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OERD ~ Community and Business Services

Community and Business Services (CBS) provides customized project and research assistance to individuals, communities, businesses, and local and state governments, locally and internationally. Projects include assistance with:

Projects and Initiatives

Illinois Aquaculture TechSERV was established January 1, 2005 to provide technical and marketing assistance to fish and prawn farmers throughout Illinois. The program has had a substantial impact on the development of the aquaculture industry in Illinois. As of November 30, 2006, 194 current and prospective fish and prawn farmers, residing within 58 of the 102 counties of Illinois, received technical assistance. Total aquaculture product sales were $2,157,203 obtained from 842,787 pounds of fish and prawns. Services included disease diagnostics and control, species and systems selection, quality control, water quality, management practices, and budgeting.

Development of Sustainable Pond Aquaculture Practices in the Peruvian Amazon is a collaborative project that began in 1996 and has been funded by the United States Agency for International Development. The project provides training and extension services to promote sustainable aquaculture in the Amazonian regions of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. To date, demonstration projects have been conducted with local fish farmers to expose them to new aquaculture species and/or techniques. Short courses have been taught to governmental and NGO personnel to maintain and expand a network of aquaculture extensionists in Amazonian countries. A website on Amazonian aquaculture and species (http://ws1 ocoopfish.siu.edu/amazonia/index.html) was developed for information exchange and networking.

The City of Cairo and Southern Illinois University Carbondale are collaborating on a project to develop a Civil War Museum/Visitors Center at Fort Defiance Park. The goal is to have a major history-based park at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers in Cairo, Illinois. It will be a national tourist destination that promotes the unique features of the confluence of our nation's two largest rivers and the historical significance of Cairo as the launching point for the Western Campaign of the Civil War. The Master Plan focuses on four major projects related to the Civil War, plus other park upgrades: 1) Visitors Center and Museum of the Western Campaign; 2) statue of General Ulysses S. Grant; 3) Fort Defiance re-creation; 4) U.S.S. Cairo ironclad re-creation and Civil War Naval Museum. Three phases are anticipated for the four park projects: Phase 1: Years 2006-2007, Construction of Visitors Center and statue of General Grant; Phase 2: Years 2007-2008, Re-creation of Fort Defiance; and Phase 3: Years 2008-2011, Re-creation of USS Cairo gunboat/museum.

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Previous Projects

Rural Enterprise and Alternative Agriculture Development Initiative (READI) - The READI project is in the fourth year of funding from the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research (CFAR). The goal of the READI project remains to expand income and job opportunities in rural Illinois through alternative agricultural initiatives, particularly in the areas of aquaculture, viticulture/wineries, and alternative crops. READI continues to have a profound impact on the Illinois economy. During FY02, 656 client/producer contacts were made. A total of 12 research or technical assistance projects were completed. Twenty-nine enterprises were started or expanded, resulting in the creation or retention of 107 jobs. Over $550,000 in loans were packaged with READI’s assistance and more than $5.7 million in capital investment was distributed into the Illinois economy.

Grape Growing/Winery Growth in Illinois – Illinois continues to experience dramatic growth in the number of new vineyards and new wineries established. Since 1997, grapes planted have increased five-fold, grape production has increased eight-fold and wine production from Illinois fruit has increased ten-fold. The state now has over 30 wineries and nearly 180 vineyards. The establishment of the Illinois Grape and Wine Resources Council, a state agency, and continued growth of the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association, a private entity, have encouraged and assisted this growth. READI has provided technical assistance to grape growers and wineries through business plan development, assistance with communications issues, presentations at workshops, collection of data, and assistance to a number of producer groups within the state.

Other Previous Projects:

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RELATED LINKS
American Fisheries Society www.fisheries.org
Illinois Chapter of the American Fisheries Society http://131.230.57.1/IAFS/
Illinois Aquaculture Association www.aquanic.org/iaia
Council on Food and Agriculture Research (C-FAR) http://www.ag.uiuc.edu/~c-far
State of Illinois http://www.state.il.us/
World Aquaculture Society http://www.was.org