Bureau County: Past Development Efforts

The earliest economic development efforts in Bureau County began in 1977 with the completion of its first OEDP publication, making the county an EDA redevelopment district. This plan noted that Bureau County was at that time part of a Tri-County economic structure that included Bureau, LaSalle, and Putnam Counties. This formation no longer exists. 

Industrial and retail expansions were the majority of the improvements in Bureau County communities since the release of the first OEDP. Other achieved goals included infrastructure and services improvements and additions, grant funding, city and county buildings, subdivisions, completion of planning documents, construction of housing units, recreation spaces, and community beautification projects. Many communities received new water towers or improvements and new city buildings.

Several interest and focus groups were created, including a Spring Valley local investment group and the Business, Industry, and Professional Association of Spring Valley (BIPS) , the Upper Illinois River Valley Development Authority. A number of countywide programs were created as well. These included the Bureau County Home Health Association, Neighborly Older Americans (Project NOA), Senior Citizens Association, and Para-Transit Services, Inc.