McHenry Market Pulse: Essential Primers and Watermarks to a Successful Economic Development Program: Relationships, Partnerships and Collaboration, Recognition and Promotion and Celebration of Successes

Over the past two months I’ve learned a great deal launching McHenry Market Pulse. I’ve also reflected on economic development and my role as Director of Economic Development, the role of the City of McHenry, as well as residents, businesses, other community stakeholders and those who visit the City and drive-through on a daily basis. One thing I’ve found true many times over is those who work for the City of McHenry take an incredible amount of pride in what they do and love this City. The same is true for businesses and citizens and the civic-minded nature of those who continually support the City, volunteer for various causes and rally to assist those in need. Community spirit is alive and well throughout the City of McHenry.

There is a lot of in-depth analyses and number crunching associated with businesses seeking to move into the City and/or expand an existing location. These include: statistical, demographic, traffic, socioeconomic, consumer spending patterns, psychographic analyses….and the list goes on and on.

Watermarks serve many functions with varying degrees of opacity. One use of a watermark is as a backdrop, in the form of an identifying image or phrase and although watermarks are not completely transparent they play a distinct role.

While the aforementioned statistical analyses and empirical data certainly serve a prominent role in economic development the true essence or watermarks of community economic development can be captured and distinguished by the following: relationships, partnerships and collaboration, recognition and promotion and celebration of successes. These waterworks are manifested in various forms including: community engagement, public participation, teamwork, awards, service to a community, civic-mindedness and the list goes on….In this blog I will illustrate examples of each and their significance to a community’s economic health and well-being and ask you to ponder this question as you read: If the people who reside in and/or do business in a community, work for a community and love and take pride in it do not promote and sell their own City as a great place who will???

Relationships, Partnerships and Collaboration

State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

This week the Illinois Economic Development Association and Commonwealth Edison sponsored a meet the director reception for economic development professionals throughout the Chicagoland Region. The State of Illinois’ economic development agency, Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), http://www.illinois.gov/dceo, is undertaking organizational changes, one of which is the hiring of a new Director.

The reception was held in Chicago, and I was able to speak with both the Director and Deputy Director about the City of McHenry and concerns we, as a City have, specifically with large employers seeking to expand or potentially relocate out of the State of Illinois.

One of my responsibilities as Director of Economic Development is to work with federal, state and local elected officials concerning challenges associated with business development and expansion, streamline the development review process as well as promote the City’s Economic Development Plan and Economic Development Strategy to regional and state partners, one of which is the Illinois Department of Community and Economic Opportunity.

Indonesian Trade Promotion Center

Indonesian Trade Promotion Center Event held April 14, 2015

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the importance of exporting and global middle class consumption outside of the United States is expected to reach $35 trillion by 2020. For every $1 billion in exports 5,690 jobs are created so increasing export production is paramount to sustaining and creating additional employment for our City and region.

I have been working with the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center, http://www.itpcchicago.com/, for several months cultivating a relationship and to organize an event whereby representatives from the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center would come to the City of McHenry to promote and enhance relationships with existing businesses in the City of McHenry and educate those businesses not currently doing business with Indonesia to consider the opportunities which may be available.

I was invited by the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center to an event and had the opportunity to attend at their offices in Chicago. The purpose was to showcase Indonesian Coffee through a documentary filmed in Indonesia and the importance of coffee to their culture and economy. Indonesia has a population of 250 million people, consists of 17,000 islands, has a one trillion dollar economy and is the third largest producer of coffee in the world. While at the event I spoke with the Indonesian Consulate General to promote the City of McHenry and contemporaneously become more educated about the opportunities available for businesses in the City of McHenry to import/export with businesses in Indonesia.

Promote Your Business and assist in Bringing Back the Historic Pearl Street Bridge

The sanded plywood historic bridge with river template was constructed by the City of McHenry Parks and Recreation Department, www.ci.mchenry.il.us, and is sold at the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce, http://mchenrychamber.com/, located at 1257 N Green Street (815) 385-4300, and is waiting for you to create your organizational message. You can also fax the Chamber at 815-385-9142 and request an order form. Funds received from bridge signs will go to the McHenry Riverwalk Foundation to aide in the return and restoration of a section of the Historic Pearl Street Bridge, planned to be utilized as a pedestrian bridge over Boone Lagoon west of Green Street. The section of bridge was donated to the City of McHenry by TC Industries and will serve as a physical connection between Green Street and Riverside Drive to Main Street!

Example Sign

Costs are:

32” Historic Bridge w/River Sign (Riverside Drive & the Riverwalk)

$60 - Not-For-Profit 501c3 Organization

$120-Business

48” Historic Bridge w/River Sign (Green Street or Main Street)

$115 - Not-For-Profit 501c3 Organizations

$230-Business

Recognition

Joseph B. Stanek Honorary Street Sign Dedication Ceremony

Joseph B. Stanek Honorary Street Sign Dedication Ceremony April 16, 2015

The City Council has approved fourteen honorary street sign applications since the inception of the program in 2005. To be considered, the proposed honoree is required to meet the following criteria: historical/cultural influence on the city, significant lineage or family ties to the city, clear geographical relationship of street to the area of interest of the applicant, known to be of good moral character, and a clearly defined community or public contribution made by the honoree.

Joseph B. Stanek served as Mayor of the City of McHenry from 1973-1985 and was instrumental in acquiring Petersen Park, developing Knox Park and the City pool at that location, as well as assisting in the development of the Northern Illinois Medical Center/Centegra Hospital. He has lived in the City for half a century.

An honorary street sign dedication ceremony was held on April 16, 2015 to honor and recognize Mr. Stanek and his family for the aforementioned contributions and service. Congratulations to Mr. Stanek and his family!!!!

Promotion and Celebration of Successes

City of McHenry Water Tower Photograph Makes 2015-2016 Calendar

City of McHenry Water Tower Located at Crystal Lake Road and Bull Valley Road

One of the most important roles members of a community can play is promoting the place they live, work and play! It’s free and in today’s digital technological environment it’s easier to spread the word to a large number of people very quickly. In the business world a personal reference by a customer is one of the most valuable and free forms of advertisement.

The same rational translates to communities. Businesses want to locate where they are welcomed, are valued and appreciated. People want to live, work and visit places that are family-oriented, community and civic-minded.

The City of McHenry was chosen by the WATERCON2015 attendees to appear in the third annual Illinois Section American Water Works, http://www.isawwa.org/, Water Tank Photo Calendar. The 2015-2016 calendar will be unveiled for the first time at the 8th Annual Water Distribution Conference on April 28, 2015.

This calendar will be distributed at the Water Distribution Conference to all attendees (free advertising), as well as be mailed to all 2,100+ Illinois Section American Water Works members (additional free advertising). Congratulations to Jon Schmitt, Director of Public Works, Mike Palmer, Water Superintendent, their staff and the City of McHenry.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Honor

The City of McHenry South Wastewater Treatment Plant was selected as one of seven out of a possible 180 facilities statewide as “Best Operated Wastewater Treatment Works” (free advertising). It was nominated for the award by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s (IEPA), http://www.epa.illinois.gov/index, Division of Water Pollution Control, Field Operations Section. This award is presented in each of five categories, with the categories being separated according to facility size and treatment process type. The purpose of the annual awards is to emphasize the relationship between adequate wastewater treatment and clean receiving waters and to give public recognition and encouragement to communities, their officials and the operating personnel who have operated their wastewater facilities in an especially effective manner.

This is quite an honor for the City of McHenry. Congratulations to Jon Schmitt, Director of Public Works, Russell Ruzicka, Wastewater Superintendent, their staff and the City of McHenry.

Relationships, Partnerships and Collaboration, Recognition and Promotion and Celebration of Successes!!!

As I stated at the beginning of this post the true essence or watermarks of community economic development can be captured and distinguished by the following: relationships, partnerships and collaboration, recognition and promotion and celebration of successes. As was demonstrated just in this blog post there are many examples of how the City of McHenry utilizes these watermarks as part of a comprehensive toolkit to a successful holistic economic development program. If the people who reside in and/or do business in a community, work for a community and love and take pride in it do not promote and sell their own City as a great place who will???

Please continue to provide feedback, submit questions and comments because economic development is a community-wide effort.

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"
Challenges associated with economic development