Industrial Development Commission

 e-Commerce Grants Still Available for Small Businesses
On May 18th, 2020 the City Council approved a grant program to incentivize Highland businesses to implement e-Commerce solutions to facilitate purchases on their website. The Industrial Development Commission and Highland Communication Services partnered to launch the program, allowing businesses a grant of $500 to be used toward the cost of e-Commerce implementation.

 Any brick-and-mortar Highland business that does not offer an e-Commerce option is eligible to apply. Once an application is submitted, applicants will be notified of approval after verification of the absence of an e-Commerce solution on the applicant’s website. The applicant will have three months to deploy the solution and, once the solution is verified, will receive the $500 grant. The Highland Chamber of Commerce has offered to provide guidance to businesses looking to implement e-Commerce.
E-Commerce Grant Application

Meeting Schedule:
The Industrial Development Commission meets on the first Wednesday of each month at Noon in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1115 Broadway.  These meetings are open to the public. 

List of 2024 Industrial Development Commission Meeting Dates
Master List of 2024 City of Highland Meeting Dates

Vision:
Our vision is a vibrant, innovative and diversified economy that creates a positive business climate and a high quality of life for the City of Highland. 

Mission: 
Our mission is to provide visionary economic development leadership, civic involvement and business advocacy in a non-partisan and collaborative manner to continuously improve the region's economy and high-quality of life.

Terms:
Each member of this five-member Commission shall serve for a term of one year, which one-year term (regardless of the date of the member's taking office) shall expire on the date of the first City Council meeting in the month of May next following the member's taking office.

Industrial Development Commission Members:
(1 Year Terms)

Members - Biographies:
James L. Meridith, Chairman
Meridith Funeral Home
Term: May 5, 2025

Hi, my name is Jim Meridith and I lead our Industrial Development Committee.  I am a licensed funeral director and run my family’s business, the Meridith Funeral Home in Highland and other small towns.  I became interested in the IDC because business in Highland is important to me, obviously, but business in general is a passion of mine.  I have helped lead my family business for the last 12 years or so and I find business ownership very rewarding and nerve wracking at the same time.  Hopefully, I am able to help the business climate in Highland and we will be able attract more business’s to our great small town.

I graduated from St. Paul High School in 1986 and then McKendree College, now University, in 1992 with a degree in Business Administration.  I have worked in the restaurant business, convenience store/gas station industry, for B-Line Systems and Graybar Electric and the funeral business.  I live in Highland with my wife, Denise, our children, Jimmy and Sophia and we couldn’t be happier to be part of such an amazing community.  I am a member of Knights of Columbus, Optimist, Lions and Moose clubs and I coach or help coach as many of my kids’ teams as I can.  I look forward to meeting you and your family.

Diane Korte-Lindsey, Vice-Chairman
Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors
Term: May 5, 2025

Diane Korte-Lindsey is a lifelong resident of the City of Highland and has always been proud to call it her home. She began her real estate career in 1981 as an agent. In 1986, after obtaining a broker’s license, Diane was the first managing broker of the Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors Highland office. Today she is one of the top agents at that office devoting full time to working with clients who are buying and selling properties.

Over the years she has been very active with the local and state Realtor associations, serving on numerous committees, as the local president of the Greater Gateway Association of Realtors in 1995 and Realtor of the year in 1997. Diane has a Certified Residential Specialist designation and served as the Illinois State President in 2000. Diane is married to Steve Lindsey. She has two sons, two step daughters and six grandchildren. Serving on the IDC committee is an honor and offers an opportunity to give back to a great place to call home! 

Kurt Vonder Haar
Bradford National Bank
Term: May 5, 2025

Josh R. Kloss
Kloss Furniture
Term: May 5, 2025

Marshall Rinderer
Rinderer Law Firm
Term: May 5, 2025

Contact:
Lana Hediger
Phone: 618-654-9892     x1481
Email: lhediger@highlandil.gov