Published: October 15, 2009 08:44 pm      

‘Maturing’ team earns award

DANVILLE — “The Maturing of Vermilion County Team” was announced Wednesday as an Illinois Department on Aging winner of a Governor’s Award for Unique Achievement.

Elected officials, citizens and professionals from Vermilion County (Danville and Hoopeston) make up the team that is coordinated by CRIS Senior Services. The team was nominated by the East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging.

The team assessed the county’s preparedness and identified three winnable issues to foster livable communities for all ages: economic development, health and human services, and housing.

The East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging commends the team for responding to these challenges. For example, Danville has initiated a Renaissance program to rehabilitate and restore existing housing in the west downtown neighborhood, and Hoopeston is working with the Illinois Housing Development Authority and private developers to build 25 units of new affordable single-family housing beginning next spring.

The Governor’s Awards for Unique Achievement recognize groups, individuals and programs that make a positive impact on the lives of seniors in the state. The awardees were nominated by Area Agencies on Aging throughout the state.