Description
This organization was created as part of the MAPPING the Future of Your Community program, part of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University. In early 2015, Hillsboro enlisted the help of the MAPPING program to take a proactive approach towards revitalizing our hometown through community planning and economic development.
As part of this process, people were asked to take a look at the community and imagine the future of Hillsboro. Over the course of five sessions, participants came together to set seven high-priority goal areas for the community. These groups are Downtown, Parks and Recreation, Technology, Events and Festivals, Education, Housing, and Volunteerism.While each group has their own goals, projects, and strategies, these groups work together towards a common goal of a better future for Hillsboro and its citizens.
In the year since that first meeting, Imagine Hillsboro has already made an impact in the community. In the past year, Imagine Hillsboro has coordinated many events, including the Harvest Market, How the Grinch Stole Hillsboro, and the cardboard regatta. Other projects will take longer, including developing hiking and biking trails around the community, encouraging new retail and restaurant businesses, and developing high-quality, affordable housing.
