Economic Development

Events

Open Meetings Act

November 5, 2026

Lewistown Community Entrepreneur Club

November 9, 2026

County

Fulton

Freedom of Information Act

November 12, 2026

Blog Posts

Nature helps rural communities build resilience

October 15, 2026

Imagine if the river just down the road were not only a place to fish, but a way to connect generations through shared storytelling. Or picture...

graph superimposed over hands on keyboard

Need data? We can help

September 30, 2026

In a previous post, now nearly ten years old, I wrote about how data can improve the effectiveness of your organization or local government. Telling...

What I Wish I had Known Before Starting My Business - Part 2

August 31, 2026

Owning a business is often seen as a path to freedom, and while that can be true, my experience has revealed a more complex reality marked by...

Downtown buildings in Cambridge, Illinois

Rural tourism that works starts with residents

July 31, 2026

In Henry County, tourism doesn’t belong to a single town. It is something communities are building together.As part of the Governor’s Rural Affairs...

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News Releases

September 24, 2026

Free pumpkin-themed family event
JONESBORO, Ill. — Illinois Extension is excited to welcome families to the sixth annual Pumpkin Extravaganza, an afternoon celebrating all things pumpkins, on Monday, October 12, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at...

September 22, 2026

New local entrepreneur club being formed in Lewistown
LEWISTOWN, Ill. - Business ownership can be a taunting undertaking. So much more goes into running a successful business than just providing a much-needed service or amazing product. Learning all the business requirements, resources available, and how best to prioritize the steps is what can...

September 11, 2026

Business owners offered free program to improve their long-term business health
PEORIA, Ill. - People, Profit, and Performance is a class on how small business owners can begin succession planning for their business. Thanks to a local partnership, the class is being offered to local business owners for free on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.The class is 90 minutes of...

Carly Whorton presenting at 2025 grocer summit

September 10, 2026

Illinois Extension hosts second annual Independent Grocer Summit
CARTERVILLE, Ill. — The Southern Illinois Food Access Initiative, a program of Illinois Extension, is hosting the second annual Independent Grocer Summit at John A. Logan College on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. This annual event pulls together independent grocery store owners...

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Videos

Transitioning Energy Economies: Rural Clean Energy (2023)

Co-hosts: University of Illinois Extension, Prairie Rivers Network, Just Transition Fund, USDA Rural Development

This webinar series will explore state and federal opportunities related to the energy transition, including clean energy programs, transportation electrification, and other...