Distinguished Volunteer Award included Neill Howey of Hope Church, Elizabeth 'Liz' Magee of Mini O'Beirne Crisis Nursery, and Cindy Wilson who volunteers with 4-H and Girl Scouts.

Star Student & Star Staff Awards 

UIS student Brittany Carls of Arenzville was honored with the Star Student Award for her volunteer efforts. She serves as the co-director for Leadership for Life service and leadership program overseeing and volunteering at various events in the Springfield community, including the UIS Homecoming service project, a local prairie restoration project, and a recent Kumler Outreach Hospitality House night. She also recently completed an internship with Habitat for Humanity and outside of her internship and leadership positions, has completed over 350 hours of service in the past year. Other UIS students nominated included Nicole George and Brittani Provost.

The Star Staff Award was given to Karen Lee, a visiting clinical instructor in the UIS Department of Human Development Counseling Program. She is retired from the SIU Medical School and is very active within the arts community. She has provided support for Alzheimer patients, their families and caregivers and given them a place to voice fears, concerns, hopes and dreams.

Community and Organization Awards 

Thirty-six local volunteers were also honored with the Heart of Gold Award. Recipients included: Darrel Berry, Jennifer Bosaw, Analy Camacho, Rae Clementz, Ann Collins, Brian Davis, Nicole Evans, Daniel Hughes, Annette & Paul Jaderholm, Karen Jeffers, Stan Johnson, Sarah Jones, Cecine Jones, LeAnna Kehl, Ruth Elaine King, Frances Lenhart, Kathryn Kleeman Lesniak, Frank Lynch, Cheryl McKnelly, Connie Miller, Pamela Nation, Randy Pope, Steve Read, Heather Schneider, Melissa Skinner-Liberman, Kevin Smith, Jim Struebing, Jennifer Sublett, Steve Sullivan, Jeff Threlfall, Kim Tribbett, Mattie Watson, Vernon Wilson, Rodney Womack and Mary Yokem.

The winner of the 2015 Organization Agent of Service Award is Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon County. In 2014, Habitat celebrated its 25th anniversary. In those 25 years, 97 homes have been built, with 4 of those completed in 2014 and they plan to kick off their 100th house build this Saturday. In addition to new construction and renovating existing homes with the “Brush with Kindness” program, in 2014 they added a new program installing wheelchair ramps. Habitat has continued its pallet furniture making and began work on their new office and ReStore location on South Sixth St., which they moved into earlier this year.

Business Honor Roll 

A total of 24 Sangamon County businesses were named to the Business Honor Roll sponsored by the UIS College of Business and Management and supported by The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. The honor roll recognizes businesses that have made giving back to our community a priority. Businesses making this year’s honor roll include Ameren Illinois, Bank of Springfield, Brandt Consolidated, BUNN, Farmers Insurance, H. D. Smith, Heartland Credit Union, Illinois Association of Realtors, Kerber, Eck & Braeckel, Marine Bank, Mayfield Insurance and Financial Services, Memorial Health System, Noodles and Company, Orthopedic Center of Illinois, PJP Auto Enterprises, President Abraham Lincoln Hotel, R.W. Troxell & Company, SCHEELS, Small Business Growth Corporation, Steve Koch/Ameriprise Financial, Terry Farmer Photography, United Community Bank, US Bank, and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.

For more information about the awards, please visit www.uis.edu/volunteer, email volunteer@uis.edu or call 217/ 206-7716.

UIS to conduct second Sangamon County Citizen Survey focusing on attitudes towards education

The University of Illinois Springfield Center for State Policy & Leadership, Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln, and the United Way of Central Illinois are partnering to assess the quality of life in the Springfield area through the 2015 Sangamon County Citizen Survey.

This is the second time that the partners have conducted the survey, which is designed to assess the quality of life over the next decade. Results of the 2015 survey will be released on June 26 at the Citizens Club of Springfield Policy Breakfast. The survey covers topics, such as culture and recreation, education, health, economy, government and civic participation, environment, public safety, infrastructure, and social wellbeing.

This year the survey will pay special attention to education issues affecting the community. “The citizen’s survey offers a chance for our community to better understand issues affecting education, financial stability and health, which are the building blocks for a good quality of life,” said John Kelker, president at United Way of Central Illinois. “A greater emphasis on education this year allows us to better evaluate resources being invested in this area.”

“One of the major findings of the 2013 survey was that Sangamon County residents believe education plays an important role in improving Sangamon County. This year’s survey includes additional questions in order to provide a more in-depth examination of these attitudes,” said John Stremsterfer, president and CEO of the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln.

Researchers from the UIS Survey Research Office, part of the Center for State Policy & Leadership, will combine a traditional landline telephone survey with a survey of cell phone users who live in Sangamon County. The final sample will include over 500 randomly selected Sangamon County residents. The survey takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.

“We are very lucky to have partners committed to continuing the Sangamon County Citizen Survey. This is a great source of data for community leaders and allows UIS to help provide longitudinal insights into issues facing local residents,” said Ashley Kirzinger, director of the UIS Survey Research Office.

Similar to past efforts, volunteers appointed by the three organizations and the Citizens Club of Springfield, formed the 2015 Citizen Survey Steering Committee, which helped to develop meaningful questions for the survey.

Members of the 2015 Citizen Survey Steering Committee include: John Allen, Citizens Club; Dr. Gordon Brown, Citizens Club; Heather Burton, Central Counties Health Centers; Josh Collins, Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce; Ryan Croke; Barbara Ferrara, UIS; Jennifer Gill, Springfield District #186; Bob Gray, Citizens Club; Angela Hall, Hospital Sisters Health System; John James, Boys & Girls Club; John Kelker, United Way of Central Illinois; Valerie Peterson, United Way of Central Illinois; Norm Sims, Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission; Katrina Schroeder, United Way of Central Illinois; John Stremsterfer, Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln; Amy Uden, SIU; Kenley Wade, Citizens Club; Jade Washington, Sangamon CEO; and Dominic Watson.

If you have any questions regarding the survey, please contact Ashley Kirzinger at 217/206-7956 or akirz2@uis.edu. Visit the UIS Survey Research Office website for more information http://cspl.uis.edu/surveyresearchoffice/.

UIS Illinois Innocence Project uses DNA evidence to exonerate man in 1984 Cook County murder

The Illinois Innocence Project based at the University of Illinois Springfield is pleased to announce that the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office has moved to vacate and dismiss all charges against Christopher Abernathy, exonerating him of a sexual assault and murder for which he served over 29 years in prison. Prosecutors have agreed to his immediate release from the Illinois Department of Corrections and he is expected to be released from the Stateville Correctional Center later today.

“Our client has maintained he was innocent of this horrendous crime from the moment he was arrested in 1985 – he has fought to clear his name for the last three decades and his family, who never stopped believing in him, is elated to bring him home today,” said Lauren Kaeseberg, a staff attorney at the Illinois Innocence Project who represents Abernathy. “He was only 17-years-old at the time this crime occurred, and 18-years-old when he was arrested. He has been through an unimaginable ordeal, but we are so thankful that justice has finally arrived for Mr. Abernathy.”

Abernathy was convicted of the October 3, 1984 sexual assault and murder of Kristina Hickey, a 15-year-old high school student who went missing after a choir concert at Rich East High School in Park Forest. Hickey’s body was found almost two days later, partially concealed under bushes next to a shopping plaza. She had been sexually assaulted, beaten and stabbed to death. Abernathy, who had known the victim, was not arrested until over a year after the crime, after another teenager told police that Abernathy had confessed to him. Abernathy, who had documented learning disabilities and had left school at age 15, was taken into custody and after over 40 hours of interrogation, ultimately agreed to sign a statement implicating himself in the murder. Abernathy soon after asserted that he was coerced into signing the statement, and did so only after being told he could go home to his mother if he agreed to sign. Abernathy was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Since day one, Abernathy has always maintained his innocence.

In August of 2014, pursuant to an agreement between Abernathy’s attorneys at the Illinois Innocence Project and the Cook County State’s Attorney Office Conviction Integrity Unit, an Agreed Order for DNA Testing was signed by Judge Frank Zelezinski and DNA testing was conducted. DNA profiling was able to be obtained on 8 different pieces of evidence, including a labia swab from the victim and items of clothing that were handled by the assailant during the crime. The DNA testing excluded Abernathy and established he was not the person who committed this crime. Moreover, the DNA testing establishes that the statement given by Abernathy was a false confession.

Additional investigation revealed that the individual who first pointed a finger at Abernathy has since recanted that testimony and has said that Abernathy never actually confessed to him. He maintains that was pressured by police in 1985 to implicate Abernathy.

After the initial rounds of testing were complete and pointed towards Abernathy’s innocence, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office Conviction Integrity Unit agreed with requests from Abernathy’s attorneys to expedite additional testing due to extenuating circumstances involving the health of Abernathy’s mother.

“This is how these cases are supposed to be handled. We are pleased that the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office took this case seriously, handled it expeditiously and has agreed to grant Mr. Abernathy his long-awaited freedom,” said John Hanlon, executive and legal director of the Illinois Innocence Project. Larry Golden, founding director of the Illinois Innocence Project added, “We look forward to seeing Chris walk out of prison as a free man, although we know the road ahead will be difficult for him after spending his entire adult life imprisoned for a crime he did not commit.”

Abernathy is the 7th client of the Illinois Innocence Project to be released. He is represented by Kaeseberg and Hanlon of the Illinois Innocence Project. Additional counsel on his case is Damon Cheronis, of the Law Offices of Damon M. Cheronis. Students from Northern Illinois University School of Law also worked on Mr. Abernathy’s case as part of an externship program with the Illinois Innocence Project.

UIS hosts Illinois House Inauguration for 5th year

The University of Illinois Springfield was proud to host the inauguration of the Illinois House of Representatives on January 14, 2015. A crowd of over 1,700 people gathered in Sangamon Auditorium to watch lawmakers take the oath of office.

“This is a great opportunity for us to showcase the campus to a large group of constituents who really come from all over the state,” said UIS Chancellor Susan J. Koch. “I’m walking around greeting many of our legislators, congratulating them on being re-elected and just reminding them they’re at the University of Illinois.”

This is the fifth year UIS has hosted the inauguration.

“This began because in 2006 the House and Senate were rehabbing their respective chambers and in the case of the House it wasn’t going to be complete to have our inaugural ceremony there,” said Timothy Mapes, House speaker Michael Madigan’s chief of staff.

Having the ceremony at UIS allows lawmakers to invite a larger number of family and friends to witness the event.

“The staff here at UIS, they understand the facility very well and they provide good guidance on what we need to do to pull off an entire event for a couple of thousand people,” said Mapes.

Among the guests were many UIS alums, both lawmakers and staff members, who returned to campus to take part in the ceremony.

Ryan Melchin graduated from UIS in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. He says UIS prepared him well for his job with the House of Representatives.

“Being in such close proximity to the capitol, I was able to go to the capitol pretty much on a weekly basis to kind of observe the process and that really helped me in the job that I’m in now,” said Melchin.

UIS survey finds high level of support for "millionaire’s tax" among likely Illinois voters

A survey by the University of Illinois Springfield Survey Research Office, part of the Center for State Policy & Leadership, finds almost two-thirds of Illinois voters plan to vote in favor of an advisory referendum on the November ballot, which asks if they support increasing taxes on individual income of more than $1 million.

The online survey asked participants about their level of support on a variety of different tax issues and found that 63.1% of Illinois likely voters report that they will support this referendum, commonly referred to as the “millionaire’s tax.”

The highest level of support is among female voters, younger voters, and voters identifying as Democrats. For example, 71.4% of voters age 18-24 report that they support this referendum compared to only 57.6% of voters 65 and older. More than three-fourths of Democratic voters support the referendum compared to less than half of Republican voters. Interestingly, there are not significant differences among income groups. While individuals earning more than $120,000 annually report the lowest amount of support, all other income groups support the measure at relatively equal levels.

The online panel participants were recruited by Qualtrics and include 723 likely Illinois voters. The survey results were weighted using 2010 exit poll data and included two quotas (age and region of the state). The overall margin of error is +/- 3.7 percentage points. Complete question wording and methodology is available at www.uis.edu/SurveyResearchOffice/.

For more information on the survey, contact Ashley Kirzinger, director of the UIS Survey Research Office, at 217/206-7956 or akirz2@uis.edu.

UIS survey reveals growing positive expectations about the Sangamon County economy

A survey conducted by the University of Illinois Springfield Center for State Policy and Leadership, in partnership with The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, shows employers have growing positive expectations for their own business, their sector, and the overall Sangamon County economy. Expectations for the Sangamon County economy increased six points since Spring 2014.

The Fall 2014 Sangamon County Economic Outlook Survey studied local businesses and non-profits in order to gauge expectations across several economic indicators. The survey is based on the responses of 207 individuals representing various economic sectors including construction, manufacturing, retail, financial, and healthcare.

“In previous surveys, respondents’ expectations about their own business and sector have been more positive than for the Sangamon County economy overall,” said Ashley Kirzinger, director of the UIS Survey Research Office. “This continues to be true in the Fall 2014 survey, however, the difference in expectations is less.”

The Fall 2014 Sangamon County Economic Outlook Survey includes a section examining the assets and liabilities for doing business in Sangamon County. Respondents believe that “health care facilities and quality” is the greatest asset for doing business in Sangamon County while “total state taxes on business” is the greatest liability. The other top asset in Sangamon County is “proximity to colleges/universities/technical schools.”

Respondents were positive regarding all economic factors with the exception of contributions to non-profits in Sangamon County. While the Fall 2014 survey reports a slight improvement in expectations about contributions to nonprofits from the Spring 2014 survey, the overall expectation is still negative. In fact, this is the single item in the survey that has not rebounded since the recession in 2008.

The survey is sponsored by the University of Illinois Springfield Chancellor’s Office, the Center for State Policy and Leadership at UIS and The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce.

For more information on the survey, contact Ashley Kirzinger, director of the UIS Survey Research Office, at 217/206-7956 or akirz2@uis.edu.

Good as Gold Ceremony honors over 50 Sangamon County volunteers and businesses

The University of Illinois Springfield Volunteer & Civic Engagement Center and the Junior League of Springfield honored more than 50 Sangamon County volunteers and businesses during the annual Good as Gold Ceremony. The event was held on Wednesday, April 23, 2014 in the Sangamon Auditorium Lobby at UIS.

Distinguished Volunteer Award 

Glenn Allison, an 84-year-old lifelong resident of Sherman, was honored with the 2014 Distinguished Volunteer Award. Allison volunteers a minimum of 15 hours a week at Memorial Medical Center and 10 hours weekly at the Illinois State Military Museum.

This year marks his 21st year as a volunteer at Memorial and 12 years as a volunteer at the Military Museum. He is a veteran of the Illinois National Guard and served in the Korean War.

Allison considers his volunteering a serious commitment. He firmly embraces the mission statements of both organizations, as if he was a salaried employee.

As a younger man, Allison served on several boards and committees for the Village of Sherman, St. John Vianney Roman Catholic Church, The Knights of Columbus, Kiwanis Club, and other professional organizations. He was awarded a plaque from the Sherman Volunteer Fire Protection District for his 32 years of exemplary service and dedication of the highest level.

Finalists for the Distinguished Volunteer Award included A. Edward Hohenstein from Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon County, Mark Puczynski from Springfield Public Schools, Thomas Tomlinson from the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, and Mary Yokem from the Foster Grandparent Program.

UIS Star Student & Star Staff Awards 

UIS student Mallory Beck of Springfield was honored with the Star Student Award for her volunteer efforts. As vice president of the UIS Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, she’s helped organize clothing and food drives, trips to nursing homes, and a “Kids Night Out” fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Beck is also planning a “Sports with Diabetes” camp for children afflicted with Type 1 Diabetes and their families on May 3, 2014. Other UIS students nominated included Matt Dobill, Jill Gossett, and Fred Jackson. The Star Staff Award was given to Pamela Hammond-McDavid for her work with the UIS Volunteer & Civic Engagement Center, her service to Grace United Methodist Church’s National Commission on Religion and Race, and for serving as a founding member of the Good as Gold Committee.

Community and Organization Awards 

Community member Katie Engle from West Side Christian Church was honored with the Youth Volunteer Award for efforts to coordinate and a two-day community Thanksgiving meal at Harvard Park Elementary called “Feast for 500”. She also helped with another effort to provide pajamas and books to Harvard Park students. She continues to be an active supporter at Harvard Park as a reading mentor, 'room sister' and office helper. Others nominated for the award include Abigail Judge, Katelyn Judge, and Erin Monroe.

Thirty local volunteers were also honored with the Heart of Gold Award. Recipients included: Grace Adloff, Jo Ellen Bretz, Judy Brown, John Craner, Debra Elmore, Lynn Evans, Scott Gauvin, Timothy J. Granzeau, Pauline Halm, Pam Hargan, Lisa Higgs, Wes King; Ted LeBlang, Sandy Linehan; Faraji Martin, Ikenna Martin, Nancy Eckert Martin, Harry McKinney, Joan McKinney, Cindy Murdock, Beth Nestler, Jeff Patton, Christine Phillips, Deb Philo, Deanna Planitz, Megan Swanson, Angela Try, Joyce Wilson, Mary Jo Woolsey, and Beth Yong.

Springfield Health Check was recognized with the Organization Agent of Service Award for its contributions to the community. The organization offers free health fairs for businesses and organizations. The group works one-on-one to set up wellness programs with local businesses and organizations to improve health, engagement, and productivity. Others nominated for the award include Habitat for Humanity, First Christian Church, and the 21st Century “R” Rescue Team.

Business Honor Roll 

A total of 12 Sangamon County businesses were named to the inaugural Business Honor Roll, sponsored by the Springfield Chamber of Commerce. The honor roll recognizes businesses that have made giving back to our community a priority.

Businesses making this year’s honor roll include America Ambulance Service, Bank of Springfield, BUNN, CEFCU, Illinois National Bank, Kerber, Eck & Braeckel LLP, Noodles and Company, the Orthopedic Center of Illinois, PJP Auto Enterprises, Quaker Steak & Lube, SCHEELS, and Terry Farmer Photography.

For more information about the awards, please visit www.uis.edu/volunteer, email volunteer@uis.edu or call 217/ 206-7716.

UIS survey finds Sangamon County employers not expecting large changes in employment

A survey conducted by the University of Illinois Springfield Center for State Policy and Leadership, in partnership with The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, shows Sangamon County employers are not expecting big changes in the employment rate in Sangamon County.

The Fall 2013 Sangamon County Economic Outlook Survey studied local businesses, firms, and non-profits in order to gauge expectations across several economic indicators. The survey is based on the responses of 174 individuals representing various economic sectors including construction, manufacturing, retail, financial, and medical.

The survey found a majority of businesses are not expecting a decrease or increase for the next year. Forty-seven percent of respondents expect employment to “stay the same,” while 26.8 percent expect a “small increase” or “large increase.” Additionally, 25.7 percent of respondents report that there will either be a “small decline” or a “large decline” in the overall employment in Sangamon County over the next 12 months.

Results from the survey show Sangamon County employers believe that increasing the number of workforce training programs is a priority in Sangamon County with two-thirds of respondents reporting that it was either a medium or high priority in the region.

The Fall 2013 topical section asked employers what traits/characteristics they are most looking for in new employees. Respondents chose from a list of traits ranging from personal skills to business skills to technical skills.

• Almost 90% (89.7 respondents) report that they are looking for employees with personal skills (work ethic, responsibility, integrity.)
• 55.4% report that they are looking for individuals with communication skills (speaking, writing, and working in teams.) 

The overall Intensity Index Scores show that all indicators, except for employment and inflation, saw positive expectation increases since Spring 2013. Capital investment saw a significant positive boost, up four points from last spring.

When analyzing the expectations by industry sectors, the medical sector continues to produce strong numbers, up one point from this spring. Overall, eight out of 12 industry sectors had higher expectations than six months ago.

Next to healthcare, the information and communication sector posted the second highest positive expectations for industries in Sangamon County.

Businesses, firms and organizations had optimistic outlooks of themselves in the survey, posting very strong numbers. There were increases in all five indicators, including capital investment, total number of employees, gross revenue/sales, profitability and overall status. This is the most positive rating recorded in the economic outlook survey since Spring 2012.

The survey is sponsored by the University of Illinois Springfield Chancellor’s Office, the Center for State Policy and Leadership at UIS and The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce.

For more information on the survey, contact Ashley Kirzinger, director of the UIS Survey Research Office, at 217/206-7956 or akirz2@uis.edu.

Read the full report online

UIS and Chamber to survey businesses and non-profits about economic outlook

The University of Illinois Springfield and Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce are partnering for a fifth year to conduct the Sangamon County Economic Outlook Survey.

Starting September 17, 2013, a mail survey will be sent to Sangamon County businesses and non-profit organizations in order to examine the local area economic perceptions, expectations, and evaluations.

“The survey results are used by local business leaders, government officials, and area residents in order to better understand the local Sangamon county economy and where it could be headed over the next 6 months,” said Ashley Kirzinger, director of the UIS Survey Research Office.

The Sangamon County Economic Outlook Survey is a longitudinal project conducted biannually by the Survey Research Office in collaboration with the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, the University of Illinois Springfield Chancellor’s Office, and UIS’ Center for State Policy & Leadership.

The results from the survey will be announced on Nov. 12 at the Chamber’s Economic Outlook Breakfast at the University of Illinois Springfield from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. The event is sponsored by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

For more information on the survey, contact Ashley Kirzinger at 217/ 206-7956 or akirz2@uis.edu.