By Wendy J. Allyn

Tourism and being a haven for early retirement are two benefits Southern Illinois has to offer to the state economy, Lt. Gov. Bob Kustra said while speaking with members of the Carbondale community Friday.

Kustra, leading a question and answer forum, made the last stop of a 17-county tour discussing, economic development issues, at the Southern Illinois Business Incubator.

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The future of Southern Illinois lies not only in tourism but in early retirement, he said. There’s no other part of Illinois where I think retirees are going to flock.

Kustra said he has met people from all over the state who are considering Southern Illinois as a retirement site. The region is inexpensive, therefore making it easy to retire at a young age, Kustra said.

Illinois could learn from a popular retirement state such as Arkansas, and pick up strategies from other states that could work for Illinois, Kustra said.

Bryce Kramer, who attended as a representative of the Jackson County Business Development Corporation, said there also needs to be a stronger emphasis on tourism in Southern Illinois.

Kustra said a television campaign promoting a tourist-friendly atmosphere in Southern Illinois has broadcast to Nashville, Tenn., Paducah, Ky. and St. Louis, Mo., which are major markets because of their proximity.

Kustra also spoke about Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs. DCCA is focusing on putting more resources into the economic development of Illinois, he said.

I know the governor personally is involved in putting more money into marketing Illinois, he said.

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DCCA has displayed a renewed sense of committment to local communities, and that committment is filtered into small businesses, Kustra said.

That’s where most of the new jobs are, he said. That’s where the action is.

James Osberg, director of International Economic Development at SIUC’s Office of Economic and Regional Development, said Gov. Jim Edgar will be traveling soon to seek out opportunities for international trade of Illinois products.

Osberg is being considered by local Republicans for retiring state Sen. Ralph Dunn’s, R-Du Quoin, Illinois Senate seat. Osberg said one of his platform issues will be economic development in Southern Illinois.

Kustra, also highlighting Illinois export opportunities, said trade fairs and shows abroad are highly beneficial for the state because it holds many opportunities for manufacturing, particularly the southern region.

We can help make linkages for the state of Illinois, he said. We need to do better with manufacturers. We need to let them know where Southern Illinois is, what it offers, and why it is a good place to employ people.