DeKalb County, Illinois

Minutes of the
Economic Development Committee

March 9, 2011

DRAFT

Economic Development Committee

Minutes

March 9, 2011

            The DeKalb County Economic Development Committee met on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 @ 7:00p.m., in the Legislative Center’s Freedom Room.  Chairman Pat Vary called the meeting to order.  Members present were Julia Fauci, Jeff Metzger, Sr., Riley Oncken, and Jeff Whelan.  Mr. Borek, Deb Armstrong and Doug Nelson were also present.  Bob Brown was absent.  A quorum was present.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

            Moved by Mr. Whelan, seconded by Ms. Fauci, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes from February, 2010.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

            Moved by Mr. Metzger, Sr., seconded by Ms. Fauci, and it was carried unanimously to approve the agenda.

CHAIR'S COMMENTS

Ms. Vary, Chairman of the Economic Development Committee, said that Mr. Gleeson sent in a draft report to the grant office last year, but promised to complete the research on the Arts section or Phase III of his report.  She is checking with him to see if the report for PHASE III will be ready by the end of March.  What has come out of the planning grant so far is the following: Karen Schmitt, Executive Director for the Center for Business Development and Continuing Education at Kishwaukee College has applied for a grant for one automated engineer tech trainer’s whole salary for one year, half of salary for second year and third year at Kishwaukee College.  Mr. Glen Lee of Wendler Engineering has purchased the old Sawyer building and rents out space for a local incubator.  These grant proposals were submitted to Mr. Andre Ashmore, Deputy Director with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (please see her report attached to these minutes). 

Chairman Vary also informed the committee that Mr. Gary Hanson, Deputy County Administrator, has requested that an item be placed on the committee’s April 2011 meeting agenda titled “Amendment to the Broadband Grant Partnership Agreement.”

Mr. Bob Brown arrived at 7:15p.m.

DEKALB COUNTY CONVENTION AND VISITOR’S BUREAU REQUEST – MS. DEB ARMSTRONG

            Ms. Deb Armstrong, Director of the DeKalb County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau approached the committee regarding a monetary request for funds for their annual brochure for their certification process.  She said that they have redesigned the logo on the brochure to reflect all of DeKalb County.  They will be launching a new website in a couple of months with a photo gallery that will work with mobile technology. They are also starting to receive other funding from various municipalities around the county for their Bureau.  They booked over 5,000 hotel rooms last year.  They also receive $50,000 a year from a 3-year agreement with the City of DeKalb.

The committee discussed that they gave the Bureau $5,000 for the last couple of years, but that this year’s budget was reduced to $3,000.00, and no further funds were available at the moment, but they would try to find more later on in the year.

            It was moved by Ms. Fauci, seconded by Mr. Oncken, and it was carried unanimously to award the DeKalb County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau $3,000.00 towards the publication of their annual brochure. 

            The committee commended Ms. Armstrong on the brochure and the very good distribution from Chicago to the Wisconsin border.

DISCUSSION OF ABATEMENT QUESTIONS AND INCENTIVE FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY

            Chairman Vary handed out a summary of the condensed list of abatement questions that the committee developed in 2007.  She asked the committee members to please review it and that they will discuss it at next month’s meeting.

            Chairman Vary then handed out a proposal on Green practices to the committee that she developed in September 2010.  The committee discussed various ways they could offer incentives to companies to go green.  They suggested creating a brochure encouraging Green Construction. 

            Ms. Fauci said that she would like to work on this brochure.  She would also talk with the City of DeKalb who has an environmental committee and see what information they will share with her and the committee. 

Another suggestion is to possibly award a fixed amount to a company each year by recognizing the “Greening” that they have done in their company, retrofitting, etc.  The planning and Zoning committee or this committee could review the applications. 

Ms. Fauci said that she would talk to the City of DeKalb and get back to the committee about what she finds out.

SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE EXPOS AND WORKSHOPS

            The committee then briefly discussed other agencies and departments that could come before them as future guests on their agenda.  Some of the suggestions were for the cities in the county and economic development directors to come and speak on how they are attracting new businesses.  Invite people to speak on agri-businesses established here in the county.  They would also like to hear from the arts and entertainment sector of the county and how we can help them.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION MONTHLY REPORT – MR. PAUL BOREK

            Mr. Borek, Executive Director of the DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation, briefly reviewed his monthly report for the committee.

            Mr. Borek said that on March 2, 2011 the County and his office hosted a luncheon for a Chinese Delegation who is visiting the Midwest for a week to learn about how we govern, agriculture, population characteristics, land use, economics and how DeKalb County interacts with the metro area of Chicago, Illinois.  It was a very good meeting and hopefully we will become sister cities.

            He also said that last year the DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation’s Voice of Industry Report, reflected that 59 percent of surveyed DeKalb County companies indicated that they planned to expand.  Several of these industry expansions are now under way.

            During 2010, 28 percent of all industrial construction in the Metro Chicago area occupied in DeKalb County.  This activity was led by 3M’s new 650,000 square foot regional distribution center in Park 88 developed by Venture One Development Services and Clayco Realty Group in the City of DeKalb.  This project was recognized as Industrial Build-to-Suit Project of the Year by the Chicago Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Parks.

            All of the new manufacturing buildings developed in the entire Chicago area were built in the Sycamore Prairie Business Park.  Krusinski Construction completed a 130,000 square foot facility for SK Hand Tools, a subsidiary of Ideal Industries in only 12 weeks (for the factory) and 16 weeks (for the office) with the help of the City of Sycamore.  Smart Motion Robotics also completed a new headquarters/manufacturing facility. 

            Mr. Borek also mentioned that the First Institute Management and Training and the Illinois WorkNet Center are working with Hy-Vee human resource professionals to plan, promote and staff job fair on April 19 – 21, 2011.  Hy-Vee will be recruiting over 200 full and part-time employees initially.  Hy-Vee contacted DCEDC for assistance; we put them in touch with First Institute and Sharon Dillon, he said. 

            He also reminded the members about the State of the County event to be held on March 29, 2011 at the DeKalb County Farm Bureau Building at 4:30p.m. 

ADJOURNMENT

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

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,

                                                                        Pat Vary, Chairman

pv:mcs

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