June 16, 2025 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Talk of the Town with Mayor Ray Cunningham

Recently, Homer lost its grocery store and the Main Street Belly Deli. Mayor Ray Cunningham discusses how Homer is hoping to attract businesses and why supporting local businesses is important.

What does it mean for a community to lose their grocery store?
For a small town to lose their grocery store is an impact mostly on those who cannot travel for food. Homer held on to our grocery store longer than most towns because of the hard work of the Patel family. Changing business patterns have disrupted a number small businesses in rural Central Illinois, grocery stores being one. Homer once had three grocery stores and four gas stations but this is not the case today. Most people do major shopping in the larger superstores in Champaign-Urbana or Danville.

What does it mean to the community for the Belly Deli to close? 
I think the impact of the closing of the Belly Deli is significant because it was a destination draw for Homer. Destination restaurants, specialty food and entertainment venues are a draw for people outside Homer to come to the town. We need more businesses like this in town. While it is a loss it also may be an opportunity.

Why should businesses owners consider Homer?
Homer sits between Champaign-Urbana and Danville on Route 49 and the traffic Homer experiences is significant. Any business owner must give a commitment that is above and beyond what a regular day job requires. It is more than full time and it requires a partnership with local merchants, government, distributors and keeping aware of business trends. I believe there are opportunities that Homer offers that would be a good fit for small businesses.

What is the village willing to do to encourage business development? Members of the village board and I are actively working for development.
The purchase of the adjacent 13 acres to the village for development was one action. The use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for business development is a priority. We have inquiries about business opportunities and have worked with contractors and business owners to assist them on projects within the TIF district. If you have a project and would like to discuss it with the village please call the mayor, Ray Cunningham at 896-2521.

Banner
Related Posts

Village to look at signage for downtown, parks

July 9, 2024

July 9, 2024

The Village of St. Joseph is considering adding wayfinding informational signs to the town. Wayfinding informational signs provide directions, identify...

Village of St. Joseph, TIF meeting, April 29, 2025

April 29, 2025

April 29, 2025

I am here. With only a few of my closest friends. They are voting tonight. They passed all three TIF...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, March 28, 2023

March 28, 2023

March 28, 2023

I am here so you don’t have to be. Here are the big items on the agenda. They are going...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Jan. 24, 2023

January 24, 2023

January 24, 2023

I am here live so you don’t have to be. Jim Wagner just said it will be a short meeting...

Village reminds residents not to dump at burn site

June 30, 2020

June 30, 2020

St. Joseph Public Works is reminding residents that it is illegal to dump brush or garbage outside of the St....

Village Gardeners to kick off season Monday

April 12, 2019

April 12, 2019

On Monday, the St. Joseph Village Gardners are kicking off their 2019 season. Member Samuel Furrer said the group’s first...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Aug. 24, 2021

August 24, 2021

August 24, 2021

I am here at village board. There are four people in the audience. The lawyer and Mr. Sennert doing IT....

Former St. Joseph resident shares “100 things Illinois fans should know”

April 14, 2025

April 14, 2025

Kent Brown always wanted to write a book. The Hammond native and former Sports Information Director at the University of...

Live at Ogden Village Board, June 3, 2021

June 3, 2021

June 3, 2021

We are live in Ogden. Discussing the village resident who has four dogs according to his neighbor. The resident says...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, March 26, 2024

March 26, 2024

March 26, 2024

Pickleball and Tennis are here tonight. PB nets got damaged over the winter. PB Is asking where they see PB...

Get to know our Little Prince and Princess Candidates :Emmett Binder

August 10, 2024

August 10, 2024

What is your favorite part of summer?Getting to go stay at Grampa’s Riverhouse What do you want to be when...

5 Questions with Republican caucus candidate Matt Walsh

December 2, 2024

December 2, 2024

1. What made you want to run? I’m a lifelong resident of Saint Joseph and at the end of the...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Oct. 12, 2021

October 12, 2021

October 12, 2021

Thanks to MX electric for sponsoring our live blogs. Talking Splash PAD. I was late because I was shooting Oakwood...

State moves towards bridge phase

March 23, 2021

March 23, 2021

By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – With 64 percent of the state’s seniors having received at least one dose...

Village hires administrator

June 24, 2021

June 24, 2021

The Village of St. Joseph has its administrator.During its June 22 meeting the village board voted to hire Joseph Hackney....

Comments
Leave a Reply