A new Illinois basin rapid response team has been put together to bring 11 federal agencies together to support Illinois, Kentucky and Indiana as they transition to clean energy.
State and local officials and community leaders from 3 states gathered at SIU Thursday for a workshop to learn about transitioning to clean energy and the economic downturns from coal mine and power plant closures.
The rapid response team will help connect communities with federal resources and help them navigate and access funding and opportunities.
USDA Deputy Under Secretary of Rural Development Farah Ahmad (Far-a AH-mod)says they want to make sure federal resources are going to those that need it the most.
“The federal government is huge and there’s so many different agencies and so many different opportunities and resources available and so the Illinois rapid response team is really effectively a front door to the federal government and so we want to hear about this regions ideas and what they want to see for economic development.”
The Illinois Basin is one of six regions in the country identified as most impacted from declines in the coal related industry.
