Richard Proffer, Community & Economic Development educator serving Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell counties, has recently received a new nationally recognized certification, Rural Grocery Transition Specialist, to add to his list of professional accomplishments and has been recertified as a Professional Community & Economic Developer by the Community Development Council.
Proffer renewed his PCED certification this year by submitting documentation that reflects the amount and quality of his work in community & economic development with supporting evidence from the communities and committees he has worked with over the past three years. The PCED is a national certification that signals to peers and employers that Richard has the knowledge, skills, and expertise that meet or exceed standards in the field of community and economic development. He originally completed three years of coursework and sat for an exam and achieved an 80% to become certified.
Some examples of his work submitted was his national work for professional associations like the Community Development Society, Epsilon Sigma Phi, and United States Association of Small Business Educators. Plus his work since coming to Illinois Extension with communities like Manito, IL Revive & Thrive, Spoon River Partnership for Economic Development and state level agencies. He uses his connections through the PCED network to stay current in his work and draw on resources from other professionals.
The second certification is by the Rural Grocery Initiative through Kansas State University. He received this designation in November 2025. Richard took 13 weeks of online classes and turned in a final project for grading to achieve this certification. The program is designed to help assist rural grocery store owners through a sales transition to new buyers or buyers interested in obtaining a rural grocery store.
“I see ample opportunity to help communities in their search to keep their small grocery store open or attract one to their small town,” stated Proffer. “I was exposed to new strategies to build grocery-related relationships, how to approach transition opportunities, and how to assist in keeping rural grocery stores open. Keeping the local grocery store in the rural towns is an important method of vitality for the residents as it directly impacts their quality of life and the town’s economic future.”
Proffer is available to help rural communities in Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell counties. Each project is tailored to the individual community’s needs and desires. That tailoring helps ensure the community involvement and increases the chances of the project will take hold and succeed.
Photo caption - Richard Proffer recently became certified as a Rural Grocery Specialist and recertified with his Professional Community Economic Developer status.
Meet the Author
After 16 years with University of Missouri Extension, Richard Proffer joined Illinois Extension in 2022. He grew up in the tiny town of Crump, MO, and received a bachelor of arts degree from Southeast Missouri State University and a master of business administration from Davenport University. His background in rural communities allows him to tailor his programming to each community’s needs. He brings a background in business retention and expansion work, small business development, economic development, and strategic planning – all aimed at helping to grow the community.
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