IIRA Mapping Program Helps Illinois Communities
With Community And Economic Development Goals
MACOMB — With a new century rapidly approaching, having goals and a vision for the future may
be crucial to a town's viability; and the Illinois Institute
for Rural Affairs (IIRA) at Western Illinois University is
working with Illinois communities to establish those
goals and that vision.
The IIRA's "MAPPING (Management and Planning
Program Involving Non-metropolitan Groups) the Future of Your Community" has been involved with 30
Illinois cities of various sizes in 24 counties since the
program began in 1991, according to IIRA Research
Associate Steve Kline.
"Communities have sought assistance from the IIRA
since 1986, so as we collect information on rural areas
we look for better ways to get it out to the people,"
Kline explained. "MAPPING started as an outreach effort. We provided our services to three communities for
the pilot program in 1991 and it just took off from
there."
Kline said that while the economic development
concept has been around for some time, the harsh realities of the 1980s made it more of an issue for the 90s as
many rural areas have experienced losses in population,
youth and income.
"The 90s are a time of terrific planning and vision for
the next century. Our program is a strategic visioning
program with the participating communities looking 10
to 20 years down the road," he added. "There are a lot
of resources in rural communities that they may not
have access to or even discovered yet. There's a lot of
potential for rural communities willing to commit their
time and consider innovative approaches."
IIRA staff guide community leaders through three
in-depth sessions to help the community create an action plan for community and economic development.
The Institute also serves as a clearinghouse for technical
assistance and information after the MAPPING sessions. Funding for the program is provided through the
Office of Lt. Governor Bob Kustra and the Governor's
Rural Affairs Council.
Ted Bartlett of the Schuyler County Economic Development Corporation (SCEDC) in Rushville said his
group was the first to participate in the MAPPING
program in 1991.
"It was really a critical time for us. We had no formal
organization then, just an ad hoc committee that was
trying to keep going," he explained. "The MAPPING
session was ideal; it was the shot in the arm we needed."
Due to the IIRA's program, Bartlett said that the
Schuyler County group met their original goals, such as
hiring an economic development coordinator and successfully forming the SCEDC.
The success of the MAPPING program has led the
IIRA to hire another research associate who will strictly
do follow-up work with the MAPPING communities,
Kline added.
"We have about 150 long-range goals initiated
throughout the state. There is a lot of activity generated
through MAPPING and now that requires follow-up,"
he said.
Kline also said that in the next year, the IIRA will put
more emphasis on providing workshops on a regular
basis so MAPPING communities can interact with one
another. The seminars will be directed toward a specific subject, such as revitalizing the downtown.
"We are also seeing a new relationship with the
Department of Commerce and Community Affairs
(DCCA). They have started a Competitive Communities Initiative and a prerequisite for that program is for a
community to conduct some type of assessment for
community development," he explained. "MAPPING
fits right in and is seen as one possible tool for that
assessment."
For more information on MAPPING, contact the
Institute at 309/298-2237. •
Page 18 / Illinois Municipal Review / January 1995
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