COMMUNITY PLANNING WORKSHOP

1/23/08

View the Event Flyer.

Register Online

Is your community all it can be? Does your city or county have a plan for the future? If the answer to either question is no, you are encouraged to attend the Community Planning for Economic Growth Workshop from 6 - 9 PM on January 23, 2008 at Shawnee Community College. The Southernmost Illinois Delta Empowerment Zone (SIDEZ) is sponsoring the workshop in partnership with Shawnee Community College, Southern Five Regional Planning District and Development Commission and University of Illinois Extension.

"We have an outstanding group of speakers. We hope that the workshop will excite and encourage citizens and their leaders to take an active role in shaping the future of their communities," said SIDEZ Executive Director Donna Raynalds. For towns or counties that would like to develop a vision and plan but don't know how to get started, Gisele Hamm, Manager of the MAPPING the Future of Your Community Program at the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University will explain the MAPPING program and how to participate.

Les Cavada, Program Associate for Illinois Main Street will provide information on using the Main Street approach to downtown revitalization. Cavada has a background in architecture, neighborhood and commercial revitalization and comprehensive planning. He was recognized by the State of New Mexico for outstanding comprehensive plans for Pueblo Sandia and Pueblo Tesuque and won national recognition for the planning and design of a new town called Rio Rancho Estates.

Bill Kuhn, County Engineer for Fulton County, Illinois has provided engineering, financial and real estate consulting services throughout the USA, Asia and Central America. He will share his unique and practical insights into unlocking a community's potential, including the need for zoning ordinances and land use planning and how to create public/private partnerships and sound financial planning.

Partial funding for the Community Planning for Economic Growth initiative comes from a Rural Business Opportunity Grant from USDA Rural Development. Citizens and elected officials from throughout the region are invited to attend. There is no charge to attend but pre-registration is requested. To register, call SIDEZ at 618-745-6307 or 866-407-1450 or register onlin here. SIDEZ is an equal opportunity provider.