CAPACITY BUILDING FOR LOCAL OFFICIALS
During economic downturns, local community officials must modify business
practices in order to weather financial pressures. Many tools used by successful
cities are not mysterious or complicated. These two sessions are organized to
provide participants with tools and strategies they can use when facing a
changing financial environment.
Morning Breakout Session: Surviving an Economic Downturn
Thomas Jacob and Herb Klein, Attorneys, Jacob & Klein, Ltd., Bloomington,
work extensively with municipalities on community and economic development
projects. Drawing on their extensive experience as economic development
attorneys, Tom Jacob and Herb Klein offer several steps that local governments
can undertake to survive and even prosper during the current economic
recession.
Our presenters:
Thomas N. Jacob is Senior Counsel in the Bloomington Law Firm of Thomas N.
Jacob & Associates, a firm specializing in economic development law. His firm
has represented more than fifty cities in Downstate Illinois in their economic
development efforts. In 1999 he founded the Economic Development Group,
Ltd. to include experts in finance, local government and economics. The firms
together have created and administer over 120 Tax Increment Financing
Districts. Working with national and regional companies as well as local
developers they have assisted in the development of more than $2 billion in new
projects. Each year the firms direct their cities in the administration of more
than $28 million in TIF real estate tax increment.
The firms have regularly sponsored and presented economic development
programs for the Stevenson Center for Economic Development at Illinois State
University; the Laboratory for Community and Economic Development, at the
University of Illinois; and the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western
Illinois University. Mr. Jacob was an Adjunct Professor in the Department of
Finance and Law at Illinois State University.
Mr. Jacob received his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska
and his Juris Doctor from Northwestern University School of Law, Chicago. He
is a past President of the McLean County Bar Association.
Contact Information:
Thomas N. Jacob, Esq.
Thomas N. Jacob & Associates, Ltd.
1701 Clearwater Avenue
Bloomington, IL 61704
Ph: (309) 664-7777
Fax: (309) 664-7878
E-mail: tomjacob@tifillinois.com
Website: www.tifillinois.com
Herbert J. Klein, Law Office of Herbert J. Klein, Peru, LaSalle County, Illinois.
Education: Eastern Illinois University, B.A. 1987; Northern Illinois University
College of Law, J.D., 1990. Admitted in Illinois, 1990; Northern District of
Illinois, 1990; Law practice is concentrated in the areas of Government Law
(representing both municipalities and school districts); Development Law; Real
Estate Law and Small Business Law. Mr. Klein has extensive experience in
negotiating municipal/school district intergovernmental agreements and private
redevelopment agreements. He is a member of the ISBA Assembly; member of
ISBA Business Advice and Financial Planning Section (Past Chair); and Fellow
Illinois Bar Foundation. Mr. Klein is also a member of: Illinois State Bar
Association; LaSalle County Bar Association, Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund,
and Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association.
Contact Information:
Herbert J. Klein, Attorney at Law
Law Office of Herbert J. Klein
925 Shooting Park Road, Suite A
Peru, IL 61354
Ph: (815) 223-7550
Fax: (815) 223-7577
Email: hjklein@sbcglobal.net