Events Upcoming
New Members
Date and Time
Wednesday Mar 9, 2016 Thursday Mar 10, 2016
March 9 from 8:00a.m. to 7p.m.
March 10 from 8:30a.m. to 12:00p.m.
Location
Crowne Plaza
3000 S. Dirksen Parkway
Fees/Admission
$160 on or before February 16, 2016
$175 on or after February 17, 2016
Checks, money orders, vouchers, or purchase orders should be made payable to the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs.
To register four people and receive the fourth person free, register online, download the registration form at www.iira.org, or call (309) 298-2637.
Description
This year's conference is focused on creative strategies for the future of rural Illinois. Speakers will discuss broad trends affecting rural places. They will then present new approaches designed to revitalize rural communities, teaching attendees to identify and accentuate the attributes that enhance the quality of rural living. Sessions include presentations on tourism, downtown revitalization, community health access and assessment, and the importance of arts and the creative economy to rural regions. Attendees will also discover how to support local entrepreneurship by using innovative strategies such as micro-lending and crowdsourcing, as well as learning about both state and federal resources available to communities. In addition, several speakers will focus on resources available to communities today from both state and federal agencies. Finally, the annual conference will once again provide ample opportunities for networking and connecting with colleagues and with leaders in rural community economic development.