ECIDC Honors Award Recipients for 2016

East Central Illinois Development Corporation, the agency designed to help with economic development opportunities in the region for more than 30 years, honored this year's award recipients during its annual meeting in Effingham Thursday.

Joe Forbes of Versatech LLC received the Business Ethics and Social Involvement Award. Forbes was recognized for his business success as a co-owner of Versatech, but also for his support of a number of people-helping causes. Two items Forbes is advancing are the Effingham County Manufacturing Day and the planning of the Effingham Regional Career Academy.

(JOE FORBES)

This year's Outstanding Leadership in Community and Economic Development Award was presented to Craig Lindvahl and Midland Institute for Entrepreneurship. Lindvahl and the organization were recognized on behalf of their efforts to establish the CEO Program in the region and across the nation.

(CRAIG LINDVAHL)

John Vogt was the recipient of the ECIDC Volunteer of the Year Award. Vogt is a member of the ECIDC Board of Directors and works as treasurer of the organization in a volunteer capacity.

(JOHN VOGT)

A special guest speaker at Thursday's gathering was Illinois Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti, who also chaired her Governor's Rural Affairs Council meeting in Effingham so she could be in attendance for the event. Sanguinetti said her role in heading Rural Affairs Council was to "make sure the voice of rural Illinois is heard."

(LT. GOV. EVELYN SANGUINETTI)