COMMUNITY MAPPING: OUTCOMES - TWO EXAMPLES

Havana, Illinois (pop. 3,610)
The city of Havana is an example of a community that has mobilized on behalf of its future. Following the 1996 MAPPING program, a local development group, "Hav-a-Vision" was formed. An IIRA Peace Corps Fellow worked with Hav-A-Vision to begin to implement their goals. In 2000, Hav-a-Vision again partnered with MAPPING to conduct a follow-up program "Planning for Compatible Development." The community identified additional high-priority goals, resulting in the city hiring a full-time economic developer. Again, five years later, the still active Hav-a-Vision, in collaboration with the City of Havana and the Chamber of Commerce, requested a 2005 MAPPING Update to take stock of the progress to date, recruit additional volunteers, and revitalize the efforts. For close to ten years, Hav-a-Vision has worked closely with the city and other civic and business organizations in the community with significant outcomes.

• With a goal of revitalizing their historic downtown, funds were raised through community individuals and businesses to purchase and install 52 antique-theme streetlights in the downtown. Plaques acknowledging the donations decorate the base of each light.
• A $140,000 grant was obtained from the USDA to upgrade downtown facades. More than 20 businesses took part in the program. With TIF funds and merchant investment, the original $140,000 was leveraged into a $280,000 investment in Havana.
• New businesses in Havana include a specialty coffee shop/restaurant, a printer/publishing company, and a renovated historic theatre reopened, offering movies, live theatre, children's workshops, and dinner theater.
• Hav-a-Vision volunteers also led other community beautification projects, such as the purchase and planting of flower boxes in the downtown, the installation of a new information kiosk, and the construction of the new river walk.
• In close collaboration, the city of Havana, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and The Nature Conservancy are creating an unparalleled nature area bluff on the Illinois River. Emiquon is poised to become one of the premier nature tourism destinations in the state.
• The city of Havana owns a shovel-ready business park with completed installation of roads, sewer, water and electricity.
• Pamida, a grocery chain store, opened in 2000. In 2004 County Market opened a $3 million facility.

Mendota, Illinois (pop. 7,272)
This community is another example of MAPPING program's demonstrable impact. Key "intermediate outcomes," which local informants attribute directly to the MAPPING program, have truly set the stage for the achievement of the longer-term outcomes. First, after MAPPING, the city government created a local "Office of Community and Economic Development" and hosted an IIRA Peace Corps Fellow as its first manager. The initial scope of work for this city department consisted entirely of the high-priority goals and strategies formed from the MAPPING action plan. This action plan was later incorporated into a comprehensive City plan which the core of the current full-time economic development director's focus. In 2005 the City decided to update its MAPPING plan and participated in another program. Ad-hoc MAPPING committees remain involved in the community and economic development initiatives in the city.

Additional outcomes since the 1998 MAPPING include:

• $1.3 million federal and state funding resulting in the purchase of land and extensive infrastructure improvements to create a local industrial park. The park is almost entirely filled.
• One major industrial employer moved into the city bringing 100 jobs; another significant business expansion created 125 new jobs.
• Several TIF districts have been created that have successfully sparked development efforts in nine areas of the city. Four entrepreneurs have started businesses creating approximately 15 jobs.
• Strong marketing efforts, including direct mailings, attending targeted conventions, and advertising in site selection magazines have brought new dollars to the community.
• Mendota began a $1.25 million sewer upgrade to increase the loading capacity, in addition to the $2.5 million water system upgrade underway. Another $100,000 water project will connect an industrial user to city water. Finally, a state road construction project has helped with the traffic flow, adding a traffic light, turning lanes, and widening the road.
• A new housing subdivision has been developed, adding 12-15 homes in the past year. Previous years showed an annual average of six new homes.
• A new high school opened in January 2004 with an increase in capacity of 200 students.