Every community in Illinois is required by state law to periodically update its comprehensive plan. These plans guide land use, transportation, housing opportunity, and long-term growth. They are the roadmap for a community's future. Which is why it's essential that REALTORS® have a seat at the table. 

Illinois REALTORS® Governmental Affairs Directors (GADs) like Ron Deedrick work hand-in-hand with members to identify where REALTOR® Party Community Outreach grants can make the biggest impact. REALTORS® know their communities best, and when their insight is paired with GAD strategy, it opens doors for meaningful engagement and stronger partnerships with municipal leaders. 

These grants aren't just financial tools. They help support good local policy, build relationships, and, when needed, rebuild trust. Collinsville is a powerful example of what happens when members and GADs come together to strengthen a community's future. 

Not long ago, REALTORS® and the City of Collinsville were on opposite sides of a hard-fought home rule referendum, which strained the relationship. But when new municipal leadership came in, the door opened for a fresh start. 

That opportunity became real in late 2023, when Collinsville began updating its comprehensive plan. GAD Ron Deedrick worked closely with city staff and local REALTORS® to develop a Tier III Smart Growth grant application. The $15,000 award supported the city's 2025–26 plan update and included a commitment to REALTOR® participation. 

Members of the Southwestern Illinois Board of REALTORS® (SIBR) stepped up immediately. Early in 2025, they joined listening sessions, contributing real-world housing insights that only active practitioners can offer. SIBR Board Director Laura Dochwat then took on a leadership role as the REALTOR® representative on the steering committee, ensuring that industry expertise is part of the conversation through 2026. 

This is what community leadership looks like when GADs and members work together. When REALTORS® show up constructively, consistently, and with solutions, communities notice. Trust grows, and local governments make better, more informed decisions about the homes, neighborhoods, and opportunities that shape people's lives. 

Comprehensive planning isn't just a municipal requirement; it's an invitation to help shape the future. Collinsville shows what's possible when local government, REALTORS® and GADs accept that invitation together.