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