University of Illinois Extension
Bureau County Unit
July 2006
Enriching Lives Through Education
Welcome
Community Leadership & Economic Development
- Extension staff and Extension Educators in Community and Economic Development from the Rockford Center met with the Spring Valley PRIDE Board and the Spring Valley Community and Economic Development Director to discuss possible Extension programs for the PRIDE membership and City of Spring Valley businesses. A program has been scheduled for October 5 - watch for details!
- Extension is collaborating with the City of Princeton, City of Spring Valley, and Bureau County Administrator/Board to develop a joint county-wide Community & Economic Development position which will provide for a regional development approach and development of a county website. Applications are now being accepted for this position through August 4. The committee will meet in August to review applications and schedule interviews.
- At the request of the Mendota Chamber of Commerce, Bureau County Extension staff met and shared the new Bureau County Prevention Education Program with the Chamber, City of Mendota Police Chief and Deputy, and city representatives.
- A joint collaboration for the development of a high speed, distance video-conference facility is in progress. The collaborators include Extension, City of Princeton, and Becker Professional Suites (Daryl and Marsha Becker); the project will provide for the latest in technology which will allow people in the facility to communicate both through live audio and video TV. Connection to multiple distance sites will offer speakers, meetings, educational programs and more to be scheduled providing a savings to time and travel costs, while opening up new and expanded opportunities for local groups. The City of Princeton awarded $2,000.00 to Extension through the Community Betterment Grant in support of the project. Extension has submitted a Technology Challenge Grant to the State Extension Office for needed technology. The Technology Challenge Grant was approved in the amount of $16,500. and increased to $19,000. Installation is now underway with plans for completion by September 1.
- Extension staff hosted a meeting on July 27th involving the Route of the Voyageurs National Scenic Byway steering committee and the Grand Illinois Trail staff of IDNR. These projects old significant promise for new tourism initiatives throughout the county.
- Training for teachers on Illinois government is being planned for the Fall. The League of Women voters will be helping to implement this new youth development project of IllinoisExtension through Bureau County Extension.
- Extension is working with the Malden School Superintendent and local advisory group for the start-up and administration of a new model after-school program in Malden opening this August.
- Extension staff continues to work with a task force to prepare Youth Leadership "BestPractices" standards for use statewide with University of Illinois Extension programming and others interested in providing leadership opportunities. This team is exploring best practices for programs involving mentoring, teens as teachers, youth/adult partnership including youth working with governing bodies and leadership academies to help youth feel invested in their communities. Staff is also working on a team of 5 educators piloting special programming on local government in Illinois. More than 400 youth in Northwest Illinois are participating in the pilot of this project through Bureau County Extension.
