SHELBYVILLE, IL. — Communities throughout Illinois are looking at ways to boost themselves, attract new businesses, and encourage population growth.

The MAPPING the Future program was introduced to four communities this year - Stewardson, Findlay, Windsor, and Shelbyville.

MAPPING is an acronym for Management and Planning Programs Involving Non-metropolitan Groups. It was developed by the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (IIRA) and Western Illinois University who aids communities is starting the program.

Each community creates its own name for the program and sets goals. The program continues with changes in the community’s needs and desires.

“The future is going to be up to the towns - whether they move together or stay the same,” said Gisele Hamm of IIRA.

The Shelbyville program adopted the Shelbyville Works! name and presented its goals to the community during Scarecrow Daze.

Shelbyville Works! is using social media such as FaceBook, YouTube, and Twitter to spread information about Shelbyville.

Other projects include the “Shop Local” campaign and plans to develop the downtown business area aesthetically to attract more businesses and shoppers

“We want small businesses and entrepreneurs to invest here,” said committee member John Tynan.

Stewardson’s COWS (Community Organization Working for Stewardson) built and manned the Santa House (which later became the Bunny House, the Patriotic House, and the Harvest House), contributed to the 4th of July Fireworks, the Community Building, CrimeStoppers, the Stewardson Ambulance Service, the Stewardson Lions Club, the Veterans Memorial, and Support the Troops.  They helped purchase US flags to be flown in town and new Christmas Lights for Main Street.  They organized or helped with many events - Haunted Barn & Trail, Cookies with Santa, Hoofin to the Cow 5K Run/Walk, Scrap Metal Drive, Little Miss and Mr. Stewardson competition, Victorian Tea, Snowflake Social, and a Poker Run, and were instrumental in bringing Meet the Beetles to the Stewardson Lions Club Homecoming. They also organized and promoted the Trail of Lights Christmas Light competition and the Beautiful Yard of the Month Award. The Stewardson Garden Club planted flower boxes and dogwood trees up and down Main Street.

“In a little over one year, much has been accomplished in Stewardson. As you drive or walk through the village, you can feel the sense of pride its residents are now taking in their homes,” said committee member Perrie Richards. “Many new families have moved into our village and are becoming involved also.  There's anticipation for the future and what will happen next.”

Stewardson was presented with the Governor’s Home Town Award and was a finalist in the Governor’s Cup Award in 2011, due largely in part of the COWS activities.

Findlay has adopted the name FLIP (Findlay Long-term Improvement Program). During the past year FLIP has organized a farmers’ market and aluminum can recycling program. They have held fundraising events such as a craft show, ham and bean supper, dog show pancake breakfast.

“We’re not as organized as Stewardson and Strasburg, but we’re getting there,” said Findlay Mayor John Diss. “There are a lot of things the groups are planning.”

One long range project they are working toward is a bike trail from Eagle Creek to Findlay, a four-mile looped path.

“We’ve seen a lot of visitors with bikes on the backs of their campers,” Diss said. “We thought that this would be something for them that would bring them into Findlay.”

“We’ve got things going - more than we would have without the MAPPING program,” Diss said.

Windsor began its MAPPING program this fall adopting the name WHAT (Windsor Happenings Around Town).

The Civic Improvement group jump-started the  MAPPING program.

“We’ve had a lot of positive things come out of it,” said committee member Linda Voris.

Some activities included wecome bags for new town residents and developing a FaceBook page.

“We haven’t done a whole lot but we’re looking to do things to attract people to Windsor,” she said.

Windsor will hold a town meeting in February to introduce the community to the MAPPING program.

Strasburg was the first county community to begin the MAPPING program a couple years ago, adopting the name SCAN (Strasburg Community Action Network) and using gnomes as the town’s theme.

Community activities, such as bazaars, breakfasts, farmers markets, help fund projects for the town. Strasburg has established a social networking program using FaceBook and a website.

“More stuff has sprung from this group than the town board,” said village president Wayne Wirth. “SCAN has brought everybody together. It has propelled the town into doing things.”