Access Illinois Outdoors was started in 1994 to match landowners with visitors wishing to pursue outdoor recreation. Over 600 landowners have joined representing 250,000 acres in 56 counties. The landowners offer a wide variety of outdoor activities-hunting, fishing, hiking, bird watching, camping, trail riding, and photography. Over 3,500 visitors, representing 39 states, Canada and Germany have enrolled in the program. Landowners in the program earn anywhere from $1,000 to $20,000 annually by charging visitors for access. The Access Illinois Outdoors program is responsible for generating millions of dollars in economic impact to communities and their respective counties.
Hundreds of families benefit from the generosity of Illinois deer hunters, local businesses, conservation and service organizations thanks to the Access Food program, implemented by the Access Illinois Outdoors program. Access Food- Feed the Hungry programs are operated in Pike, Brown, Schuyler and Scott Counties. Our goal was to process 350 deer for Pike County; 65 deer for Schuyler County; 120 deer for Brown County and 10 deer for Scott County, for a total of 545 deer. We ran short of funds but were able to process 316 deer in Pike County; 102 deer in Brown County; and 48 deer in Schuyler County. This equates to approximately 23,000 pounds or 11.5 tons of processed deer meat. Of the population served, 6% are under 5; 21% are under 18 and 18% are 65 and older. About 65% were female and 100% were low income. Numbers at food pantries remain high due to the high cost of groceries, so they are incredibly grateful for the additional protein product. Our processors include Hilltop Custom Meats in Pike County, Dawning Day, owned by Alvin Yoder, in Brown County, Houser Meats in Schuyler County and Farmhouse Meats in Carthage. All processing costs are covered by the project through donations and grants. As the only meat source to our local food pantries, this program has proven to be very valuable and appreciated by the food pantry clients.
Youth Hunts – Access Illinois Outdoors provides free youth hunts for deer and turkey in cooperation with the generosity of their landowners.
The Quail & Upland Management Association held a banquet in February with over 500 people attending. This organization maintains the funds raised in our local area. Funds raised are used for the following:
- Fund a Habitat Coordinator and equipment, seed, and chemicals to work with private landowners to increase habitat opportunities on private land at a nominal rate. The hundreds of acres of improved habitat benefit all forms of wildlife.
- Help sponsor the Access Food-Feed the Hungry project which covers processing costs of donated deer for local food pantries.
- Provide scholarships for Pike County seniors wanting to continue their education and majoring in agriculture or conservation.
- Donate fishing poles and tackle boxes to youth fishing tournaments.
- Support for our veterans through donations to Honor Flight, All Wars Museum & Military Heritage Museum.
- Provide grant opportunities to landowners to improve habitat.
- Sponsor free youth hunts and hold a youth pheasant hunt.
Scholarships were awarded to 13 seniors to continue their education in the fields of conservation or agriculture. Over 600 acres of wildlife habitat were created or improved with the QUMA habitat coordinator position.
QUMA is now a sponsor of Gardner Camp and held their first youth hunt there this spring. The mission of Gardner Camp is the promotion of outdoor recreation and educational activities with its primary emphasis on youth programs. We look forward to this partnership furthering both of our goals.
Orr Research Center
An ongoing project of Two Rivers RC&D has been the Orr Research & Demonstration Center facilities. The most recent addition, named after long time RC&D Board Member, Fred L Bradshaw is 24,000 square feet and houses offices and classrooms, an exposition/arena space and an animal care unit designed for short-term or temporary housing for the welfare of animals. The building addresses multiple agriculture agricultural education and development issues in West Central Illinois and will further enhance research, teaching and activities throughout the region.
New Philadelphia Association – NPA was finally successful in becoming designated as a unit of the National Park Service. The National Park Service (NPS) plans to build on the work of the New Philadelphia Association and is currently working on accepting land donations from the association. With its new designation, the New Philadelphia National Historic Site is already drawing more visitors. Visitors can now get a New Philadelphia stamp in their National Park Service Passport Book in nearby Barry at the city hall or library. A Park Director has been hired.
Recycling Program – The recycling program in Pike County is an ongoing program of Two Rivers RC&D and operates year- round. The rollouts are available at GFL (formerly Area Disposal) Educational programs were developed for the school system and a Power Point presentation was created for programs to service organizations. Residents have expressed their appreciation at having a year-round recycling center and other individuals who had not recycled previously have become regular clients.
Electronic Recycling Events – Electronic Collection is an ongoing service in Pike County. These opportunities provide an avenue for disposal that no longer exists with the landfills. The permanent Electronic Collection Site is operated in cooperation with Hollywood Appliance and dropout is by appointment.
Another successful tire collection was held at the Western Illinois Fairgrounds. In total more than 150 tons which is the equivalent of 13,000 used passenger tires were collected. Two Rivers RC&D works with the IEPA Used Tire Program to conduct these waste tire removal actions which are designed to assist units of local government with proper disposal of waste tires that are otherwise illegally dumped on public or abandoned properties. Tire collection reduces the risk of creating mosquito breeding grounds which can spread disease. The tires are recycled to be used in rubber-modified asphalt, playground surfaces, removable speed bumps, tire-derived fuels and stabilization of riverbanks and slopes.
McCully Heritage Project – The Two Rivers RC&D created the McCully Heritage Project, a 940 acre environmental education center located in Calhoun County. The project offers 15 miles of hiking and horse back riding trails, two ponds for fishing and turtle watching, a wetland with a boardwalk, a hill prairie plot and more. Two Rivers RC&D continues to support and promote their programs and create opportunities for parents and children to get out of the house and away from the TV to enjoy nature based tourism activities.
Park & Ride – The Park & Ride is an ongoing project of Two Rivers RC&D. A database is maintained of commuter’s schedules and contact information is provided to match riders going the same direction on the same days. Use of the Park & Ride lot is greater than originally anticipated and not only saves fuel but reduces pollution.
Elected Officials Assistance – two Elected Officials meetings were held in Pike and Adams County to offer grant assistance and assistance navigating government portals. Other assistance was provided one on one in Calhoun County to the Village of Kampsville; Brown County to the Village of Versailles; Adams County to Camp Point, Clayton, Loraine, Lima and Columbus; Pike County to El Dara, Griggsville, Pearl, Baylis, Nebo, New Canton, Perry, Hull and Milton; and in Schuyler County to Camden, Browning and Rushville. Several communities are struggling to keep up with grant applications and reporting and Two Rivers RC&D recently voted to provide this assistance for a small fee.
Two Rivers RC&D Revolving Loan Fund helps finance new and expanding small businesses in the Two Rivers Area. As the current loans are repaid, new loans can be made. We have partnered with several regional banks to promote the Advantage Loan program which provides funds at either 2% below bank rate for 50% of the project or a flat 2% for 50% of the project for some applicants.
Two Rivers RC&D sponsored a series of Small Business Workshops. These workshops are provided in cooperation with the Small Business Development Center. Workshop topics include Getting Your Business Started, Understanding Your Financials, Creating a Business Plan, Traditional Marketing, Online Marketing and added new this year were two sessions on Succession Planning. All workshops are free, but registration is required. Participants came from Brown and Pike Counties to participate this year and were assisted with creating new businesses for our area. Ads and press releases were placed in all five county area newspapers and on social media to promote this opportunity.
Job openings are promoted through the Two Rivers RC&D social media and a virtual job fair for high schools students was held. We partner with the Workforce Innovation Board to provide assistance to all businesses in workforce training and apprenticeship opportunities.
Two Rivers RC&D provides assistance in updating the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategic Plan. This plan is updated every year through TRRCOPO and is very important to have potential projects listed in the plan to be considered from different funding sources.
We have served as a Community Navigator which helps businesses apply for the Back 2 Business grant program. Over 40 businesses have applied for this assistance in the Two Rivers RC&D Area. The most recent grant program was for Start Ups which included businesses that started in January 2020 through 2021. Another program immediately following provided assistance to Chambers of Commerce.
Rural Business Development Grant – Two Rivers RC&D was awarded a grant from USDA Rural Development to facilitate development of private business enterprises and rural economic development. This grant allows us to host the Small Business Workshops and provide one on one assistance to entrepreneurs.
PCEDC – Two Rivers RC&D is the fiscal sponsor of the Pike County Chamber & Economic Development Corporation. New this year was absorbing the Pike County Chamber into the organization and adding more emphasis on the tourism industry.