Date of Award

Spring 5-1-2003

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Geography, Geology, and Anthropology

First Advisor

William A. Dando

Abstract

Economic development is the development of tools and programs to promote growth within a specific geographic location. In today's society, the need for economic development is extremely important because the loss of the traditional family farm has changed the landscape of the labor force that currently exists throughout the United States. In addition, a continued pattern of rural to urban migration, of America's educated youth, has contributed to the overall decline of the skilled labor force that exists throughout small rural communities. Furthermore, economic development professionals need to develop tools, programs and practices that create un-skilled, semi-skilled, and skilled employment opportunities to compete with the major metropolitan centers of the United States. This study compares the individual characteristics of five downstate Illinois counties to determine if there are significant differences among these counties, which have allowed for the continued growth of one county while the other four have continuously declined. Specifically, this study has evaluated the infrastructure, economy, economic development tools and various other attributes that play a vital role in attracting business and industry to the five-county region. Furthermore, this study also focuses on the history and general demographics of the region to determine the future needs that may be required to attract business and industry to create employment opportunities and promote growth throughout the region. This study has clearly identified that there are no significant differences among the five counties that were focused on for the study. Furthermore, this study has also identified that the presence of an interstate highway system is an extremely important mission when attracting business and industry to promote economic development within rural U.S. communities.

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