Community & Economic Development
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.
Through many programs, Illinois Extension continues efforts to bring our communities together and make them stronger and more resilient so they will strive.
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.
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.