Area Facts
Directories & Reports
2021 Champaign-Urbana Industry Cluster Assessment and Strategy
A 2021 study commissioned by the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation, University of Illinois Research Park, LLC and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Office of Corporate Relations has identified three strong business clusters that provide a framework for where to focus the area’s economic development efforts.
Business Cluster Development, led by principal Carol Lauffer, completed more than 80 interviews with community, University, and business leaders in Champaign County to review the potential for growth and development of six industry clusters. Following interviews and extensive research, Lauffer then identified three strong clusters deserving of further investment: AgTech, MedTech, and Manufacturing.
Lauffer noted in the report that targeting and growing industry clusters is an economic development strategy designed to leverage the strengths present in a community in order to support new business formation, business retention and attraction, and grow the local economy.
The 2021 report, including an executive summary, can be found online here and is available for public download.
2019 Willard Airport – Economic Impact Report
In a new report measuring the economic impact of the University of Illinois-Willard Airport (CMI) to the region, it was determined that the total estimated annual impact to Champaign County is $99.75M, a 34% increase since 2016. The report provides an analysis of existing air service, possible new air service, and airport non-airline aviation economic activity.
Other key metrics identified in the report include:
- total estimated local job creation or support of 751 full-time employees with $30M in annual payroll, an increase of 34% since 2016;
- total estimated 122 visitors per day, an increase of 91% since 2016; and
- total estimated $14M taxes generated, an increase of 39% since 2016.
In recent data released by the Federal Aviation Administration, there were a total of 109,878 enplanements at Willard Airport in 2018, up 9.73% from 2017.
2019 Economic Impact Report – Willard Airport (PDF)
Thank you to our report sponsors: Champaign County Economic Development Corporation, University of Illinois-Willard Airport, Visit Champaign County, City of Champaign, Parkland College, Frasca International, University of Illinois Research Park, Flightstar, and the Champaign County Association of REALTORS®.
2016 Willard Airport – Economic Impact Reports:
2016 Economic Impact Report – Willard Airport (PDF)
2016 Economic Impact Report – Executive Summary – Willard Airport (PDF)
Top 15 Employers – Champaign County
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | 13,934 |
| Carle | 6,921 |
| Champaign Unit 4 School District | 1,664 |
| Kraft Heinz | 925 |
| Christie Clinic | 916 |
| Champaign County | 893 |
| Urbana School District #116 | 828 |
| FedEx | 815 |
| OSF HealthCare | 774 |
| Parkland College | 741 |
| Plastipak | 735 |
| City of Champaign | 630 |
| Rantoul Foods | 541 |
| Busey | 525 |
| SuperValu | 429 |
*Data as of April 2018
2018 Top 15 Employers – Champaign County (PDF)
2017 Top 25 Employers – Champaign County (PDF)
2016 Top 25 Employers – Champaign County (PDF)
New Americans in Champaign County
The New American Welcome Center at the University Y helps immigrants fully integrate into American society and prepares receiving communities around Champaign County to be welcoming and inclusive. By engaging local institutions and mobilizing community resources, they help make our community a place where newcomers and immigrants can thrive and flourish.
The following is a customized, quantitative research report produced by data analysts at New American Economy and the New American Welcome Center. It sheds light on the contribution of immigrants to Champaign County’s population, labor force, and economy.
Read the full New Americans in Champaign County report in English here or in Spanish here.
Advanced Tech Directory