(Members of the Rural Vitality Committee gather at the DCEDC office to celebrate a generous $50,000 grant from Compeer Financial in support of rural initiatives in DeKalb County.)
SYCAMORE — The DeKalb County Community Foundation received a $50,000 grant from Compeer Financial’s Fund for Rural America to create a new Rural Vitality Fund focused on supporting small rural communities with populations under 10,000. The grant prompted the formation of a Rural Vitality Committee, which includes representatives from local government, economic development, agriculture, and community organizations. The group is working to identify needs and plan pilot projects to strengthen the county’s rural areas.