If you have lived in the area for any length of time you know there are two seasons: winter and road construction. You’ve probably noticed several projects underway in earnest and this is a good thing. However before, during and following any type of road or other public improvement construction project businesses are impacted either directly or indirectly. Some quantitative analyses have been done on the impact to local businesses during construction projects however most are location specific and there are many variables including: length of project, type of work been done, proximity of businesses to construction, type of business, etc. One thing is certain however: empirical data does indicate businesses are impacted before, during and after construction projects but the degree to which they are impacted is not ubiquitous. In this post I will discuss some ideas businesses can consider to assist in taking advantage of opportunities during road construction and what residents, visitors and other businesses can do to assist those impacted during these projects.
Richmond Road and Elm Street
I’m sure you’ve noticed the roadway improvements at Richmond Road and Elm Street. http://www.mchenry120and31.com/. Given the scope, size, complexity and number of vehicles which traverse through this intersection on a daily basis the project was well managed and will be completed (95% done) in a very timely manner. This was a cooperative effort between: the contractor, City of McHenry and its consulting engineer, the Illinois Department of Transportation, residents and local businesses. While the success of the project and the results cannot be overstated many businesses, particularly those located on Elm Street, as well as off of Elm Street between Front Street and Riverside Drive and those along Richmond Road from Elm Street north to McCullom Lake Road struggled before, during and will be impacted following construction.
Knox Drive Extension and Charles Miller/Bull Valley Road/Route 31 Roadway Improvements
If you’ve passed by the City of McHenry Municipal Center recently you’ve also probably noticed there is a quite a bit of construction activity. The new VA Clinic, south of Municipal Drive and north of Charles Miller Road recently opened. Further the construction of the first phase of the City’s recreation center has begun-directly west of the Municipal Center-north of Municipal Drive.
Additionally, Knox Drive is being extended from its terminus at Municipal Drive south to Charles Miller Road. The new Know Drive extension will be a right-in/right-out only to and from Charles Miller Road and will provide a much needed secondary access for businesses with frontage on South Illinois Route 31 north of Bull Valley Road.
Another major project which is well underway and is the second phase of a large roadway improvement project is the construction to Charles Miller/Bull Valley Road and Front Street/South Illinois Route 31. This project is being managed by the McHenry County Division of Transportation in cooperation with their contractor, engineer and the City of McHenry.http://www.charlesmillerroad.com/.
What can businesses do to cope and even thrive during road construction projects??
Communication
Access to a business is often a problem during a construction project.
Ensure there are signs directing customers to the correct entrance; The City of McHenry will allow additional temporary signage in accordance with the following provisions: A temporary sign permit will not be required if the signage only identifies the business impacted and states it’s open during construction; The total size of any one sign cannot exceed 32-square feet. Businesses can have one sign (corner lots will be permitted to have two signs, one along each road frontage, as long as the total cumulative area does not exceed 32 square feet).
Questions???? Please contact the Community and Economic Development Department: 815.363.2170.
Stay informed! Be sure to open all correspondence from the City of McHenry, McHenry County and/or Illinois Department of Transportation. Follow progress and you can also find contact information at: http://www.charlesmillerroad.com/.
Contact suppliers to provide directions. Find out when they’ll be delivering, and talk with the project contractor to reschedule if necessary.
Cooperation
Work with adjacent businesses; share resources; meet with nearby businesses to discuss collaborative solutions to concerns and issues raised by construction.
Plan special events or promotions and collectively pool marketing, advertising and/or website resources.
Share construction coping strategies with nearby businesses and brainstorm ideas to promoted affected businesses.
Make the construction work for you. If you’ve been considering a remodel for your business, why not do it during the construction period? Use this slower period to get things done that you haven’t had time to address.
Create a friendly rapport with construction workers. While on-site construction workers aren’t the appropriate people to contact about concerns, it can only improve the situation if you create a friendly rapport with them. You might supply complimentary ice water to crews in the summer. Construction workers are following instructions from their supervisors and communicating concerns to supervisors and project leaders is the best way to get results.
Customer Engagement
Consider delivering products to your customers; creatively communicate with customers via printed materials, e-mail, social media…
Consider prize drawings to attract customers. Do something above and beyond what you would usually do in your business to attract customers.
Emphasize “Open for Business” in customer communications.
Design a special logo to use during construction and incorporate into your marketing materials.
Incorporate maps into your business website, e–mails and other advertising materials.
Consider keeping a script next to your phone, so that you and your employees have quick and easy directions to provide to customers. Make sure all your employees know what to say and how to say it.
Extend business hours. Consider staying open later in the evening after construction crews are finished for the day. Be flexible to accommodate customer demands and other perceived needs.
What can residents, visitors and other businesses do to support businesses impacted by road construction????
Go out of your way to patronize businesses impacted by road construction projects: before, during and after the project is completed.
Please take extra care while driving through construction zones to ensure the safety of the workers.
Invite out of town relatives/friends to the City of McHenry and patronize a business impacted by road construction.
If you cannot patronize a business during construction hours for one reason or another-visit the business after construction has been completed for the day or before it begins.
Follow the construction progress and schedule times to patronize businesses when it may be more convenient to do so.
Support businesses via e-mail and social media to encourage others to patronize them.
I encourage your feedback, comments and
suggestions in this community-wide endeavor!!!
Coming in future blog posts:
What are economic development clusters and value chains?
What are SIC, SOC and NAICS codes and what were/are they used for?
What factors do non-retail businesses consider when thinking about relocating?
How do brick and mortar businesses remain competitive with on-line businesses?
Chicago Metro Metal Consortium..
Illinois Small Business Development and International Trade Center…
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Update…
What are Class A, B and C spaces?
Franchising? What is it? What companies offer it and what challenges are associated with attracting a retailer which operates exclusively using franchising?
Future trends in economic development: “market segmentation;“ “pop-up” stores; “placemaking/third places” and “creating an experience”….
Douglas P. Martin
Director of Economic Development
City of McHenry
333 S Green Street
McHenry, IL 60050
815.363.2110 (d)
815.363.2173 (f)
815.790.4752 (c)
@McHenryIL
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