The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
By David Grimes-The Quill
Gladstone- More Henderson County residents are beginning to understand that good things can come from participating in the Green Communities program.
"Some county residents felt that they were not being listened to by the county board in taking advantage of the program," said Shannon Duncan with the Western Illinois Regional Council in Macomb, Ill. "But several board members were at this meeting and I think they have a better understanding of how they can benefit from Green Communities without spending money to do it."
Green Communities was created by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency two years ago as a way to help communities statewide initiate projects that will generate economic development.
Projects may be broad-ranging, from enhancing tourism to habitat preservation.
WIRC oversees an eight-county area, including Henderson County, and was allocated $74,000 to use for those counties showing tangible, detailed, long-ranging plans for resolving existing problems.
The April 26 meeting in Gladstone fleshed out several interesting goals, according to Duncan, who is completing the county's application for inclusion in Green Communities.
"There was interest shown in wind turbine sites, biking trails being developed between the county and Peoria, Ill., and another between the county and Wisconsin, creating a living history farm and a motel or hotel at the junction of U.S. 34 and the Carman Road," Duncan said.
In fact, Duncan said, the Henderson County meeting was the most successful of four meetings she conducted last week, including sessions in Warren, Knox and McDonough counties.
Discussion among attendees at the Henderson County meeting indicated a better understanding by county residents of what the program is about, Duncan said.
Corporate sponsorship is an integral ingredient in a community deciding on goals and seeing them through to completion, Duncan said.
Henderson had no group to look to in that respect until the Henderson County Economic Development Corporation was created last year.
"They (Henderson County) are fortunate to have an economic development group that shares many of the same goals as the community," she said.
There is no cost to participate in the Green Communities program, but some in-kind participation is required in order for grant money to be awarded.
Duncan already has completed that requirement through her assistance to the county and assuming the responsibility for completing their application.
The deadline for requesting inclusion in the program is this month.
Duncan said she should know if Henderson County is approved to participate sometime in late June.