Conference highlights need for regional approach to economic development

(Note: the following article was shared by Susan Odum of University of Illinois Extension.)

The annual Rural Community Economic Development Conference hosted by the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs and Rural Partners in conjunction with the Governor’s Rural Affairs Council, chaired by Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon, brought together development professionals and local practitioners to share innovative ideas to address the issues and challenges facing the communities throughout rural Illinois.   

University of Illinois Extension community economic development educator Susan Odum and others from throughout the region participated in the 2013 event, which had a theme of "Meeting New Challenges with Innovative Approaches."     

Odum said the 2013 event was chock full of noted quotes and comments, including one from Rural Partners representative Jerry Townsend who stated: "If you do what you always do, you will continue to get what you always got,” which is similar to a quote often attributed to Albert Einstein which defines insanity as “doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.”  

In addition, Barbara Wyckoff with Dynamica Consulting, a featured speaker in the opening session, stated “people engage when it serves them."

A Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, FDIC, representative stated “when counties decline, the tax burden is shared by those that remain."

A Highland community representative reinforced the need for self-sufficiency and a call to action with the statement “don’t just sit back and wait for others to come help you!”

An Economic Development Administration, EDA, representative’s statements included “we are not a single zip code or a single city – we are all in it together as a part of a larger regional economy” and “when the right partners align, magic happens.”

So what do these messages mean to those of us in Southernmost Illinois who are continually being asked to do more with less?  

The over-arching conference theme suggests the need to be proactive and progressive in our efforts to break down the “silos” that still exist throughout the region and work together to develop a collaborative regional approach to community economic development in the area we refer to fondly as Southern Illinois.

Whether it is promoting the numerous outdoor recreation assets throughout the region, developing a regional broadband strategy to spur future developments, developing coalitions to address regional issues and challenges, or encouraging local residents to exert their economic buying power by buying local whenever possible, the message is clear: by leveraging our combined resources and assets, we can in turn strengthen our local communities and our region, resulting in a win-win for all of Southern Illinois.