Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs

08/28/2026

The Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (IIRA) at Western Illinois University is actively involved with the Community Development Institute (CDI) Council and serves as one of the host sites for the Community Development Institute program, Midwest CDI. The institute provides the full range of training required to pursue the Professional Community and Economic Developer (PCED) certification. Midwest CDI follows the CDI Core Curriculum, and participants must complete all three years of CDI training before becoming eligible to apply for the PCED exam.

Midwest CDI was held August 10–13, 2026, at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel in Springfield, Illinois. The annual training brings together community and economic development professionals from across the Midwest, including participants from Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, and Missouri.

For more information about the Midwest CDI visit https://iira.org/conferences-trainings-and-workshops/midwest-community-development-institute/

Look at all the Western Illinois University alumni that is making a difference in their communities.

The following Western Illinois University alumni participated in Midwest CDI 2026:

Left to Right:
Kristin Terry – ’26 MA -Community and Economic Development
Michele Hedden ‘07 BB -Finance
Sean Park ’00 MA Economics
Kasi Henshaw – ’15 BA -English ’21 MA- English
Stepheny McMahon –’19 MA- Community and Economic Development
Alicia Dierikx- ’19 BS- Education, '21 MS- RPTA
Chris Sutton, Ph.D – ’88 BS Geography '91 MA Geography
Po Wilkey – ’26 MA Community and Economic Development
LaShawn Gordon - ’26 MA Community and Economic Development
Kathryn Rodemich – ’09 BA Fine Arts, Theatre
Alex Benishek – ’22 MA Community and Economic Development
Barbi Brewer-Watson - ’14 Bachelor of Music
Kathleen Weber- ’12 BA General Studies, ’22 MA Community and Economic Development
Audra Elam- ’26 MA Community and Economic Development
Savannah Ballard - ’23 BA Fine Arts Communication
Miranda Lambert - ’21 MA Community and Economic Development, ’21 Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

Western Illinois University Alumni Association WIU Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration WIU Accounting, Finance, Economics, & Decision Sciences -AFED WIU College of Education and Human Services College of Humanities, Arts, Sciences, and Education

08/26/2026

Artificial Intelligence in Illinois’ Firms

This research explores AI use among firms in Illinois using the Data Axle database. An analysis of firms’ websites reveals that AI components such as NLP are widely used or mentioned, but questions remain about the value of AI for businesses.

Click here to read more>>>https://iira.org/publications/

08/25/2026

Congratulations to the newest Professional Community and Economic Developer (PCED) certified professionals!

The PCED certification is offered through the Community Development Council (CDC), a national nonprofit organization that supports Community Development Institute (CDI) training opportunities across the country.

The certification recognizes community development professionals who work collaboratively with individuals, organizations, and local leaders to strengthen their communities, promote economic prosperity, and effectively leverage both local and external resources.

More than 350 professionals nationwide have earned the PCED designation. This nationally recognized certification demonstrates a strong foundation of knowledge, skills, and practical experience in community and economic development.

Congratulations to these professionals on achieving this important milestone!

https://iira.org/conferences-trainings-and-workshops/midwest-community-development-institute/pced-certification/

08/25/2026

We are hiring!

🚍Illinois Rural Transit Assistance Center at the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs.

Program Coordinator, Transit Specialist I

Click here for more information 👉👉https://wiu.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=204000

08/24/2026

🎉 Midwest Community Development Institute (CDI) 2026 has officially concluded!

Thank you to all of our participants, speakers, class directors, and partners who helped make this year’s institute a success. We appreciate your commitment to strengthening communities and advancing the community and economic development profession.

📅 Save the Date for Midwest CDI 2027!
August 9–12, 2027
📍 Springfield, Illinois

Midwest CDI is part of the Community Development Institute (CDI) Council and provides the full range of training required to pursue the Professional Community and Economic Developer (PCED) certification. Participants complete three years of training based on the CDI Core Curriculum before becoming eligible to apply for the PCED exam.

We hope to see many returning participants and some new faces in Springfield in 2027!



For more information click here>>>>>https://iira.org/conferences-trainings-and-workshops/midwest-community-development-institute/

08/21/2026

Don't miss the opportunity to apply for new vehicles - due September 21, 2026. The Illinois Department of Transportation's (IDOT) latest round of the Consolidated Vehicle Procurement program is now accepting applications. All 5311 and 5310 operators are eligible. If you are a non-profit unsure if you are eligible, please read the press release and contact IDOT for more details and assistance.

>>>>https://illinois-department-of-transportation.prezly.com/paratransit-vehicle-grants-available-through-idot

08/13/2026

08/02/2026

Corn Belt Ports harvesting new ideas to grow waterborne commerce

“There’s something profoundly important about rivers, locks and dams, and you often see hydroelectric generating stations,” Chris Merrett, Dean of Innovation and Economic Development and Director of Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs, who moderated the panel, said. “You see rail. You see roads and bridges. You see this incredible agglomeration of infrastructure that drives economic development.”

Developing a workforce is essential in this pursuit. Already, partners including Culver-Stockton and WIU are recognizing these potential educational tracts. Still, there was a consensus that community colleges and tech schools also have to be brought into the fold.

Public perception can sometimes inaccurately limit the Mississippi River’s potential CANTON, Mo.–It’s time to shake those old ways of thinking when it comes to the Mississippi River, and that it’s just about floods and moving corn and soybeans. That was the message of a special panel of expe...

07/29/2026

We look forward to working on this.

The IIN has awarded over $250,000 to three new social innovation seed grant projects! Provided by The University of Illinois System, the funding translates research into projects that directly affect lives, address critical social problems and build trusted partnerships in communities across Illinois.

The three newly funded projects and researchers are:

1️⃣ Building an Entrepreneurship Support Organization: Post-Academy Services, Regional Site Evaluation, and Human Centered Design for Breakthrough Business in Greater DeKalb and Beyond
‣ Sean Park, Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs, Western Illinois University
‣ Chad Glover, Opportunity DeKalb
‣ Furkan Amil Gur, Northern Illinois University
‣ Danita Sims, Opportunity DeKalb

2️⃣ Connected Stories: Sustaining Lifespan Digital Literacy in Rural Illinois through Intergenerational Digital Storytelling in Public and School Libraries
‣ Anna Smith, Illinois State University
‣ Christopher Merrett, Western Illinois University
‣ Sarah Phelps, Learning Technology Center
‣ Eric Sheffield, Western Illinois University
‣ Chang Su-Russell, Illinois State University

3️⃣ Illinois Youth Media Innovation Network
‣ Angela Aguayo, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
‣ Julia Rendleman, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
‣ Reginald Hardwick, Illinois Public Media
‣ Zena Madison, Breaking the Cycle
‣ Denise Zaccardi, Community TV Network

Congrats to all! 👏

Read more at https://iin.uillinois.edu/about-us/news/iin-awards-seed-grants-to-three-new-social-innovation-projects/

07/20/2026

Shawnee Mass Transit District celebrated National Rural Transit Day!

Public transportation plays an essential role in maintaining quality of life for people in rural areas who are unable to drive, providing access to healthcare, employment, education, recreation, social activities, and other essential destinations.

Thank you to Shawnee Mass Transit District for all you do!

Learn more about the IL Rural Transit Assistance Center here>>https://iira.org/rtac/