Community Development

Events

Open Meetings Act

November 5, 2026

Lewistown Community Entrepreneur Club

November 9, 2026

County

Fulton

Freedom of Information Act

November 12, 2026

Someday is Today: Live Your Bucket List

November 16, 2026

County

Champaign

More Events

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...

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...

Richard Proffer attains two national certifications

July 21, 2026

Richard Proffer, Community & Economic Development educator serving Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell counties, has recently received a new...

Peoria Afterschool Networking Group brings together community agencies to support local youth and families

June 16, 2026

A strong network of youth-serving organizations can make a lasting difference for young people and families. In Peoria, the collaborative Peoria...

More Blogs

News Releases

Adults participate in an educational boat tour on a lake under a blue sky.

October 28, 2026

Eleven volunteers graduate from Master Naturalist training
MATTOON, Ill. — Illinois Extension is celebrating 11 new Master Naturalist graduates who are ready to support conservation efforts and share their knowledge of the natural world with their communities.The newest graduates are Zeb Collier, Beth Connelly, Brandalyn Curry, Troye Kauffman,...

September 30, 2026

Fall Mum Workshop invites community to learn, plant and beautify Toledo Square
TOLEDO, Ill. — Community members are invited to attend a Fall Mum Workshop at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, at the Toledo Village Clerk’s Office.Participants will learn about mums and how to care for them, then help beautify Toledo Square by planting mums in the community planters. Each...

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...

More News

Videos

From Farm to Community: The Impact of IL-EATS.

Through IL-EATS, Illinois farmers and food access partners came together to strengthen local food systems while feeding their communities. This video shares their experiences and highlights how the program expanded markets, increased access to fresh, local food, and built a more resilient supply...

Community Benefits Program

Your community is not at the whim of renewable energy developers. Companies who want to build in your area are often obligated to partner with you to provide economic and community development benefits. Join this webinar to learn more about these Community Benefits programs and how you can make...