By KAREN BINDER
Illinois Correspondent

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. — Colleen Callahan found herself saddled with a daunting task when she accepted her July appointment as the new director for Illinois Rural Development.

She was already comfortable with Rural Development’s role and duties, thanks to her 29 years in farm broadcasting for WMBD in Peoria and WCIA in Champaign, and agriculture public relations. And her farm background from growing up on a farm near Milford in Iroquois County – and now farming in Kickapoo, near Peoria, with her husband – certainly helped with her career transition.
But touting the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act customized for use by the USDA, in the throes of a recession, was a challenge she welcomed with creativity.

“The Rural Development Road Show is a spinoff from the ‘Antique Road Show,’ where people bring in items for assessment. I decided this was fun way to promote the Recovery and Reinvestment Act. I hope people will come forward with projects and needs instead of antiques, and see how we might be able to work together,” Callahan explained.

Nominated for the post by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and confirmed in July, Callahan hit the ground running with planning for four road shows statewide. Turnout at the meetings has been “fantastic,” with more than 100 people showing up for the Quincy session alone. Plans are under way to take the road show to additional regions in the state this winter.

Producers, ag business owners, farm-related entrepreneurs, rural community leaders and bankers have filled the meetings to learn details behind the Reinvestment Act, which essentially helps local banks provide guaranteed low-interest loans.

Designed to help jump-start local economies and create or save jobs, the Act includes funding to help build and preserve critical rural infrastructure for business and industry, community facilities, water and waste systems and housing.

“The sky’s the limit, as far as the type of businesses we can help, with few exclusions,” commented Rusty Wanstreet, a Rural Development area director.

The funding level is about $1.5 billion nationwide, in loan funds through September 2010, with about $45 million allocated to Illinois alone. “We basically underwrite the bank loan,” Wanstreet added.

Projects can range from new business startups and expansions to community center projects, wastewater treatment plant updates and new low-income housing.

“We’re excited about what the Rural Development has to offer. We’ve captured the attention of more people than we ever expected,’’ Callahan said. “It’s all about helping.”
For more information about Rural Development, go to www.rurdev.usda.gov/il