New Resident Resources
New to the greater Champaign-Urbana area? We're here to help you settle into this Brilliant community so that you love it as much as we do from the moment you arrive. Check out our list of resources or contact us with any questions! We'll guide you in the right direction for the best local resources so you can be proud to call the Champaign-Urbana area home.
CHAMBANA WELCOME CREW
New to Champaign-Urbana or considering a move to our area? Take advantage of our new community ambassador program, the Chambana Welcome Crew. This program is designed to help new and potential Champaign-Urbana area residents navigate their new home, connecting newcomers to one of our knowledgeable Ambassadors serving as a community champion who can authentically share their stories about living and working here. Learn more and connect with an ambassador today!
Discover our communities, from our urban centers to small towns, in partnership with You're Welcome CU!
Experience Guide
Each August, Experience Champaign-Urbana releases our annual Experience Guide. Here you can discover what makes our community Brilliant, from our award-winning culinary scent, our thriving arts & culture, ample boutique shopping, and the great outdoors.
CHampaign-Urbana Area Map
Discover the many shops, restaurants, and attractions in our walkable districts in Champaign-Urbana, as well as surrounding communities.
Seasonal Checklist
Spring: April–June 2023
Looking for things to do, places to eat, and just general information on the area? Download our quarterly checklist with helpful hints for the season. Come back every January, April, July and October for new ideas!
Past issues:
2023: January–March 2023
2022: January–March 2022 | April–June 2022 |July–September 2022 |October–December 2022
2021: January–March 2021 |April–June 2021 | July–September 2021 | October–December 2021
2020: January–March 2020 | April–June 2020 | July–September 2020 | October–December 2020
Champaign-Urbana Area Jobs
Looking for a job in the community? The Champaign-Urbana Job Board provides the most comprehensive look at all of the openings available in Champaign County. Sign-up for alerts based on your desired job search, or get all jobs sent directly to your email.
Virtual Tour
Check out our virtual map tour of the greater Champaign-Urbana area, featuring attractions, major parks and forest preserves, as well as business districts.
VIDEOS
|
Outside of Ordinary Branding Video |
Music Scene |
Outside of Ordinary Memories |
|
Maker Videos |
Virtual Experiences |
|
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Neighborhood Services
Get connected to our area neighborhood associations and homeowner's associations, provided by the cities of Champaign & Urbana.
Grocery, Markets & Specialty Stores
Not sure where to find those ingredients for that family recipe? Or want a list of area farmer's markets & CSAs? We've got you covered. Download our list of area specialty stores so you can find everything you need to create those delicious home-cooked meals.
Park Districts & Forest Preserves
Our landscape may be flat, but it provides plenty of opportunity to play and explore under our big, blue skies. Check out our area park districts for programming and parks available throughout the community.
- Champaign Park District
- Urbana Park District
- Champaign County Forest Preserve District
- Mahomet Parks & Recreation
- Monticello Parks & Recreation
- Rantoul Parks & Recreation
- Savoy Park District
Healthcare
With multiple hospital systems, clinics, counselors, and specialists, Champaign-Urbana has your healthcare needs covered. The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District developed these resources to help connect you to knowledgeable and accessible healthcare providers.
Area Schools
If you need help finding information on the schools, both public and private, in the Champaign-Urbana area, look no further than the experts on all things kids, ChambanaMoms.com. You can also download information from the following school districts:
Public Libraries
Our public libraries are filled with community resources and programs to assist residents in our area. Get your library card and access the resources available at these institutions throughout the greater Champaign-Urbana area.
- Champaign Public Library
- Urbana Free Library
- Tolono Public Library
- Mahomet Public Library
- Rantoul Public Library
- St. Joseph Township–Swearingen Memorial Library
- Arcola Public Library
- Tuscola Public Library
- Arthur Public Library
- Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library
- Allerton Public Library
- Homer Community Library
- Sidney Community Library
- Philo Public Library
- Paxton Carnegie Library
LGBTQIA Resources
Be proud of who you are! There are countless resources, events, and activities for everyone in Champaign-Urbana. One of the best resources is Uniting Pride of Champaign County, an organization that advocates for the equality, wellness, and visibility of LGBTQ communities. In addition to hosting an annual Pride Fest in October, Uniting Pride offers volunteer opportunities, social and support groups, and resources including:
- Affirming Healthcare Practitioner Network
- Affirming Business Network
- Affirming Faith Community Network
Volunteering
Volunteering is one of the best ways to make friends, meet potential employers, and establish yourself in the community. We’ve compiled a list of organizations that are often looking for volunteers. With so many opportunities available, we’re not able to list them all—so don’t hesitate to contact any other groups or event organizers and ask if they are looking for volunteers.
This list is intended as a resource for the entire community. An organization’s inclusion on this list does not necessarily mean endorsement of its mission or projects by Experience Champaign-Urbana. Please contact timo@experiencecu.org if you have questions.
Area Rotary Organizations
Rotary unites dedicated professionals from the Champaign-Urbana area, surrounding areas, and around the globe with one common goal: to do more good. Our community is served by Rotary District 6490 with seven organizations that meet regularly. Get involved with one of these groups that make significant impacts in our community.
Accessibility
The University of Illinois has long been a leader in disability resources. Several of the innovations that have come from over 50 years of advocating for accessibility include research that led to the development of the first architectural accessibility standards that would become the American National Standards Institute Standards, the first wheelchair-accessible fixed route bus system, the first accessible university residence halls, and the first collegiate adapted sports and recreation program for students with disabilities, which also produced the first wheelchair athlete in the world to win an Olympic Gold Medal.
- Access Urbana-Champaign—Ranking the accessibility of area restaurants
Religious & Cultural Organizations
We've put together a directory of non-Christian religious centers, non-English speaking churches, and cultural resources. For Christian churches, ChurchFinder.com has a comprehensive list with profiles of area churches.
READY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY?
FIll out the form below and share what most interest you and we'll get information out to you that meets your needs.