Building Entrepreneurial Communities

Some people like lists; I am one of those types of people. I have daily, weekly, and monthly lists. I have lists for home, for work, for my children, and for our farm. I like to write my list(s) in the morning so I can focus on what needs to be done and create a plan to do it efficiently. I use...

I’ve noticed that many of our rural Illinois communities have a vacant or derelict building in the heart of their downtown or on main street. While the missed opportunities of a property sitting vacant seem basic, the concept is complicated. Intent, code, statute, and insurance classification may...

In Illinois, we’re familiar with the phrase “A winter weather advisory is in effect for your region.” Snow has blanketed the state from north to south and more snow is predicted. Winter storms can bring bitterly cold temperatures, heavy snow, and icy roads. We rely on...

Many voices, one vision The USDA Rural Economic Development Innovation (REDI) Initiative planning process started with a two-day countywide community-building event, held...

The massive mid-February 2021 winter storm brought dangerous cold, snow and ice to a large portion of the country. The effects were felt from southeast Texas to northern Ohio as the storm lifted from the Gulf Coast to the Ohio Valley. “This brutal winter weather, and our ability to withstand it,...

In the fall of 2019, the communities of Canton and Havana were hit with the shocking news that Vistra Corp. planned closing the local coal-fired power plants within three months. Community leaders were left to navigate the detrimental impacts to their tax base and workforce and they turned to each...

In an August 2020 article, Johns Hopkins Medicine addressed coronavirus fatigue, or “burnout”, as a...

Morton Economic Development Council and Morton Chamber of Commerce identified “the advancement of its economic development efforts” and the “creation of a livable community for all” as key priorities, and subsequently...