Greetings from the State Director . . .

2006 was a year of tremendous accomplishment, culminating in a $509 million investment of Rural Development financing in Illinois. I commend our employees for that outstanding achievement. They met and exceeded goals, increased their outreach efforts and worked diligently to address the needs of rural residents and businesses.

This has been a year of tremendous growth. We had a $52 million increase in core program financing. The 73 percent increase in core programs over five years shows the sustained and increasing impact Rural Development is making in our state.

A lot of factors have contributed to this banner year. We had another record breaking number of guaranteed home loans and repair loans, surpassing the all-time national records. The new office we opened in Oregon a year ago saw a 56 percent increase in loan delivery in Northwestern Illinois. We added a business specialist and three community specialists to our roster. All of our program areas repeatedly accessed funds from the national reserve.

While we’re riding the crest of success, we are looking ahead to a year of transition. We are losing a combined 121 years of invaluable experience with the retirement of Community Programs Director Jerry Townsend, Area Director Bob Clark and Civil Rights Manager/Management Control Coordinator Dave Baggott. With their mentorship over the years, we expect to continue the tradition of success that they helped establish.

Every clerk, technician, specialist and director is focused on making rural Illinois stronger—and the numbers prove it. As our visibility and impact increase, we are being asked to the table more frequently to address the needs of rural Illinois. With our resources and partnerships, we are making an important difference in the quality of life in Illinois.

Douglas Wilson
State Director