(618) 445-3612

About Us

The Greater Wabash Regional Planning Commission was established in 1964 by the Edwards, Wabash, and White County boards. In 1971, Wayne County was annexed into the commission, followed by Lawrence County in October 1998, Richland County in December 1998, and Crawford County in 2001. As these counties' assigned planning body, the commission is responsible for preparing and maintaining the region's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).

Angela Peyton

Executive Director Email: director@gwrpc.com Phone: 618-445-3612
Greater Wabash Regional Planning Commission (GWRPC) Executive Director, Angela Peyton is a graduate from Carmi White County High School and studied business/accounting at Southeastern Illinois college. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from University of Cumberlands, Kentucky. Angela is a Certified Community Action Professional with experience in economic workforce growth and community relations. The first at large region project for the new Executive Director will be updating the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) plan. Angela looks forward to collaborating with community leaders, private sector, public sector, and the community in the planning process. The Planning Commission’s main objective is to assist in building regional capacity through infrastructure, that in return contributes to communities’ success.

Taegan Garner

Community Development Coordinator Email: tgarner@gwrpc.com
Taegan Garner is from Olney, IL and a graduate from the University of Southern Indiana, majoring in Sociology and Political Science. At USI, Taegan was the Student Body President, running The Student Government Association. Also, her interest in rural development has driven her research in rural migration and development.

Jeff Vaughan

Grant Administrator Email: jeff@gwrpc.com
Jeff Vaughan joined the Greater Wabash Regional Planning Commission in July of 2022. A 2010 graduate of Fairfield Community High School, he has lived in the GWRPC service area for his entire life on farmland southeast of Fairfield; Vaughan graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in Radio/Television. Past jobs include working on his family’s farm, reporting for the Wayne County Press, and broadcasting news and sports on WFIW/WOKZ Radio in Wayne County.

Sarah Mann

Consulting Director Email: sarahmann@gwrpc.co

General Activities:

  • Preparing and implementing the district’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).
  • Providing planning and technical assistance and supporting project development in community and economic development, transportation, housing, land use, public facilities, and natural resources.
  • Grant writing and management for several programs, such as the Community Development Assistance Program, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, DRA, and EDA Public Works projects.
  • Managing the Revolving Loan Fund (RLF).

Boundaries

Crawford, Lawrence, Wabash, and White counties border the State of Indiana on their eastern sides. The region’s center is adjacent to several large metropolitan areas. The Greater Wabash Region is ideally within a three- to four-hour commute to major metropolitan cities, including Chicago, IL; Cincinnati, OH; Memphis, TN; St. Louis, MO; and Louisville, KY. Evansville, IN, is located only 50 miles from the center of our region.
According to the State of Illinois Opportunity Returns, the counties of Edwards, Wabash, Wayne, and White are considered in the Economic Development Region of Southern Illinois. In contrast, the three remaining counties of Crawford, Lawrence, and Richland lie within the Southeast Economic Development Region.

Economic Development Administration

EDA's programs provide economically distressed communitites and regions with comprehensive and flexible resources to address a wide variety of economic needs and are designed to lead to the creation and retention of jobs and increased private investment.
  • Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA)
  • Public Works
  • EAA and Public Works Cost Sharing or Matching

Newsletter:

Grant Services:

  • Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity:
  • Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
  • Economic Development Program
  • Regional Site Readiness Program
  • Federal Grant Support Program
  • Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM):
  • Small Equipment Grant
  • Fire Station Construction and Rehabilitation
  • Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity:
  • Recruitment & Retention
  • Camera Grant
  • Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)
  • PARC (Park and Recreational Facilities Construction Program)
  • OSLAD (Open Space Lands Acquisition and Devlopment)
  • Bicycle Path Grant Program
  • Land & Water Conservation Fund
  • Delta Regional Authority (DRA)
  • DRA-Strategic Planning
  • DRA-SEDAP & CIF Public Infrastructure
  • DRA-Dlta Workforce Grant
  • DRA-Public Works & Economic Adjustment Assistance
  • Illinois Department of Transportation:
  • IL Transportation Enhancement Program
  • Safe Routes to School Program
  • Economic Development Program
  • Truck Access Route Program

Public Infrastructure Construction:

  • Crawford County, on Behalf of Hutsonville
  • City of Albion
  • Village of Jeffersonville
  • City of Olney
  • City of Grayville
  • City of Olney (Rebuild Illinois)
  • Village of Burnt Prairie (Lead Service Line)
  • White County Energy Transition Grant
  • Village of Noble

Awarded Grants:


  • Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal
  • Lawrence County (Christy Fire Protection District)
  • ILETSB Recruitment & Retention:
  • City of Olney
  • City of Robinson
  • City of Mt. Carmel
  • Village of Norris City
  • Village of Crossville
  • Crawford County
  • USDA Rural Business Development Grant:
  • Village of Enfield
  • OSLAD:
  • West Salem - Mill Pond Park
  • PARC: Villaage of Crossville
  • Village of Crossville