QUARTERLY REPORT
APRIL 2025
Staff Insight
An Overview of Team Insights on Ongoing Projects and Upcoming Initiatives.
Michelle Spiva, Executive Director
The first quarter of 2025 was such a whirlwind that there were too many projects to include in this newsletter. I’m sure no one wants to read an entire novel! In addition to the amazing updates included in these pages, I also had the privilege to present at the Illinois Institute of Rural Affairs conference with my Region Action Council colleagues from Birth to Five on the child care crisis in Illinois to offer some practical community partnership solutions. I was also proud to work with the Spoon River CEO board as they selected a facilitator and a full class of students for the inaugural Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities class which will begin August 2025. In addition, our office helped more than a dozen businesses in Fulton County apply for the Small Business Capital and Infrastructure Grant Program through the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity with possible awards of up to $245,000 each. Good luck to all applicants! Please feel free to contact us at any time should you need help with marketing, grants, TIF, BDD or revolving loans We are here to help!
The start of 2025 has been both exciting and energizing as we dive into several new initiatives aimed at revitalizing and reimagining our community. One of the highlights has been securing grant funding to display historic photos in Canton’s downtown vacant buildings just in time to help brighten the square ahead of the community’s Bicentennial. I’ve also been busy preparing for the upcoming Art on Main event, assisting with the bicentennial parade, and collaborating with fellow tourism directors on a new regional tourism trail that will spotlight Canton and all of Fulton County. Behind the scenes, I’ve been working on a new resident welcome bag program, developing a Canton tourism video, and crafting a new countywide visitors guide and tourism website I’m thrilled to share that I’ve also secured grant funding for a new Fulton County tourism initiative details coming soon! I’m always happy to collaborate on community projects, so feel free to reach out!
Jennie Grove, Marketing and Tourism Director
CEJA Funds
CEJA funds, derived from the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, are allocated to support a variety of programs aimed at transitioning Illinois to a 100% clean energy future.
Overview
Last September our office helped several local businesses fill out applications for a Fulton County grant program that they funded through Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) dollars. Fulton County was eligible to receive these funds because the Duck Creek Power Plant closure qualifies our area as a coal impacted community. DCEO will open the 2025 round of CEJA funds soon with applications due in May.
All schools, municipalities and taxing bodies within a 30-mile radius of the Duck Creek closure are eligible to apply!
Eligible uses of CEJA funds include, but are not limited to, the following:
Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy/Clean Energy Transition.
Workforce development, including upskilling and reskilling
Assistance for unemployed, underemployed, or low-income residents.
Public infrastructure investment.
Site cleanup and environmental remediation.
Grants to incentivize relocation or retention of companies.
Tourism, recreation, and business development opportunities
Affordable housing.
Downtown/commercial redevelopment.
This will be the final year that Fulton County is eligible to apply for these funds Please contact our office if you have questions or would like help applying for these funds on behalf of your school, municipality or taxing body.
Broadband Project
SRPED Launches Broadband Project to Identify Gaps and Expand High-Speed Access
Fulton County is taking a major step forward in closing the digital divide As part of Illinois Broadband Breakthrough Cohort 4, a 12-week program launched this spring, SRPED is partnering with local leaders to identify which parts of the county are still unserved or underserved by high-speed internet—and how to bring reliable broadband to every corner of the community.
Project Goal
While existing maps show nearly full internet coverage in Illinois, they often miss the mark—especially in rural areas like ours. This program uses real feedback from residents, farmers, businesses, and community organizations to build a more accurate broadband map for Fulton County.
We were able to collect survey responses from Fulton County locations and we are now in the process of using that data to build our own broadband map. High-speed internet is essential for remote work, virtual learning, telehealth, and modern farming. In fact, better access could boost Fulton County’s corn and soybean revenue by $2 million annually Once we identify unserved areas, our partners will work with internet providers to explore federal BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) funding opportunities. Conversations are already underway with providers like Mid Century, MTC Communications, Glasford Telephone, Prairie Power, Cass Communications, and Frontier.
As a coal-impacted community, Fulton County is also eligible for an additional $100,000 in Just Transition Funds (JTF) to help support broadband development efforts.
To learn more, contact the SRPED Executive Director, Michelle Spiva at (309) 647-2677 Ext. 4 or mspiva@cantonillinois.org.
Downtown Revitalization
As part of our ongoing efforts to revitalize Downtown Canton, we are excited to announce a new project funded through a $5,000 grant from the University of Illinois. This initiative will transform the appearance and atmosphere of our vacant downtown storefronts by installing a series of large-scale window displays featuring historic photographs of Canton.
Historic Window Display Project
This project, designed as an outdoor museum-style exhibition, will highlight key places from Canton's past. This initiative is part of our broader vision to breathe new life into the area while preserving and celebrating the community's heritage.
The installation is scheduled to be completed ahead of the upcoming Bicentennial celebration, aligning with city-wide efforts to honor Canton’s 200year legacy. The displays will remain in place until each building finds new occupants, helping bridge the gap between vacancy and revitalization with creativity and cultural value.
Placer.ai
How Placer.ai Is Helping Local Businesses Thrive in Fulton County
Placer ai is a powerful tool that uses anonymous mobile location data to show real-world foot traffic trends It gives a clear picture of when people are visiting a business or area, how long they stay, and where they go before and after And the best part? It’s already being used to help businesses right here in Fulton County
So, how can we partner together to help your business?
Smarter Marketing
Placer.ai shows you where your customers are coming from, so you can tailor advertising to specific towns or neighborhoods. If you ’ re a restaurant in Canton and notice a big chunk of your traffic is coming from Farmington, that might be a good spot to target your next Facebook ad or mailer
Better Business Hours
By analyzing peak foot traffic times, Placer ai can help you decide when to open or close—and whether staying open late on Fridays, for example, might bring in more business It takes the guesswork out of scheduling.
Understanding Your Competition
You can also look at anonymized data from similar businesses in the region to see how your foot traffic compares Are they busier on weekends? Do they get a lunch rush you ’ re missing? This kind of insight can help you finetune your strategy.
Making the Case for Funding
Whether you ' re applying for a grant, a business loan, or trying to attract an investor, Placer ai reports can back you up with real data It’s one thing to say you get a lot of customers it’s another to show it. We have already helped several local businesses with successful grant applications using Placer.ai data.
Supporting Community Decisions
Beyond individual businesses, community leaders use Placer.ai to make smart decisions about things like parking, events, and downtown development It helps answer questions like: Did that festival bring more people downtown? Is foot traffic up after a streetscape project? Are certain blocks busier than others?
Big Data, Small Town Impact
Rural doesn’t mean behind. Placer.ai gives small businesses big-city insights no marketing team or tech expert needed.
Overall ROI
Interested in seeing a report for your business or downtown area? Contact our office to request a custom Placer.ai report and start making datadriven decisions that grow your business and support our local economy
Housing Revitilization
Thank you to the hundreds of Canton and Lewistown residents who took the time to complete our Community Needs Assessment Housing Survey. Our partners at the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) are busy evaluating that data which will be integrated into our Community Revitalization Plan later this year.
Housing Stock Survey
We’re seeking community groups and volunteers to support the inperson portion of our residential housing project. The app used for this effort is free to download and easy to navigate. Volunteers simply walk or drive around town, evaluating property conditions—things like roofs, yards, siding, garages, sidewalks, and streets.
Our amazing Lewistown volunteers have already completed their portion on the project. Canton is a bit larger so it will take a greater number of dedicated individuals to complete this important project.
This project is a direct response to local housing concerns, similar to those raised before the recent election. The data we collect will help us qualify for grant funding to improve blighted properties, remove unsafe structures, and offer tax credits for building quality workforce housing.
If you ’ re interested in making a real impact, please contact our office today to volunteer your time and talents!
Now it is time to concentrate on the Housing Stock Survey using the ArcGIS Field Maps App by ESRI.
Username: CRuser2 _ IHDA
Password: HousingStock2
ArcGIS Field Maps by ESRI
Building a Stronger Future: Community Collaboration Expands CTE in
Fulton County
The Spoon River Partnership for Economic Development (SRPED) has joined forces with a dynamic group of local and regional partners to expand Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings for students across the county. This new workgroup includes Birth to Five Illinois, the Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools (AIRSS), Canton Union School District, Spoon River College, and Career Link all working together to create more career pathways for young people and support the workforce needs of our local economy.
Why CTE Matters
CTE programs give students hands-on experience and real-world skills in fields like healthcare, construction, welding, automotive technology, agriculture, and more. These are highdemand, good-paying jobs that are critical to the growth of our communities—and not every student needs a four-year degree to get there. By exploring new CTE programs, we hope to help students see what’s possible and give them the tools to build a successful future right here at home.
Stronger Together: The Power of a Workgroup
No single organization can tackle this alone. That’s why this collaborative group is so important. Each partner brings something unique to the table. Together, this group is mapping out ways to expand access to CTE programs in all Fulton County schools, improve transportation options, strengthen connections with local employers, and ensure students of all ages from pre-K to college have opportunities to explore and prepare for in-demand careers.
Investing in Our Youth, Supporting Our Economy
When we invest in CTE, we ’ re not just preparing students we ’ re preparing our communities. Expanding these programs means more skilled workers, stronger local businesses, and a more resilient economy for the entire region. We’re excited about the work ahead and look forward to sharing progress as this effort grows. If you ’ re a business owner, educator, or community member who wants to get involved, reach out to SRPED to learn more about how you can support local workforce development and student success.
Let’s build a stronger future together.
New in Town? We’ve Got a Bag for That!
The Spoon River Partnership for Economic Development (SRPED) and the Canton Area Chamber of Commerce are excited to introduce a new initiative aimed at making new residents feel right at home the Canton Welcome Bag Program!
This new program is designed to warmly welcome individuals and families who have recently moved to Canton by providing them with a thoughtfully curated welcome bag. Each bag will include a personalized welcome letter, a map of the community, a Community Guide, and a variety of useful items, coupons, directories, and brochures. These materials are generously provided by local businesses and organizations who are eager to connect with Canton’s newest residents.
If you are a business owner, community group, or service provider, we’d love to include your materials. This is more than just a bag—it’s a first impression, a handshake, and a heartfelt “welcome” to life in Canton.
Why it Matters?
The Welcome Bag Program will help ease the transition of moving by offering new residents a friendly introduction to all that Canton has to offer from where to grab a cup of coffee or catch a local event, to essential services and hidden gems around town. It’s a way to say: We’re glad you ’ re here.
Beyond being a warm gesture, the program also supports local businesses by giving them a unique opportunity to place their promotional materials directly into the hands of potential new customers. It’s a simple, no-cost way for businesses to build connections, foster loyalty, and grow their presence in the community.
Revolving Loan Fund
Low-interest revolving loans from SRPED, offered at just 1% interest over five years, continue to have a significant positive impact on local small businesses by providing affordable access to capital for equipment purchases, building improvements, inventory, and expansion. These loans reduce financial barriers for entrepreneurs, allowing them to invest in their operations without the burden of high-interest debt. As businesses grow and succeed, they create jobs, boost local spending, and strengthen the overall economy making the revolving loan fund a powerful tool for long-term community development in Fulton County.
Fund Recipient
In February 2025 we were able to offer a low interest loan to Bowty’s Music Emporium located in the former Bloom Box location at 15 White Court. The owners were able to use these funds to expand their eclectic inventory of instruments, clothing, records, skateboards, disc golf and hacky sack items, plus so much more! In addition to their retail sales, Bowty’s also offers studio space for music recordings and lessons as well as rental of sound equipment. What a unique addition to Canton’s business district!
