Peace Corps Fellows Program could help county with development
Read and comment on this story from The Hawk Eye about a group of Louisa County citizens has agreed to apply to a Western Illinois University fellowship program, which will place a graduate student in the county for 11 months to work on community and economic development issues. John Gruidl, professor and manager of WIU's Peace Corps Fellows Program, told around 20 people during a meeting last week at the Langwood Education Center near Grandview, that the 9–year–old program has provided students to over 50 rural Illinois communities. Read the story at:
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Program could help county with development
By JIM RUDISILL
for The Hawk Eye
GRANDVIEW — A group of Louisa County citizens has agreed to apply to a Western Illinois University fellowship program, which will place a graduate student in the county for 11 months to work on community and economic development issues.
John Gruidl, professor and manager of WIU's Peace Corps Fellows Program, told around 20 people during a meeting last week at the Langwood Education Center near Grandview, that the 9–year–old program has provided students to over 50 rural Illinois communities.
Officials agreed to consider branching into Iowa after Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Brian Tapp inquired into the program, and West Liberty resident Mallory Smith became a fellow. Smith, however, said she wanted to stay within commuting distance of her home.
"(This is) a great opportunity to pursue with little economic cost to us," Louisa County Supervisor Ken Purdy told the group Thursday night.
According to Gruidl, there is a $20,000 sponsorship fee that defrays salary and training expenses. The host also provides mileage reimbursement and office space with telephone and e–mail access for the fellow.
In return for the fee, Smith would work about 36 hours a week towards objectives set by the local sponsors. Gruidl said a work plan would spell out those objectives and give everyone involved in the project a clear sense of direction.
Local resident Bob Schlutz said one of those objectives should be to encourage new businesses to come into the county.
"You need a person to go out and do that," he said.
Supervisor Forrest Bartenhagen agreed.
"We need to grow because our revenue base won't support all our services," he said.
Columbus Junction Mayor Dan Wilson said the work plan should also look at other possibilities.
"We may want to focus on a few things that play to our strengths," he said.
Smith said whatever objectives are eventually set, one of the keys to success will be communicating those objectives to residents and potential development prospects.
"We'll be selling the idea," she explained.
Before that can begin however, the group will need to raise around $10,000 to combine with an anticipated $10,000 grant to finance the fellowship. Purdy said the supervisors would commit some funds, but the board hoped other public agencies would contribute. He also said local civic organizations would be asked to support the effort.
Wapello banker Kent Wollenhaupt said raising the money would be feasible, if the group is able to clearly show what the benefits of the program would be.
"When you're going out fund–raising, it helps to say what you're going to buy with that money," he said.
The group agreed to begin developing that list by scheduling another meeting for Monday, Aug. 11, at 6:30 p.m. at the State Bank of Wapello.
If the fund–raising is successful, Smith would begin working in January.
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