Club Cooridator John Huggins has accepted a position as an AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) leader. It is a national service program dedicated to help fight poverty in the United States for more than 40 years. The project includes several economic development projects to help build the capacity in the area to create new businesses and generate job opportunities. The three year project is sponsored by Blackhawk Hills RC & D and Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs.

The goals of the project fit very closely with the Club and include:

• Increase networking, collaboration, cooperation and pooling of resources of businesses and economic development organizations throughout the region.
• Develop youth entrepreneur programs in the region.
• Develop home-based business opportunities aimed mainly toward stay-at-home mothers to generate income and promote self-sufficiency.
• Increase the effective use of the internet and strengthen the web presence of the businesses, communities and organizations throughout the region.
• Educate businesses and organizations on available resources for startup and small businesses, assist communities to strive to be “entrepreneur friendly” communities, and increase private investment in the region.
• As AmeriCorps VISTA Leader, assist the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs with recruitment and coordination of additional VISTA members to serve in various communities and organizations in Northwestern Illinois.
• Assist Serve Illinois in hosting a Volunteerism Conference for Northwest Illinois to be held August 5, 2010 in Dixon IL

If you would like to help with any of these projects please contact John at (815)541-0557 or jhuggins@bheic.com.