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Outreach -> Overview of Programs Overview of Programs
Illinois Value-Added Sustainable Development Center (IVASDC)
The IVASDC advocates that an economic development strategy is needed that relies on the comparative advantage found in rural communities: agricultural commodities. Through a variety of research and educational efforts, the IVASDC educates ag producers and economic development professionals regarding value-added agricultural opportunities for their area. Additional technical assistance is provided to these groups as they organize business ventures that will increase their income as well as expand employment opportunities in rural Illinois.
Data Analysis and Technical Assistance (DATA) Center
The DATA Center consists of three service units located at the IIRA. The units are:MAPPING the Future Programs
- Rural Economic Technical Assistance Center (RETAC)
The RETAC promotes economic prosperity in rural Illinois through a wide range of assistance to clients including regional planning organizations, local officials, and residents of rural communities. RETAC provides services including data analysis and retrieval, economic impact and retail sector analysis, assistance with international marketing, as well as skills and capacity building training programs for local officials, practitioners, and others involved in economic development throughout Illinois.- Business and Geographic Information Services (BGIS) Unit
The BGIS provides value-added statistical products for rural communities and regions in an effort to improve the quality of life for residents of those communities.- Survey and Data Analysis Unit
The Survey and Data Analysis unit provides support to IIRA and its affiliated programs/researchers with survey research and database management assistance, along with acting as point of contact for data requests from internal and external clients.
The MAPPING THE FUTURE OF YOUR COMMUNITY program (Management and Planning Programs Involving Nonmetropolitan Groups) is a strategic visioning and planning process whereby local residents of rural communities create a long-range vision for their community and a plan of action for achieving it. MAPPING projects enhance local decision-making processes by providing accurate information, effective forums for public dialogue and problem solving, as well as knowledge of innovative practices that are consistent with a community's vision for growth and change.The MAPPING methodology was originally developed in order to bring a holistic integrated planning and decision-making process to rural communities. As such, the IIRA has developed three inter-related programs for rural community and economic development that utilize this unique methodology:
- MAPPING THE FUTURE OF YOUR COMMUNITY is the flagship program, designed in 1991 to bring together the diverse segments of a community on behalf of their overall community and economic development. Community MAPPING programs have been conducted in over 80 communities in rural Illinois.
- MAPPING THE FUTURE OF YOUR COMMUNITY'S SCHOOLS was created in 1993 to bring community, economic, and school issues closer together, and has, over the years served as an excellent next step after a community-wide visioning and planning effort. Parents, teachers, administrators, school board members, and other local citizens are assisted to identify needs and workable goals to help their school district prepare for future demands.
- MAPPING THE FUTURE OF YOUR COMMUNITY'S HEALTH offers opportunities for rural residents, community leaders, and health care providers to effectively work together to improve the overall health of their communities. IIRA has broadened the definition of community health to include access and availability of health care services, health education & prevention, and environmental health.
Peace Corps Fellows Program in Rural Community Development
The Peace Corps Fellows (PCF) Program in Community Development is a two-year Master's degree opportunity for returned Peace Corps volunteers with an emphasis on rural community development. The twin goals of the program are to train the next generation of community development specialists and to assist small towns with the implementation of community development projects while enhancing local capacity and civic engagement.
Fellows earn graduate degrees in Business Administration (MBA); Economics; Geography (Rural and Regional Planning); Health Sciences (Community Heath Education); Political Science (Public Administration); and Recreation, Park, and Tourism Administration. In addition to completing their respective degree requirements, all Fellows enroll in four core courses in community/economic development and participate in relevant professional conferences and workshops.
The highlight of the program is an eleven-month paid internship that Fellows serve in a rural community or local or regional agency. During the internship, they lead community development projects with the active participation of community volunteers. Fellows gain valuable professional skills while aiding local organizations in building a framework for future community and economic development. Examples of past internships and further details regarding the program are available at www.peacecorpsfellows-wiu.org.
Rural Information Technology Planning Project
Rural Information Technology Planning Project assists rural leaders to determine how to best utilize Information Technology (IT) for the economic development and improved quality of life for their communities. Through a technology planning process, communities become better aligned to develop or attract businesses as their IT infrastructure and utilization improve. This project is driven by a local committee of leaders from broad sectors of the community who develop a plan of action and then work to move their community forward on both IT and IT-related economic development issues.
Rural Transit Assistance Center (RTAC)
The RTAC works with non-urban public transit providers throughout Illinois. RTAC staff provides planning and technical assistance, sponsors training seminars, maintains a library of audiovisual materials, publishes a newsletter and researches issues facing rural transit providers. RTAC also serves as the clearinghouse for the Illinois Coordinating Committee on Transportation, created by Public Act 93-0185 "to encourage the coordination of public and private transportation services, with priority given toward services directed toward those populations who are currently not served or are underserved by existing public transportation."
Volunteer Training and Support Program (VOLTS)
The Volunteer Training and Support Program provides on-site volunteer management training, technical assistance, workshops, and conferences to community and economic development practitioners, local leaders, and citizens engaged in development projects. The VOLTS program strives to increase the effectiveness of volunteer efforts that support community and economic development projects in rural Illinois communities.
Midwest Community Development Institute (CDI)
The Midwest Community Development Institute (CDI) is a comprehensive professional training program in community and economic development designed for development professionals, community leaders, and elected officials. CDI provides hands-on practical training that can be immediately applied to improving the economy and quality of life in communities. Each CDI session lasts five days and the complete CDI program consists of attending three sessions, referred to as Year One, Year Two, and Year Three. CDI is held annually during the third week of August in Moline.
Illinois Small Business Development Center (ISBDC)
The Illinois Small Business Development Center at Western Illinois University provides confidential business counseling and training to help entrepreneurs start, grow, and sustain their businesses. Counseling appointments may be scheduled at various locations throughout a 12-county service area (Adams, Brown, Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Knox, Mason, McDonough, Pike, Schuyler, Scott, and Warren). The ISBDC website has detailed information on how to contact the Center.
Special Projects
As part of its mission, the IIRA conducts applied research projects on a variety of issues facing rural Illinois. Most recently, extensive research on the use of New Generation Cooperatives (NGCs) as a local economic development approach has been conducted leading to three edited books, numerous reports and articles, and a variety of presentations to academic and professional groups. NGCs represent a relatively innovative way to increase the incomes of farm families and, at the same time, increase employment in surrounding small communities.Brownfields represent a significant opportunity for redevelopment in communities of virtually all sizes. However, many local officials have been wary of engaging in revitalization efforts involving Brownfields because of inadequate local funding, fear of liability issues, and a lack of perceived demand for the remediated property. The research conducted by IIRA shows that economic considerations are not necessarily the main driving force behind city involvement in Brownfield projects and aesthetics are often more important.
Sluggish state economies, Federal deficits, and population declines especially in non-metro areas have placed significant pressures on municipal finances across Midwestern states, including Illinois. Public officials have had to be innovative in finding new revenue sources, cutting programs in some instances, and other ways to balance budgets. A 2002 survey of municipalities was conducted by IIRA in collaboration with the Illinois Municipal League to identify these strategies.
Many townships in Illinois, especially those in rural areas, have experienced declining populations and sluggish economic growth even during the prosperous 1990s. These townships have had to rearrange spending priorities and identify ways to balance their budgets. The IIRA, working with the Township Officials of Illinois, surveyed townships across the state on a variety of management, fiscal, and other issues.
The Internet offers opportunities for rural residents especially those in remote areas to purchase goods and services that otherwise would not be readily available in their communities. At the same time, however, access to the Internet can mean that local stores face greater competition, often in terms of lower prices, and ultimately must close. The IIRA examined purchasing patterns of rural residents, by age, sex, and income levels to determine which types of stores in rural areas are most vulnerable to Internet expansions.
