Gisele Hamm, Manager, MAPPING
The best way to predict the future is to create it. Peter Drucker
Management and Planning Programs Created in 1991 130+ communities in 60+ counties Average MAPPING community population = ~4,000 [ranges from ~300 18,000+] Funded through the State of Illinois Ag Premium Fund and administered through DCEO since 1996, but funding has been suspended since March 2015.
Economic Revitalization Vitality Phase I Growth Phase II Development Phase III Stagnation Phase IV Stability Retrenchment Phase V TIME Decline Darling (1994)
Increased competition for retail & declining downtowns Shift from manufacturing to service jobs at lower pay Youth outmigration and aging population Difficulties recruiting and maintaining strong leadership Inadequate financing for development efforts Aging/inadequate infrastructure Negativity/Apathy
Gather diverse set of community ideas and talents Explore innovative approaches Identify local & external resources to implement solutions Develop local capacity for decision-making Build community consensus Set a course for the future Make vision a reality and achieve community goals
Volunteers are the HEART of Positive Community Change Commitment Inclusion Follow-through Strength in Numbers Fostering Leadership Structured Planning is Essential Continuity of Sessions Commitment to Entire Process Building on Assets is Better Than Focusing on Problems
Meet with Local Steering Committee To the Future! Where are we now? Community-Led Town Meeting Where do we want to be? Making it Happen! How do we get there?
VISION BHAG 1 BHAG 2 Strategy Strategy Projects
Business Retention, Expansion, and Attraction Downtown Revitalization Entrepreneurship Infrastructure Maintenance and Improvement Community Marketing Tourism & Recreation Housing Beautification
Developed community theme of Discover Durand Charm and received 501c3 status Created monthly Friday Night Frenzy, to encourage shopping and socialization downtown. Monthly themes to celebrate the holidays and community events such as movies in the park keep the event lively and fresh. Filled empty storefront windows with info about community events Installed Durand Business District signs, welcome signs, and created an adopt-a-pot program Applied for and received USDA RBEG Grant for $85,000 with the Village contributing matching local funds of $85,800. Funds will be used towards beautification and development of Durand downtown square. Hosted Peace Corps Fellow to work on achievement of high priority community and economic development goals. Submitted Main Street application and hired PCF as director With the goal of providing a public library, have utilized the school library as a public library as well, providing staffing two nights per week and Saturday mornings for public use. Created and held a summer reading program for youth. Held a Center Park clean-up day to clean-up and beautify their community Held community classes, including computer safety and reflexology Held numerous fundraisers and events, including an alumni football game, which raised over $4,300 for community projects and an annual Rubber Ducky Race, raising over $1800 in 2016 Received $15,895 grant from Community Foundation of N. IL for creation of sound garden Raised $24,000 for creation of mural completed Summer 2015 Advocated for the creation of a telepharmacy which opened in 2016
Strasburg Completed MAPPING in 2007 Formation of community organization Strasburg CAN! Fundraising Community Fund: $80,000+ raised thus far Various fundraisers including Hog Roast, Gnome Fest, and Annual Plant Sale, Quarter Auction and Basket Bingo Community Branding and Marketing Website, newsletter, Facebook, Brochure, Gnome banners Adoption of Garden Gnome as community mascot Coordination of TIF District Recruitment of convenience store/subway 24-hour fitness center, daycare New community signage and landscape Worked with IL Dept. of Corrections to create winter decorations Two-time Governor s Hometown Award winner! Hosts a Farmers Market New housing subdivision Welcome packets for new residents New Stew-Stras PTA Variety of community events: Santa Brigade Breakfast and Market, Strawberry Festival, youth movie nights, Tea with a Princess Collected 1,100 lbs. of plastic caps for recycling into a picnic table for the school Renovated community building, added new façade, permeable paver parking lot with lighting Organized a Seasoned Citizens group
Worked with the City and the County EDC to bring fiber connectivity direct to homes in Hillsboro and WiFi throughout downtown Host annual fall European Style Harvest Market with variety of vendors and entertainment Hosted pop-up coffee shop that spurred the development of a bricks and mortar coffee shop opening in 2018 Established awww yeah! campaign to highlight the positive things happening at Hillsboro Schools in newspaper, on radio and on Facebook page Created adopt-a-pot program and decorate the flower pots for each season Developed educational video on Common Core being implemented at area schools Established program to connect elementary school teachers with regular, in-class, community volunteers Hosted a Peace Corps Fellow Held a very successful pop-up art show Organizes a cardboard boat regatta each summer
Cleaned and remodeled a local stage and began offering a summer concert series each summer Crafted a promotional website at imagine-hillsboro.com Organized a very popular holiday celebration A Storybook Christmas featuring a new holiday book each year Organized a chili cook-off with a grand prize of $1,000 for the Harvest Market Working with area schools to provide training for teachers and students in computer coding Hosts an annual back-to-school Luau and pool party Volunteers planted 22 trees in Challacombe Park Developed a community garden Submitted a HUD grant to rehabilitate low value housing Hillsboro initiated the Hillsboro Community Development Corporation, a for profit group focused on housing development
Searching out the small town cool, creative, and inspiring stuff from around this small town and others like it! Young Boomerangs re-located back to their hometown Renovated old downtown building for living and working Pop-up coffee shop, art studio Refinery (vintage goods store), record store/music recording studio, coffee shop (Black Rabbit Coffee Roasting) Promoting an entrepreneurial culture in the community (and region) https://www.facebook.com/smalltowncool/ Opera House Brewing Company To Open In 2018
Expanding broadband across community and adding WiFi to downtown Recruiting and supporting technology businesses (housing, quality of schools, property taxes are challenges, however) Providing computer education Creating a tech center in library technology
Recognition of need for action and sense of responsibility Willingness to accept change, be entrepreneurial Strong local leadership and organizational structure Clearly communicated vision and goals Widespread support and collaboration within community Follow-through with documented results Commitment to the goals & sustainable progress Regional approach to community development
Gisele Hamm, Program Manager MAPPING the Future of Your Community Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs Western Illinois University GF-Hamm@wiu.edu 309.298.4019/800.526.9943