Five organizations in the WGIL listening area are among the recipients of the Illinois Farm Bureau’s 2026 Rural Development Grant Program, which awarded 30 grants totaling $120,000 to communities across the state.
Most of the local funding is directed at fire and emergency communications — an ongoing challenge for rural districts that often operate across county lines and rely on mutual aid from neighboring agencies.
Knox County
The Rio Fire Protection District received a grant to replace mobile truck radios. The new equipment will allow the district to communicate with neighboring fire districts on mutual aid scenes and with local farmers who provide equipment to assist with wildfires.
The Maquon Fire Protection District received a grant for a STARCOM communication project that will enhance the district’s interoperability with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and neighboring counties that use the system, including Peoria County. The upgrade is designed to enable reliable, real-time coordination during field operations, fire incidents, and agricultural emergencies.
Warren County
The Central Warren County Fire Protection District received a grant to upgrade mobile radios in fire apparatus and install vehicle-mounted repeaters. The project addresses poor signal strength and coverage gaps, ensuring firefighters can reliably communicate using portable radios while operating on emergency scenes.
Fulton County
The City of Cuba received a grant to support a partnership with OSF Healthcare that will bring a mobile health care RV to Cuba, providing medical services throughout Fulton County. The county has a population of approximately 30,000, with 17,000 residents in small towns and rural areas. The grant will help the city provide the necessary facility for the mobile unit and storage for medical materials.
Schuyler County
The Schuyler County Economic Development Commission received a grant to support renovations to a building that will house office space for economic development staff and provide space for local agricultural and non-agricultural businesses to hold meetings and training.
About the program
The Rural Development Grant Program is designed to help rural communities implement projects and overcome challenges such as limited funding, lack of volunteers, and complicated grant applications. Illinois Farm Bureau contributed $100,000 to the 2026 program, with COUNTRY Financial contributing an additional $20,000.
Of the 30 grants awarded statewide, nine address rural emergency services needs and 21 focus on community and economic development or quality of life improvements.
More information is available at ilfb.org.
