The Vandalia Civic Advancement Association presented an update to the Fayette County Board this week, outlining the organization’s work to strengthen regional coordination, improve quality of life, and better position Fayette County for future investment.
Representatives from VCAA, including Ben Frazier, Pat Click, and Vandalia Mayor Doug Knebel, shared how the organization has been reactivated as a regional strategic growth alliance. While the organization carries the Vandalia name because of its original structure, presenters emphasized that the effort is intended to serve all of Fayette County.
“This is a quality-of-life group. This is an economic development group. This is a generational change-making group. And this is not just for Vandalia—this is for all of Fayette County,” VCAA presenters said during the presentation.
A Unified Voice for Fayette County
VCAA brings together major local stakeholders, including the City of Vandalia, YMCA, Fayette County, the Vandalia Park District, Fayette County Hospital/Sarah Bush Lincoln, the Vandalia School District, the Chamber of Commerce, and other community partners. The goal is to align local priorities, speak with one unified voice, and advocate more effectively for projects that improve the region.
The presentation highlighted several recent successes tied to coordinated advocacy, including the City of Vandalia’s Regional Site Readiness Program grant to continue infrastructure development at the Vandalia Industrial Park site south of Walmart. That funding builds on previous state investment and is intended to help make the site more competitive for future business and industrial development.
The group also discussed approximately $930,000 in federal earmark funding secured through Congresswoman Mary Miller for a future Randolph Street water main and street replacement project.
Speakers said these types of wins show why regional coordination matters. Businesses and grant funders increasingly look for communities that are organized, prepared, and ready to move projects forward.
Building State and Regional Relationships
VCAA representatives also shared details from a recent meeting with Deputy Governor Andy Manar, DCEO staff, and other state leaders. During that meeting, local leaders presented a list of projects and priorities from Fayette County and the surrounding region. According to the presentation, state officials were impressed by the level of coordination already taking place locally.
Ben Frazier, CEO of the Family YMCA of Fayette County and a VCAA board member, said the organization has helped bring together groups that were often working toward similar goals but not always sitting at the same table.
“This was a great opportunity as a strategic growth alliance to get everybody involved and to leverage our assets, leverage our community, and leverage what we all do best,” Frazier said.
Data, Assets and Competitive Strengths
Frazier also pointed to VCAA’s growing collection of regional data, available through the organization’s website. The resources include information on employers, workforce capacity, county GDP, real estate, property taxes, and other economic and quality-of-life indicators. More than 400 unique organizations have been mapped as part of the employer and workforce data effort.
The presentation emphasized Fayette County’s existing strengths, including lower property taxes compared with many neighboring areas, strong local amenities, youth opportunities, the YMCA, local schools, Kaskaskia College’s Vandalia campus, healthcare investment, Vandalia Lake, Ramsey Lake State Park, and access to major metro areas and airports.
Frazier said that after visiting other communities across Illinois and the country, our area and community has more potential and more going for it than many people may realize.
“We are pretty fortunate, and we are further ahead than what people may realize,” Frazier said. “For a community our size, the quantity and quality of amenities and assets we have is far greater than many surrounding areas.”
Preparing Projects for Investment
County Board members were encouraged to identify future county projects that may be eligible for grant funding or state advocacy. Presenters noted that competitive grants often require engineering, cost estimates, and planning work to be completed before applications can be submitted. VCAA intends to help local entities organize those priorities and work with advocacy partners to move projects forward.
Another major next step will be the upcoming regional community mapping process through Western Illinois University. The process will be held at the YMCA beginning in October and will include five weekly public meetings, with the final session expected in early November. The meetings are designed to gather broad public input and help define where the community wants to go from a quality-of-life and regional-development standpoint.
Mayor Knebel described the mapping process as a regional strategic plan focused on lifestyle, community priorities, and long-term direction. Communities that complete the process may also receive additional points in certain state grant scoring systems, making the effort both a planning tool and a competitive advantage.
A Coordinated Future
VCAA leaders said the larger goal is to create a more prepared, coordinated, and competitive Fayette County.
“This is the first time in my memory that every large stakeholder in the area is sitting at the same table working together,” Knebel said. “We really have a great story to tell.”
The Vandalia Civic Advancement Association will continue working with local governments, community institutions, and regional partners to identify priorities, pursue funding opportunities, and support long-term progress throughout Fayette County.