Community & Economic Development

Together we make communities better

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.

Contact Russell Medley, our Community and Economic Development Educator and he can help you get the resources you need.

Resources for Community Leaders, Business owners and Entrepreneur

Local Government Education
Training to help local elected officials serve effectively and impactfully
Building Entrepreneurial Communities
Illinois Extension Community & Economic Development educators share tips and resources in these blog posts
Leadership Development
Resources for developing and promoting leaders from within your community

Disaster Preparedness Resources

We often don’t think about emergency preparedness until we’re in the midst of a disaster and by that time it’s probably too late to start gathering important belongings! By planning ahead for the unseen, we can bounce back faster and more successfully both as a family and community.

Visit our Disaster Ready webpage to help you prepare! Get more advice from FEMA