Mercer County: Better Together: Community-Based Planning for Economic Development

Mercer County is home to approximately 16,000 residents in rural, northwestern Illinois and is currently in the midst of a community-driven planning process with the goal of establishing a countywide economic development organization. Countywide unity and inclusive engagement are major drivers of this process. Mercer County has had a history of working toward economic development initiatives that failed to see sustained commitment and simply did not succeed. Local leaders realize that two crucial components were missing: widespread public support and continuous and dedicated funding. The Mercer County: Better Together (MCBT) planning process is designed to avoid past mistakes while strengthening the local economy and improving quality of life. This project was completed for the University of Illinois Extension and in partnership with MCBT. It is intended to serve as a resource for the residents of Mercer County and local leaders there as they continue their important efforts to bring in new opportunities and improve the lives of residents across the country.University of Illinois Extension Community and Economic Development TeamOpe