Two regions in Illinois, one Northern and one Southern, will participate in a USDA Rural Development Program providing training and technical assistance in developing a rural regional community economic development strategy.
The Northern Region is comprised of Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties. The Southern Region is comprised of Crawford, Edwards, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, Wayne and White Counties. The program, Stronger Economies Together (SET), is provided through a partnership between USDA Rural Development, the nation’s four Regional Rural Development Centers and their land-grant university partners, including the University of Illinois.
Additionally, Hancock County will participate in the SET program as part of the Mississippi and Des Moines Rivers Confluence Regions (Lee County in Iowa, Clark County in Missouri and Hancock County in Illinois), led by Iowa.
“Stronger Economies Together (SET) could almost be considered a subtitle to our USDA Rural Development mission statement, ‘Committed to the Future of Rural Communities’,” said Colleen Callahan, IL Rural Development Director. “Working together, collaboratively and cooperatively, is essential to spur economic development, create wealth and build regional economic strength. That’s the purpose of SET.”
Over the course of the twelve-month training program, the regional team will develop a vision and goals, examine regional demographics, opportunities, assets and barriers, and create a regional economic development plan. Training and technical assistance will be provided by Illinois USDA Rural Development staff and a core team from the University of Illinois Extension, as well as state-wide and area resource providers and experts.
The SET Program is designed to strengthen the capacity of rural communities and counties to work together in developing and implementing an economic development blueprint that strategically builds on the current and emerging economic strengths of the region. Now in place in over 50 regions in 28 states, SET utilizes a regional approach to community economic development focused on working with neighboring counties to capitalize on available assets and work together to decrease economic obstacles.
For more information, contact Kate O’Hara, IL Community Economic Development Coordinator, USDA Rural Development, at 217.403.6202 or kate.ohara@il.usda.gov.