Funds available to districts to replace school buses
URBANA, Ill. – Federal funding is now available for replacing older dirty school buses with cleaner vehicles, including electric school buses. University of Illinois Extension and Prairie Rivers Network are collaborating on a free online webinar...
Addressing inequities to create a vital STEM workforce in Illinois
URBANA, Ill – A collaborative effort between the University of Illinois School of Social Work and Illinois Extension is working to address social inequities that negatively impact the vitality of the...
Illinois alumna Ogwal named new policy director for Illinois Office of Lieutenant Governor
URBANA, Ill – Public policy informs planning, funding, and implementation of solutions to address real-world challenges for Illinois communities and requires motivated leaders whose work amplifies the voices of those most challenged. Susan Ogwal has been named new policy director for...
I-Rural: Helping communities meet increased demand for rural tourism
URBANA, Ill. – Tourism is a multibillion-dollar industry in Illinois. Now, rural Illinois communities are getting help to reimagine the potential for tourism growth and sustainability.
Pandemic restrictions generated renewed interest in rural outdoor activities....
Home-to-Market Act expands options for Illinois’ growing cottage food industry
URBANA, Ill. – Illinois’ Cottage Food Law allows food entrepreneurs, local producers, and home cooks to sell non-potentially hazardous homemade foods and drinks to the public. Prior to 2012, those foods had to be prepared in a licensed commercial kitchen, an expensive option for those running a...
What will federal policy changes mean for local governments?
URBANA, Ill. – Illinois county governments are responsible for the administration of public policies and funds that impact their communities’ infrastructure, disaster relief measures, environmental health, transportation access, social services, child welfare, workforce and economic development...
New Extension communications director advances mission of community, global outreach
URBANA, Ill. – For more than 100 years, University of Illinois Extension experts have worked in communities around the state providing research-based solutions for life’s everyday problems. In that time, Extension outreach efforts have evolved from community-focused in-person and mail...
Demographic changes result in increasing diversity in Illinois, new data presents
URBANA, Ill. — How do we determine the best ways for community and economic development in Illinois? How do you know what to vote for in the upcoming elections? The best place to start is in understanding demographic composition.
The 2020 decennial census revealed that...
Reclamation programs help communities transition abandoned mines
URBANA, Ill. — For more than 140 years, coal mining communities in 72 Illinois counties have helped to power the state. As Illinois pursues energy transitions, coal power plants have downsized and closed, leaving mines abandoned and communities without avenues to replace lost tax revenue and...
Extension webinar extols value of Illinois waterways
URBANA, Ill. – The value of waterborne commerce in the tri-state region of Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri in immense. The Heart of the Corn Belt handles enough freight tonnage to be ranked as the equivalent of the largest inland port in the nation.
In a free online webinar by...
Geothermal systems bring smaller footprint to scalable, renewable energy
URBANA, Ill. – As Illinois advances towards its goal of converting all energy systems to 100% renewable energy by 2050, it recognizes that other energy sources besides solar and wind are necessary to reach the state’s future demands.
Geothermal energy could be the key to replacing...
