Community and Government

Community and Economic Development programming helps community leaders, residents, and communities build capacity to make timely and effective decisions, use information wisely, and engage the community in working together better. Extension Educators design and deliver educational programs and technical assistance in various settings, including workshops, small group consultations, and online tools and resources.

The mission of University of Illinois Extension Community and Economic Development is to help communities drive creative and informed decision-making that enhances their quality of life. Our experts help communities identify strategies to create and retain local businesses, creating a solid economic base for your community.

Join our mailing list to be notified of upcoming webinars. You can also access a treasure trove of past webinars by visiting our YouTube channel's archives. 

Webinars

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Thriving Communities Webinar Series

Click here to watch this April 16 webinar. Learn more about how to build capacity and get a head start on the next round of Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Grant Opportunities.
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Rural Vitality in Northern and Central Illinois

May 2 | Hear what community leaders in Illinois report as issues that most affect their community's overall vitality, what drives their local economy, shapes their physical infrastructure, and encourages active and wide-ranging civic engagement.
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Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) & Open Meetings Act (OMA)

May 16 & 30 | Join this 2-part Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Open Meetings Act (OMA) webinar series to get a refresher and update, as well as tools required to implement this policy at the local level and avoid violations.
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Strategies for Debt Repayment | May 8

Debt can be distressing. If you have debt or are planning on taking on debt, do you have a plan on how to pay the money back? Explore different strategies for prioritizing debt repayment.
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Smart Savings Strategies | June 12

Building healthy and sustainable savings habits can be overwhelming when starting from scratch. In this session, we will explore some simple strategies that can help you improve your financial future.
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Keys to Financial Security | July 10

Do you feel your financial plan needs a refresh? Financial planning can be short-term, long-term, or ideally both. Discover smart steps to focus on your financial security and work toward improving your financial well-being.

Community Broadband Development

Programming and planning resources to ensure families and businesses have fast, reliable connectivity.

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Featured Resources

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Economic Development
Learn how Extension can help build resiliency in your communities.
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Community Planning
Together we make communiteis better places to work, live and grow. Trust Illinois Extension to help you identify options and develop your plan.
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Local Government Education
For local government officials and community leaders, our Local Government Education webinars feature online programs about economic development strategies, budgeting and planning, ethics, regulations and compliance, community initiatives and more.