Community and Economic Development programming helps community leaders, residents, and communities build capacity to make timely and effective decisions, to use information wisely, and to engage the entire community in working together better. Extension Educators design and deliver educational programs and technical assistance in a variety of 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.
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2nd Annual Independent Grocer Summit
Save the date for the 2nd Annual Southern Illinois Independent Grocer Summit, to be held at John A. Logan College in Carterville on October 7, 2026! Be sure to check out the recap video from last year's summit and read the full news release to learn more.
Rural Redevelopment
Small, rural communities in the region are often under-resourced. Mayors and City Council members are often work full time jobs and are easily overwhelmed with day-to-day challenges of operating the municipality or county. The Community and Economic Development team is available to work with these communities to develop strategies, create linkages and locate resources for economic and business development, tourism, neighborhood revitalization, and a host of other community development needs. Take this quick, 5 minute survey to provide feedback about one of the CED team's most recent efforts, meat cutting training.
Strategic Planning
If your organization needs to develop its strategic plan and form some goals for the next 3 to 5 years, the process does not have to be long and painful. The CED team can work with your leadership, board of directors and key constituents to develop a sound strategic plan based on identified, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats through some brief planning work and a one day retreat. Organizations like Johnson County 2000 and Friends of the Shawnee Forest have used this model facilitated by Illinois Extension to launch their 3 year strategic plans with success and minimal investment of time and resources.
Southern Illinois Food Access
Rural, independent grocery stores often struggle to compete with corporate retail giants. When small, independent grocery stores close, it often creates another food desert in a rural area. The CED team works with small grocers in the lower 16 counties of Illinois to provide support and technical assistance to help them stay competitive and viable in their communities.
Learn More...
Second Chance Food
There is a segment of the grocery industry that has been quietly growing for decades. In an era of increasing grocery prices and deepening food insecurity, this underappreciated corner of food retail may be poised for its breakout moment.
That sector is discount and salvage grocery. Once a fringe retail model, it is transitioning into a critical component of rural food access, waste reduction, and price stabilization in the modern American food system. Read the full article here.
Placemaking: Building Community Around the Places we Share
What makes a town feel like home? One key indicator of a strong, resilient community is placemaking. The Project for Public Spaces defines placemaking as “the collaborative process by which we can shape our public realm in order to maximize shared value.” In simple terms, it’s when residents and local leaders work together to creatively use public spaces for social benefit. Visit the Building Entrepreneurial Communities blog page to read the full article and gain valuable insights from other Extension professionals.
Support Your Local Grocer
Want to know a secret? Your local, independent grocer loves you. Truly. They love your hometown, your traditions, your Friday-night ballgames, and the neighbors they’ve served for years. Despite what some may assume, their love for the community is much greater than their love for profit. Because in reality, very little profit exists in the rural grocery biz. Visit the Building Entrepreneurial Communities blog page to read the full article and gain valuable insights from other Extension professionals.
