On January 23, businesses, community organizations and SIUE faculty and students convened to talk business and economic development in rural America, thanks to a new grant initiative led by NCERC Faculty Collaborator Dr. Bob Dixon and NCERC Assistant Director for Communications, Education, and Workforce Initiative Courtney Breckenridge.

The“Fueling Growth” event, hosted by Monroe County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) in partnership with Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) and the University of Illinois Extension, was designed to launch a new United States Department of Agriculture grant-funded program in Monroe County and nearby Dupo and to help raise awareness about services available.
 
Congressman Mike Bost joined the event by video from the nation’s capital to applaud the program, which was funded by the USDA Non-Land Grant College of Agriculture Capacity-Building grants program.
 
 “Monroe County and the surrounding areas represent a shining example of how Illinois’ agricultural abundance can translate into economic opportunity and community development, with a vibrant small business community driven largely by food, beverage, and agricultural-based companies including microbreweries, distilleries, restaurants, and of course, a strong agriculture and agribusiness sector,” Bost said. “I look forward to seeing the fruits of this project in the coming years, in the form of new jobs and economic opportunity, a larger, stronger and more diverse workforce entering food and agriculture careers, and enhanced agriculture education at all levels, from middle and high schools to undergraduate and master’s students.”