"The Jacksonville Economic Development Corporation was formed because the citizens of Jacksonville recognized the importance of creating jobs and bringing capital investment in our community.

The original board knew the footprint we laid would become a pattern for those that followed.  In the first seven years, JEDCO identified about 1,200 jobs that were either brought into Jacksonville or saved.

I was very proud to be the first chair and to have served for those seven years."

-Senator Robert L. Nichols.