WHO WE ARE

OUR IMPACT

Mercer County Better Together has made a significant economic impact in Mercer County of over $550,000 from 2022-2023.

Our efforts to achieve this involved different facets of economic development, from helping area businesses identify and overcome barriers to success to offering tailored technical assistance. We meet businesses where they are to ensure they get the support they need.

Our Mercer County Career Center provides support to job seekers, including a weekly newsletter, a yearly job fair, and personalized one-on-one job search assistance. Additionally, we extend our assistance to local towns by sourcing funding to support local projects, devising solutions to enhance town services, and facilitating annual ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) reporting for nine towns. Our emergency housing team is committed to tackling rural housing insecurity, and we have established a fund to aid those facing housing insecurity in Mercer County. The original 'road map' for small-town commercial districts, designed by MCBT, has commenced implementation in one local community. MCBT also facilitates Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which has sent almost 10,000 books to Mercer County children aged 0-5. Lastly, we have coordinated a county-wide application to secure over $100,000 for local music, visual arts, movement and dance, drama, and storytelling projects.

With a total economic impact on Mercer County of over 17 million dollars since its inception in 2016, MCBT’s comprehensive approach to economic development is making a difference in Mercer County.

Executive Director
kyle@mcbettertogether.org
Kyle has held the position of executive director of MCBT since the organization’s inception in 2016.
Program Director
Brittney is the newest MCBT staff member. Heading up the business retention & expansion program, she assists businesses with finance & employment guidance. She also heads our Career Center, offering assistance to job seekers.
Creative Designer / Administrative Specialist
tara@mcbettertogether.org
Tara joined MCBT in 2022, performing a variety of functions in website and social media management, creating marketing products, and handling inner functions of the organization.

MEET THE STAFF

President
kirk.doonan@nutrien.com
Vice President
mavj75@gmail.com
Secretary
steph73muske@outlook.com
Treasurer
lileb1996@gmail.com
Laurie Epperly, Bev Gray, Roger Grundstrom, Ted Rogalski, Rusty Ruggles, Tarah Sipes, Bob Springer, Darren Winsor

MEET THE board

MCBT FINANCIAL contributors

City of Aledo - City of Keithsburg - City of New Boston - Village of Joy - Village of Matherville - Village of New Windsor - Village of North Henderson - Village of Reynolds - Village of Seaton - Village of Sherrard - Village of Viola - Abington Township - Millersburg Township - New Boston Township - Preemption Township - Richland Grove Township - Rivoli Township - Mercer Market - Aledo Happy Joe's/Subway - Aledo Veterinary Clinic - Blackhawk Bank & Trust - Brozovich Chiropractic - Columbia Auto Repair & Sales - Diamond Ag - Farmers-Merchants Bank - Fippinger Funeral Home - Hank's Power & Equipment 0 Hamlet Mutual Insurance - Headquarters & Alley Outback Spa - John Waugh Insurance Agency, Inc - Mercer County Family Eyecare, LTD - New Windsor Telephone - NOVA Cablevision, Inc. - Re/Max Country Crossroads - Rex McWhorter-Yarger Machinery Sales -Reynolds Telephone Company - Smith's Custom Meat Processing - Taylor Maid In-Home Services - The Bean Field Coffee House - Copperas Creek Cattle/Wyffels Hybrids - Genesis Health System - Mercer County Farm Bureau - Fidelity Charitable (Landry's Helping Heart Foundation) - Walmart Aledo -

MCBT Project PARTNERS

University of Illinois Extension - Village of Viola - Mercer County Mental Health Action Program - Bi-State Regional Commission - QC Chamber - IIRA - Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity - Illinois Public Health Association - Dolly Parton's Imagination Library - Regional Office of Education (ROE) #33 - Birth to Five Illinois - Quad Cities Community Foundation - America's SBDC - Community Heart & Soul - Augustana College Web Guild - Monmouth College - Windborn Group - Mercer County Family Crisis Center - Mercer County Health Department - Mercer County Housing Authority - Project NOW - Mercer County Senior Center - Mercer County Sheriff's Department - Mercer County Probation - Mercer County CUSD #404 - City of Aledo - City of Keithsburg - City of New Boston - Eliza Township - Mercer County Agricultural Society - Mercer County Family YMCA - Village of Joy - Village of Matherville - Village of New Windsor - Village of North Henderson - Village of Seaton - Village of Sherrard - The Moline Foundation - Mercer County Board - American Job Center - Mercer Foundation For Health - General Grind & Machine - Aledo Rehabilitation & Health Care - Mercer County Mental Health Action Program - Black Hawk College - IL Institute for Rural Affairs - RTAC -