Hometown Consulting

09/09/2026

🏡 Breaking ground on Toulon’s future!

HTC was proud to attend the Toulon Ridge Groundbreaking Celebration on Wednesday, September 2! The event featured a ceremonial shovel groundbreaking, a ribbon cutting, and an informational presentation with Q&A—including a discussion of development incentives. 40+ people; 2 news stations, local paper, Apex Energy, 2 banks, engineers, builders, community leaders, county board members, municipal committee leaders and more
attended to learn more about the opportunities at Toulon Ridge.

Located just south of Illinois Route 17 and the Stark County Junior/Senior High School, the subdivision is within comfortable walking distance of downtown Toulon, and the planned neighborhood offers opportunities for new single-family homes and duplexes near local amenities. Major utilities have already been extended to a portion of the development area, and the City plans install neighborhood streets and internal infrastructure to support construction.

WQAD Channel 8, WMBD, and The Kewanee Voice were in attendance to cover the celebration! Their coverage is helping spread the word about Toulon Ridge and the community’s plans for growth. See their news coverage at the links below!

https://www.wqad.com/article/news/local/toulon-ready-grow-new-subdivision/526-4a78f69b-44a8-47d1-bf53-be629c04b1c5

https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/local-news/toulon-ridge-subdivision-groundbreaking/

HTC is proud to be assisting the City of Toulon with this project and supporting new opportunities for residents, builders, and developers. Congratulations to everyone helping move Toulon Ridge forward! 🌱

09/03/2026

🎨Galva is turning up the Color! 🎨

The City of Galva is turning its Comprehensive Plan into action by successfully using TIF funds to brighten downtown building façades with the plan’s historically inspired color palette. Check out these before and after shots!

Strategic façade improvements strengthen a downtown’s identity, improve the environment for local businesses, encourage private investment, and help attract residents and visitors. By connecting public investment to adopted planning goals, Galva is making measurable progress toward a more vibrant and economically resilient downtown.

Way to go Galva!! Keep painting your way into the future!

09/03/2026

Since 2007, Stark County leaders have dreamed of a subdivision in Toulon, but the 2008 housing crisis put those dreams on pause. Now, they can finally say it’s happening. Details in the comments.

09/01/2026

Happening tomorrow! We are excited to be joining Toulon tomorrow to celebrate moving one step closer to the new Toulon Ridge Subdivision housing development! It has been a pleasure to assist with this project and work with the Toulon team!

08/26/2026

🏡 New Housing Development Coming to Toulon!

Join us as we celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Toulon Ridge Subdivision!

📅 Wednesday, September 2, 2026
⏰ 2:00 p.m.
📍 Toulon Ridge Subdivision – Willow Street, just south of Stark County Junior/Senior High School

Toulon Ridge represents an exciting investment in the future of the community, creating new opportunities for housing and residential growth in Toulon.

Come celebrate this important milestone with us as we break ground on Toulon's newest neighborhood!

City Hall of Toulon, Illinois

08/19/2026

🤩Check out Metamora! Great job Village of Metamora and Dawn Deeb - Village President - Metamora, Illinois, in showcasing your beautiful community! Why wouldn't you want to visit, live or work in Metamora!? 🤩

We are honored to be a part of your community and economic development journey! Keep Rocking it! 🙌🙌

Welcome to Metamora, Illinois!This video displays the nature of M...

08/03/2026

🌽🥕 Farmer's Market Season is at Its Best! 🍅🍎

Local farmers' markets have been in full swing for several months, and there's no better time to enjoy the fresh flavors of the season! As we head through August and September, you'll find an incredible variety of locally grown produce and/or handmade goods🌽🍅🥒🫑🥔🧅🥕🥬🍆🍠🍉🍑🍎🍐🍇🎃🌻

Farmer's markets do much more than provide fresh, healthy food—they're an important part of economic development and community quality of life.

When residents shop locally, they support farmers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses while keeping dollars circulating within the local economy. Farmer's markets also create gathering places where neighbors connect, families spend time together, and visitors discover everything a community has to offer. These markets help strengthen downtowns, promote tourism, encourage healthy living, and showcase the unique character that makes every community special.

Whether you're shopping for dinner, meeting friends, or simply enjoying a Saturday morning stroll, your local farmer's market is an investment in your community's future.

📍 Here are a few Farmers Markets happening in the communities we serve:

Canton Farmers Market: Every Saturday thru September 7:30 - 11:30am, Jones Park.
🔗 https://www.facebook.com/CantonMainStreet

Princeton Farmer’s Market – Every Saturday thru October, 8:30am – 12:00pm, Soldiers & Sailors Park
🔗 https://www.facebook.com/PrincetonFarmersMarket

Delavan Farmer’s Market – Every Saturday thru September, 8:00am – 12:00pm, Veteran’s Memorial Park.

Metamora Farmers Market – Every Saturday, 8:00am – 12:00pm, Village Square, E. Partridge St.
🔗 https://www.facebook.com/MetamoraFarmersMarket

07/14/2026

📍 Great communities aren't built by guesswork—they're built with data.

When community leaders can see opportunities, they can make better decisions.

GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and strategic mapping transform data into interactive, easy-to-understand tools that help communities plan for growth, attract investment, and communicate more effectively with residents, businesses, and developers. From identifying redevelopment opportunities and available commercial sites to mapping zoning districts, infrastructure, TIF and Business Development Districts, GIS provides the information needed to make confident, informed decisions.

At Hometown Consulting, our GIS & Strategic Mapping Solutions help communities:
🗺️ Showcase available development sites
🏗️ Identify redevelopment opportunities
🏢 Inventory commercial buildings and business districts
📍 Create interactive zoning and land use maps
💡 Highlight incentive districts, historic areas, tourism assets, and more

Interactive mapping isn't just a planning tool—it's an economic development tool. It improves transparency, helps investors quickly understand your community, supports local decision-making, and gives residents easier access to important information.

If your community is still relying on static PDFs or paper maps, it may be time to rethink how you share information and tell your community's story.

07/04/2026

🇺🇸 Happy Independence Day from Hometown Consulting! 🇺🇸

This Fourth of July is especially meaningful as we celebrate 250 years of American independence—a milestone that honors our nation's history while inspiring us to build an even stronger future.

Across the country, our downtowns, neighborhoods, and parks will be filled with parades, festivals, concerts, and fireworks. These celebrations do more than bring people together—they strengthen community pride, support local businesses, welcome visitors, and remind us that vibrant communities are built through connection and collaboration.

At Hometown Consulting, we're proud to partner with communities that are investing in their future through thoughtful planning, economic development, downtown revitalization, and community engagement. Every project, every partnership, and every celebration helps create places where people want to live, work, visit, and invest.

As we commemorate 250 years of the American spirit, let's celebrate the communities that continue to shape the next chapter of our nation's story.

Wishing you a safe, joyful, and memorable Independence Day!

🇺🇸 Happy Fourth of July from all of us at Hometown Consulting.