Schultz Discusses Rural Development Activities

The director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunities told rural community leaders that the state needs to take advantage of existing assets and strengthen others to strengthen economies in rural Illinois.

"We need to build on our strengths," Jim Schultz said during the Rural Community Economic Development Conference in Springfield. "We have to think about different ways of doing things in rural Illinois."

Schultz noted that while rural Illinois' unemployment rate has averaged 5.7%, unemployment rates in some rural counties topped 8%. December unemployment in Johnson, Pulaski and Union counties measured 9% or higher.

Schultz also touched on one development possibility.

"Water will be the lifeblood of our civilization," Schultz said. "Today more people want to eat locally grown or organic food."

This summer, state leaders plan to promote southern Illinois as a possible location for California vegetable growers who have struggled with water shortages, Schultz said. From southern Illinois, growers could supply several large cities within a 250-mile radius, he continued.

Schultz told Farm Bureau's "Farmweek" the state has set no date yet for a California "trade mission." He attributed the Food and Agricultural Roadmap for Illinois (FARM Illinois) for contributing to the strategy.

DCEO, FARM Illinois and the Illinois Department of Agriculture have talked with Illinois Farm Bureau staff about the trade mission and more conversations are planned.