SPRINGFIELD
- Thwarting terrorist attacks is
good for the country's safety.
It's also
good for business, state and
industry leaders agree. More than 50
Central Illinois business leaders
met Thursday with state terrorism
and economic development experts to
brainstorm ideas to protect the
homeland and to keep businesses
running - even if terrorists strike.
"Quite
frankly, the private sector does
some things better than government
does," said Michael Chamness,
chairman of the Illinois Terrorism
Task Force.
"We want to
tap the private sector for their
ideas and their resources. Wewant
them to help us continue to make
Illinois a leader in homeland
security."
Plans to
fight terrorists also can mean
economic development, said Matthew
Summy, a deputy director with the
Illinois Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity.
"In
attacking the United States, one of
the things that Osama bin Laden said
is that he wanted to disrupt our
economy," Summy said. "If businesses
are prepared and have plans in place
for how to respond, then we reduce
our vulnerability."
Gov. Rod
Blagojevich earlier announced plans
to build a homeland security
industry in Illinois.
"We want to
bring new products to market, and we
want to attract companies that
provide homeland security services
to Illinois," Summy said. "Our job
is to use market forces to put
better tools in the hands of first
responders."
Government
groups and private industries have
many resources they could pool to
combat a terrorist strike, said Bob
Hayworth, senior captain of
corporate security for Caterpillar
Inc.
The Decatur
plant, for example, has paramedics,
emergency medical technicians,
firefighters and hazardous materials
responders on staff. Former military
personnel, firefighters and police
officers also contribute to
Caterpillar's security.
"The purpose
of this conference is to fill the
one hole in the huge safety net we
have for homeland security -
bringing in the private sector and
all the resources the private sector
has to develop communication links
between the public and private
sectors," Hayworth said.
Cooperative
efforts between state and business
leaders were praised Thursday by
James Lee Witt, former Federal
Emergency Management Agency
director.
"It's a
great initiative," Witt said. "It's
setting an example for the rest of
the country."
Recent
terrorist bombings in London
underscore the importance of
theinitiative, Chamness said.
"It's a
reminder to stay vigilant," Chamness
said. "We were reminded in London
last week - as we were in Madrid the
year before - that people are still
out there plotting to do us harm.
"It adds
additional urgency and focus to what
we're talking about."
Mike Frazier
can be reached at mfrazier@;herald-review.com
or 421-7985.
