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What I Wish I had Known Before Starting My Business - Part 1

June 30, 2026

Starting a business is often glamorized. You picture creative freedom, financial independence, and the pride of building something from the ground up. While those things can be true, there’s a side of entrepreneurship that rarely gets talked about — the unfiltered, behind-the-scenes reality. If I...

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Placemaking: Building community around the places we share

April 21, 2026

Building Entrepreneurial Communities

What makes a town feel like home? One key indicator of a strong, resilient community is placemaking. The Project for Public Spaces defines placemaking as “the collaborative process by which we can shape our public realm in order to maximize shared...

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storefront on corner of block with mural on wall

How a revived downtown space strengthened community ties and local prosperity

March 1, 2026

Building Entrepreneurial Communities

Across many small towns, revitalization often begins with one simple but powerful spark: someone deciding to reinvest in a long-neglected space. This story reflects a common pattern that any rural community can learn from and build upon.In rural White Hall, Illinois, a vacant building sat unused...

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How Poverty Simulations Inspire Empathy and Action

December 3, 2025

Building Entrepreneurial Communities

Poverty is a daily reality for many individuals and families but, unless you’ve lived it, it’s difficult to truly grasp the stress, complexity, and emotional toll it takes. Misconceptions about poverty often overshadow real understanding, but there’s a powerful tool changing that narrative: the...

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Spending locally first ensures roads are safe for travel in winter.

What does it take to keep our roads clear . . . and how do we pay for it?

January 14, 2022

In Illinois, we’re familiar with the phrase “A winter weather advisory is in effect for your region.” Snow has blanketed the state from north to south and more snow is predicted. Winter storms can bring bitterly cold temperatures, heavy snow, and icy roads. We rely on...

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winter effects on power grid reduced with power grid meter

Perfect storm crashes Texas power grid; Can it happen here?

March 4, 2021

The massive mid-February 2021 winter storm brought dangerous cold, snow and ice to a large portion of the country. The effects were felt from southeast Texas to northern Ohio as the storm lifted from the Gulf Coast to the Ohio Valley. “This brutal winter weather, and our ability to withstand it,...

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Same storm, different boat

November 25, 2020

In an August 2020 article, Johns Hopkins Medicine addressed coronavirus fatigue, or “burnout”, as a...

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Housing strategies for economic development in Central Illinois

November 7, 2020

Morton Economic Development Council and Morton Chamber of Commerce identified “the advancement of its economic development efforts” and the “creation of a livable community for all” as key priorities, and subsequently...

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In a word, resilient

April 16, 2020

Life has been doling out lemons to our small, locally owned businesses, so they are busy making lemonade. While social distancing, they are thinking outside the box, engaging through social media, transitioning to online shopping, and identifying new ways to interact with their customers. They are...

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Financial first aid for small business: SBA Disaster Assistance

March 19, 2020

Many small business owners, especially those required to close, are wondering how to finance their businesses during these difficult times. This series, Financial First Aid, will provide accurate and credible information for small business owners attempting to...

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Community Resiliency Blogs