DeKalb County, Illinois

December 10, 2008

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          The Economic Development Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 @ 7:00p.m in the Legislative Center’s Freedom Room.  Chairman Eileen Dubin called the meeting to order.  Members present were Sally DeFauw, Julia Fauci, Jeff Metzger, Sr., Riley Oncken, Mark Todd and Pat Vary.  Others present were Paul Borek and Aaron Ruder.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

          Moved by Mr. Metzger, Sr., seconded by Ms. Fauci, and it was carried to approve the minutes from October 2008.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA  

          Moved by Ms. Vary, seconded by Ms. DeFauw, and it was carried unanimously to approve the agenda.

CHAIR’S COMMENTS

Chairman Dubin had the committee members introduce themselves to each other. 

            Chairman Dubin reviewed what the committee has done over the last year.  Ms. Dubin said that one of the first items that they had to tackle was a tax abatement issue.  The committee focused on the tax abatement and criteria for at least 2 or 3 meetings.

          Chairman Dubin said that another goal that the committee agreed to was to try and bring new jobs into this community and better paying jobs.

          She further explained that there were two conferences held regarding the Go Green Initiative.  Ms. Fauci said that she would like to see some sort of environmental criteria met to award businesses.  She also state that she would like to see some growth in “green” jobs and focus on “green” businesses and economic development.

          Ms. Vary said that she would like to see knowledge-based opportunities with NIU and Kishwaukee College, too. She would like to see some of the students stay here after they graduate from NIU.

          Mr. Oncken also said that he would like to have the county attract better paying jobs here.

          Ms. Fauci said that she would like to see a melding of blue-collar jobs and green jobs like the Apollo Alliance.           

          Chairman Dubin then informed the new committee members that she did submit a grant proposal for this committee to help with a strategic plan for the county through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.  The Department recently informed her that the state is not funding planning grants.  It doesn’t mean that they won’t put it back in the budget in the future, but currently there is nothing available.

          Ms. Vary suggested that we might bring together a panel discussion, open to the public, with the economic development committee at one their meetings regarding jobs and bringing better economic development to DeKalb County.

          Chairman Dubin said that another item that we will be discussing is tourism and that she has been talking with Ms. Debra Armstrong with the DeKalb Area Convention and Visitors Bureau about coming before the committee with a presentation.  She will be inviting her to the committee meeting in January 2009.

DEKALB COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION MONTHLY REPORT – MR. PAUL BOREK

          Mr. Borek, Director of the DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation introduced himself to the new members of the committee.  He mentioned that he had attended a meeting today with 10 county economic development corporations who gather to discuss ways in which to promote metropolitan Chicago to the region, country and the world.  He said that Mr. Bob Gleeson of NIU’s Center of Governmental Studies stated that Chicago is one of four international growth hubs in North America together with 45 other international clusters around the world – grew more than any other region over the next 25 years.  Half of these “hubs” growth is attributable to international business and trade, he continued.

          One item of discussion that this group had was that with the economic development administration in Washington, D.C., they felt that the economic development would be stronger with the new president.  He also mentioned that this regional group would need to draft a Chicago Regional Economic Development Plan to be eligible for Economic Developmental Administration funds. 

          The committee thanked Mr. Borek for his report.

DISCUSSION ITEM:  DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE

          Chairman Dubin said that she was considering breaking up members of the committee into sub-committees to discuss tourism, the Go Green initiative and technology incubators.  She also said that there is a retired professor who is working on a project dealing with a social networking site that she may want to invite to this committee in the future.  She asked the committee to think about this and that the committee would discuss it further in January.

          Ms. Vary said that she would like to further discuss in January, if possible, when the next Go Green Conference would be and what topic do we want to do next?  Maybe have a shorter conference? Do we want to offer food again?

ADJOURNMENT

          Moved by Ms. DeFauw, seconded by Mr. Oncken, and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting.

                                                Respectively submitted,

                                                _______________________________

                                                Eileen Dubin, Chairman

ED:mcs

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