Curt Jibben, MS

Curt Jibben has two decades of work in rural health, housing and community development.  He has served as the Public Health Officer for Mason County since 2005 and the Executive Director of the Housing Authority as well as CEO of Prairieland Council since 2011.  Curt has served on various local, regional and state boards and committees during his tenure and is currently on the Board of Directors for the Illinois Rural Health Association.

With roots in youth services, Curt’s entire approach is centered on how rural can be done right to ensure our communities are healthy and vibrant for future generations.  Through promoting a philosophy of partnering with like missioned organizations within our county, while bucking the trend towards regionalization, he facilitated the first known management partnership in the country between a Public Health Department, Housing Authority and Community Development Corporation.   In addition, he worked with Rural Local Initiative Support Corporation to establish Mason County as LISC’s first rural partner in Illinois.  Most recently Curt facilitated county leaders in creating a revitalization collaborative for blighted areas via a private/public partnership for demolition and land banking in one of the most depressed areas of our county.   Finally, in an effort to stem the tide of out migration, Curt steered partners through the development of “The Lodge at Manito”, an Assisted Living and Memory Care Facility with an attached Rural Health Clinic.  This facility is the first of its kind owned by a Public Health Department in Illinois and is considered a model of how rural can get the job done through strong partnerships and shared resources.