Successes of Rural Partners

The activities of Rural Partners are intended to be value-added and not duplicative. Our strength is in our networking and collaborative skills. The following are examples of successes our members have experienced and have credited Rural Partners' network, leadership training, and /or direct involvement in that success.

21ST ANNUAL RURAL COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE A BIG SUCCESS
The 21st Annual Rural Community Economic Development Conference entitled “New Approaches for New Times”, held in March in Peoria, focused on attracting and retaining young adults in our rural communities. Chris Merrett, Director of the Illinois Institute of Rural Affairs stated “This year there was a marked increase in attendance, as community leaders and economic developers searched for fresh ideas to develop sustainable economies in their communities”.

National and regionally recognized speakers covered such topics as “Making Small Towns Attractive to Youth”, “Changing the Local Entrepreneurial Culture”, “Leveraging TIF Funds for Capital Investment”, “Building Tourism Using Heritage”, “Strategic Doing: Planning into Action” and “Effective Ways to Market Your Community” which were just a few of the many informative topics covered.

Colleen Callahan, Illinois USDA Rural Development State Director, discussed new directions in rural development with focus on the top ten reasons why rural communities should look to USDA RD for technical and financial assistance. The always popular panel of federal and state agency representatives’ discussion of financial resources for community economic development projects did not disappoint those who attended this session.

The IIRA MAPPING the Future of Your Community Program presented its Vision Awards during the conference. Dwight, IL was presented the Community Teamwork Award, Dewey Rewerts of Toulon received the Community Champion Award for his work regarding tourism in Stark County and the Professional Partnership Award was given to the Carthage Redevelopment Committee for its work in restoration and redevelopment of downtown Carthage. Strasburg, a community without a local newspaper, received the Innovation Program Award for developing a community newsletter to keep its citizens informed.

Rural Partners provides support for this conference by seeking exhibitors and helping in other ways.


REGIONS CONNECTING FOR RURAL INNOVATION - PROMISING STRATEGIES CONFERENCE
We are pleased that twelve from Illinois including six from the Rural Partners Board attended the “Regions” twelve state conference in Madison on May 4-5, 2010.  It was information packed meeting with attendees from the twelve state North Central region with focus on learning, partnerships, regionalism and strategic doing to make rural areas a better place.
Victor Vasquez, USDA Deputy Undersecretary for Rural Development, gave the keynote address and emphasized the importance of partnerships in seizing the opportunity to change our approach to rural development while building on past successes and recent investments made with ARRA (Stimulus Bill) funding.

It is a complement to Chris Merrett and Norm Walzer that several speakers at this conference have been presenters at past IIRA/GRAC/Rural Partners spring conferences.  One of those is Ed Morrison of Purdue University Center for Regional Development who led a discussion about how we move from our grandfather’s economy to our grandchildren’s economy, how to look outside current boundaries and how to work and network regionally.  He said that “collaboration leads to innovation which leads to productivity which leads to prosperity”.

Jack Ricchuito, (coach, author and facilitator) lead a session on making strategic learning and doing a dynamic, collaborative and agile process.  He lead an interactive discussion about how we would like to see the future twenty years from now and then provided a process to follow to realize our dreams.

In addition, there were breakout sessions with knowledgeable speakers on the topics of small business and entrepneurship, energy, broadband and local foods and tourism development.  Also, each state set up a learning station of best practices and innovative, successful models and projects to share with attendees.

Each state is expected to return home and create new partnerships and regional collaboration, implement best practices learned at the conference and undertake performance actions.

Conference information will be posted at http://wirural.org/pra2010 and http://www.partnersforruralamerica.org/.

USDA Rural Development provided funding through Partners for Rural America to assist state rural development councils support the cost of the four regional conferences and follow up actions.


USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT STEPS UP RURAL FUNDING
In the year since the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) also known as the Stimulus Bill was signed into law, USDA Rural Development in Illinois has advanced more than $395 million in loans and grants.  Forty nine non-profit and for profit organizations, public bodies and businesses in Illinois and nearly 3,800 home purchases were funded.

“Recovery Act projects are putting people to work and helping rural communities of all sizes build a foundation for economic strength and future prosperity,” said Colleen Callahan, Illinois State Director for Rural Development.

ARRA funds have supported Illinois businesses with $27 million in loan guarantees.  Eighteen water and waste disposal systems were funded and 18 communities received financing for projects such as libraries, county buildings, fire stations, a dental clinic and other purposes.  Funds from ARRA were used to help 3,753 Illinois families attain their dream of becoming a homeowner.

Even after the Recovery Act funds are exhausted, USDA Rural Development will have its annually appropriated funding available.  RD’s website can be found at www.rurdev.usda.gov/il

USDA Rural Development is a charter member of Rural Partners.  Rural Partners helped publicize this special funding initiative as well as ongoing opportunities for financial and technical assistance from federal, state and private sources to help make Illinois a better place in which to live and work.


RURAL PARTNERS CAPTURES LOCAL PERSPECTIVES AND RECOMMENDATIONS
In preparation for a twelve state regional conference in the North Central region of the country and to guide action on initiatives in Illinois Rural Partners hosted two workshop sessions at the Rural Community Economic Development Conference in Peoria.  What are the challenges, what are the opportunities and what policy changes are needed with regard to business development and entrepreneurship, energy, broadband, local foods and tourism were the topics?  Some of the comments received follow:

SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
    •Start up funds including angel networks are needed.
    •Entrepreneurs often do not understand the importance of detailed business plans and start up cash to enhance their opportunity for success.
    •Infrastructure and support networks to help in the development of an idea into a business plan are needed.
    •Recent cuts in funding for Small Business Development Centers reduces one of the best local sources of counseling and assistance.
    •There is a need to recognize that existing business expansion and second stage entrepreneurship  have the best chance for success.
    •Expansion of micro lending programs and peer to peer support networks are needed.

ENERGY
    •Affordable community level solutions and funding for green energy ideas are needed.
    •Long term policies across jurisdictions to provide support for development are needed.
    •New energy projects display a community’s progressiveness plus create jobs.  Wind farms are an example.
    •Extension and the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs have good technical assistance programs.
    •Uncertainty of federal and state policies, subsidies and tax credits is a problem.
    •Must have support for long term strategies and not just focus on short term payback.

BROADBAND
    •A map of where current service is available is needed.
    •Underserved areas must be identified and service providers should work cooperatively to address that need.
    •Many local communities still do not understand the importance of broadband to job creation, retaining youth, provision of essential services (education, health care, etc.).
    •Wireless and satellite offer good service in rural areas.
    •Illinois needs to learn from successful broadband deployment in other states.
    •Rural areas often cannot meet connectivity requirements for schools, businesses, health care facilities, etc.

LOCAL FOODS
    •People want it, it helps the local economy, and it meets a need where there is no local grocery store.
    •There is a need to expand people’s knowledge of what local foods are.  Food banks, local institutions using fresh and local foods, community kitchens and community gardens all offer opportunities.
    •The cost of local foods is sometimes higher especially for organics.  A “local” food doesn’t always mean “better”.
    •A review of health and consumer protection policies is needed for local foods.

TOURISM
    •There may be benefits to tying local events and local history.
    •Agritourism is seasonal and must be linked to other community events and resources.  Collaborations with neighboring communities help attract visitors.
    •The wine trail in Southern Illinois has been successful.
    •Marketing resources are limited.