Mayor
Jett, Deputy Administrator Bill Hobson and I also recently attended the International
Council of Shopping Center (ICSC) conference in Las Vegas, where the City of
McHenry has exhibited for eight consecutive years. We attended nine
meetings with property owners, developers, brokers, etc. to promote the City,
recruit business and foster business and this year was again extremely
beneficial. Total attendees was
approximately 37,000 individuals.
Mayor Jett attended the
conference and was a great asset-particularly in speaking with property owners
and bridging communication gaps between property owners. Mayor Jett asked me to provide some information
on the value of attending this conference to the City of McHenry.
The
only information I am not including in this correspondence is the specific
details of what retailers are looking where, etc. It is critical this information remain
confidential because of ongoing negotiations between owners, developers,
brokers, retailers, etc. and many times multiple developers seek the same sites
for the same retailers.
I want
to ensure the integrity of this type of information remains confidential but
have no problem disclosing to the general public why we go, what we do and the
benefits to the City. Below
is a quick snapshot of the conference, as well as the layout of the Las Vegas
Convention Center. There are three
halls: North, Central, and South. The City of McHenry booth is a 10’ X 10’
space located in the Central Hall in the P3 Pavilion.
P3 refers to public-private
partnership.
The P3 Pavilion is an area where numerous cities and economic
development organizations are located and the International Council of Shopping
Centers (ICSC) has been trying to attract more governmental entities so they
host receptions in this area in order to draw people to the P3 Pavilion. More cities have been attending and
exhibiting and ICSC does a lot to promote this.
Many
people ask what it costs to exhibit at ICSC.
The City of McHenry pays $1,200 for a 10’ X 10’ space which includes four staff badges.
The other expenses are a
five-amp electric drop, which is $116.50, and the shipping and handling for our
exhibit. When we
arrive on Sunday prior to the commencement of the convention on Monday, we
setup the exhibit and when the show concludes on Wednesday, we pack the exhibit
and the exhibit is shipped back to the Municipal Center.
While
we have a 10’ X 10’ booth, many cities have elaborate booth spaces. Pricing for these is by square foot and
typically communities with these types of booths are not located within the P3
Pavilion but do pay a a lot of money and to be located
among the major retailers, typically in the south hall. Each community needs to find the
appropriate balance and I believe the model we have used the past eight years
works for our City.
Generally
speaking, the purpose of attending ICSC, meeting with retailers, developers and
property owners and having an exhibit space at ICSC is multi-fold:
· It’s a convenient opportunity to introduce, reintroduce and promote
and sell the City of McHenry brand and provide a canvas of what the City has to
offer in terms of: business, education,
recreation, downtown redevelopment, quality of life, etc. as well as opportunities for developers, retailers and
investors, etc.
This year we handed out notepads, hand sanitizer and cell phone stands
with City of McHenry logo. By the end of
the first day, we ran out of the sanitizer and cell phone stands.
· Attendance at ICSC provides an occasion to meet face-to-face with
retail representatives as well as shopping center owners from other states,
which we would otherwise not have an opportunity to meet, such as Developers
Diversified (DDR) based in Ohio, owner of Shops at Fox River, BET Investments (based
in Pennsylvania) and owner of the southern half of McHenry Commons Shopping
Center;
· The conference provides an opportunity to learn about retailers
looking at the City of McHenry, having the City on their planned growth radar and
which retailers may close their store in the City at some point in the future;
· It also helps us learn which retailers
are not in the City and do not have plans to locate in the City in the near
future therefore we do not waste time trying to attract companies not currently looking at our City. I often obtain this information
by meeting with existing shopping center owners/brokers whom I have contacted
and pre-scheduled meetings with;
· ICSC provides an opportunity to meet with retailers which I did not
initially plan to meet, however because they attended the conference I took
advantage of the opportunity to do so. Mayor Jett actually told me about DXL who had
a booth at the conference. I was able to
contact their representative and speak on the phone with her, and also pass her
name onto a shopping center owner in the City which they may be interested.
· ICSC provides an opportunity to network with a vast array of
individuals and companies with numerous interests.
· These contacts may or may not produce anything viable for the City
of McHenry but it is often someone you may run into, particularly at a
conference of this size and magnitude, which will produce a tangible benefit
for our community.
ICSC has conferences similar to the one in Las Vegas on every continent
(except Antarctica), however the Las Vegas Convention is the largest in the
world, therefore everyone is at the same place at the same time.
· Additionally, the City of McHenry has maintained a consistent
presence at this conference, demonstrating an on-going commitment to economic
development, which is very important to shopping center owners, retailers,
brokers and others seeking to invest in our City.
The
most important reason we attend this conference is that economic development is
a long-term proposition and often takes numerous years for either a retailer or
developer to actually do something - open a store, etc. in your community.
ICSC provides the best platform to meet
face-to-face with people and cultivate these relationships and maintaining a
consistent presence is critical. Additionally
this year, Mayor Jett attended and this was another demonstration of the
City’s commitment to economic development.
As a point of interest, the City of McHenry is the only
community in McHenry County who has a booth at this convention, however this
year representatives from Huntley, Volo, Lakemoor, Crystal Lake, Harvard and
the Woodstock-Harvard Enterprise Zone all stopped by our booth.
Economic
development is more competitive among communities than it has been in the past
and our neighbors are out there seeking business, therefore it is critical we
do the same.
Having
a booth allows one of us, typically Deputy Administrator Hobson, to stay at the
booth, while this year-Mayor Jett and I met with developers, shopping center
owners and retailers.
This year we had nine meetings scheduled over the course of two and half
days.
Mayor
Jett and I attended eight meetings on Monday and Tuesday and Mayor Jett was
asked to attend another meeting while at the conference. Mayor Jett received a follow-up email this
week from a gentleman who stopped by our booth.
This is another advantage of having a booth-over the course of the
eight years we have drawn a lot of traffic from developers, retailers, brokers, etc. who we may not otherwise have
connected.
A week after we returned Mayor Jett received an
email from a gentlemen stating he has reviewed the information we provided
at the Conference and visited the City of McHenry and requested a meeting with
Mayor Jett, along with a tour of the City to discuss development opportunities
and options.
This is at a minimum
continuing a conversation and may or may not lead to a tangible benefit however,
this is how economic development typically begins. A
connection is made and relationship established and at a minimum another
individual, who may have two other people with him, may or may not do something
immediately in McHenry but may come look around and keep McHenry on his radar.
Many of these conversations begin in Las
Vegas at this convention and last for years.
One broker told me a story about a project a co-worker of his worked on
which led to a major retailer locating in a City however, the deal took ten
years to complete.
Lastly, a couple of years ago ICSC added a feature
to the Exhibitor Portal on their website.
As an exhibitor, you are included in the general program, as well as on
the website. I provide a write-up on the
City and it is published on the Exhibitor Portal.
Below is the feature which ICSC added a
couple of years ago and it details how many people have viewed your information
on the Exhibitor Portal; number of links made to your website and number of
people who added the City of McHenry to their “agenda” while in Las Vegas.
It is
clear just from the numbers below that there is considerable interest in the
City of McHenry. Moving forward I will
track this annually and use this year as a benchmark.
I
believe however, the most beneficial aspect of attending the ICSC conference in
Las Vegas is it provides the greatest networking opportunity with everyone
associated in retail and shopping center development across a vast array of
professional fields.
INFORMATION PROVIDED AT INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF SHOPPING CENTER
CONFERENCE IN LAS VEGAS MAY 21-MAY 24, 2017
Another
important aspect to be successful with any of the retailers is proposing
specific viable sites, which meet the criteria for that retailer and/or
developer which may be seeking to attract a particular tenant/tenant mix.
Each year I provide updated information to hand out
at the ICSC Conference. Last year I
brought business cards which are produced by Corporate Disk in McHenry. This year I brought 100 of the same
business cards with built-in USB drives and included on these are the
informational folders pictured below.
Additionally, I bring two binders to the
convention, which are kept at the booth.
The binders contain hard copies of almost all of the documents on the flash drives so people
stopping by the booth can look at the plans, properties, etc. When we attend meetings, we hand out these
cards as well. Below is also a screen shot of the front and back of the card and the files contained on the card.
MAYOR JETT ATTENDANCE AT ICSC
Deputy Administrator Hobson and I have attended this
conference together for many years. Attendance at this
Conference is not easy and Deputy Administrator Hobson and I are a team. I could not accomplish what I need to
accomplish without his attendance. Mayor
Jett added a third dimension and honestly, we went from being a great team to
being an even better team.
Many communities have numerous staff and elected
officials attend this conference, and as I stated each community needs to
determine the appropriate balance for their community. I did not know how Mayor Jett’s attendance
would affect our presence at the conference but I believe it was a great
experience for him and added another dimension and more credibility for our
City.
Mayor
Jett fit in immediately, attended every meeting with me and even one without
me. His attendance as the head elected
official was very well received and evident from the people we met with,
however his business knowledge and ability to bridge gaps, communicate and
mediate was an even greater benefit.
CONCLUSION AND FOLLOW-UP
While at ICSC in Las Vegas, you never know who you will
meet; what conversations will occur and what may come out of it. Every year many municipalities, which have
never exhibited at ICSC, stop by our booth and ask us if we believe it’s
worthwhile to exhibit at ICSC in Las Vegas. While ICSC touts this
conference as one where deals are made it is my opinion, as well as many others
I have spoken with, ICSC provides an opportunity to network, cultivate existing
relationships, establish new ones and learn all the dynamics in the market.
Additionally,
following-up on ICSC contacts, leads and conversations is just as, or more,
important as attending. Mayor Jett’s presence
at the conference was extremely beneficial and he fit very well into our team, assisted in many
ways, and has already contacted people from the conference and follow-up emails,
calls and meetings have also been scheduled.
Consistency, providing
a message that states we want business and establishing a broader network each
year are crucial to economic development. While
electronic mail, Twitter, Facebook and other forms of social media are heavily
utilized and certainly have their place, I am a strong proponent in the value
of face-to-face meetings.
Communication,
collaboration and confidentiality are paramount to a successful economic
development program and ICSC in Las Vegas provides a forum to do this. The ICSC in Las Vegas is the only conference
consistently attended by national and international companies.
Economic development is a long-term proposition and quality economic
development takes time and has many nuances associated with it.
SAVE THE DATES:
CITY OF MCHENRY FARMERS
MARKET AND BAND CONCERT SERIES: FARMERS
MARKET, 4:00-7:30 PM, AND BAND CONCERT MAY 25, 2017-SEPTEMBER 28, 2017, 7:00 PM
MCHENRY HIGH SCHOOL BAND, VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK http://www.ci.mchenry.il.us/index.asp?SEC=0D797DF0-55C4-4F86-87BB-CECF1CDC9DE3&DE=AF669D87-311B-40DC-BC3E-065844C70485&Type=B_BASIC (FREE!!!)
GREEN STREET CRUISE NIGHTS: MONDAYS, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 25, 2017; SPONSORED BY LETIZIA FINANCIAL; 6:00 TO 8:00 PM; ON
MONDAY NIGHTS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER; ENTERTAINMENT AND VIEWING OF THE MOST
AMAZING VEHICLES AROUND; CORNER OF ROUTE 120 AND GREEN STREET IN MCHENRY; https://m.facebook.com/Green-Street-Cruise-Night-109208179155851/; http://mchenrycountyliving.com/cruise-night-schedule/ http://business.mchenrychamber.com/events/details/green-street-cruise-night-08-07-2017-12881 (FREE!!!)
BACK TO FAMILY OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHT: https://m.facebook.com/BackToFamilyOutdoorMovieNight/
GOLDEN AGE CINEMAS-MCHENRY OUTDOOR THEATER: 1510 CHAPEL HILL ROAD, GATES OPEN AT 6:30 PM, MOVIES COMMENCE AT
DUSK (RECOMMENDED TO ARRIVE NO LATER THAN 7:30 PM) http://www.goldenagecinemas.com/#/mchenry
TURN OUT FOR TIM (TIM
D’ANGELO’S FIGHT AGAINST CANCER): JUNE 24, 2017, 5:00 PM
TO 9:00 PM AT THE CHURCH OF HOLY APOSTLES (FATHER SHERRY PARISH CENTER), 5211
BULL VALLEY ROAD, https://www.facebook.com/events/204393123413733/
MCHENRY COUNTY PATRIOT
RUN: JUNE 25, 2017, 7:30 AM TO 12:00 PM AT MCHENRY COUNTY
COLLEGE, 8900 US ROUTE 14, CRYSTAL LAKE
CITY OF MCHENRY
LANDMARK COMMISSION: TENTH ANNUAL A DAY
AT PETERSEN FARM: JUNE 25, 2017, 10:00 AM TO 4:00 PM AT
PETERSEN HISTORIC FARM, 4112 MCCULLOM LAKE ROAD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSNlUK4rWX0 (FREE!!!)
MCHENRY AREA CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING AT MEIJER: MONDAY JUNE 26, 2017; 10:00 AM 2253 N RICHMOND
ROAD http://business.mchenrychamber.com/events/details/ribbon-cutting-13810
MCHENRY AREA CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING/GOLD CANYON: WEDNESDAY JUNE 28, 2017; 1:00 PM; 1257 N GREEN
STREET (MCHENRY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE); http://business.mchenrychamber.com/events/details/ribbon-cutting-13813
MCHENRY AREA JAYCEES
DAY FIREWORKS: JULY 1, 2017, AT PETERSEN PARK, 4300 PETERSEN
PARK ROAD (PARK OPENS AT 4:00 PM AND FIREWORKS COMMENCE AT DUSK), http://www.mchenryareajaycees.org/
MCHENRY AREA CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING/GRAND OPENING EVENT AT BEERABILITY: JULY 6, 2017, 4117 W SHAMROCK LANE, MCHENRY, 5:30
PM, http://business.mchenrychamber.com/events/details/ribbon-cutting-13800; http://beerabilitybar.com/location
MCHENRY POLICE AND FIRE
CHARITABLE ASSOCIATIONS FIFTH ANNUAL GOLF OUTING:
JULY 10, 2017, 10:30 AM TO 6:00 PM, MCHENRY COUNTRY CLUB 820 N JOHN
STREET, https://www.mchenrypoa.org/
MCHENRY AREA CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE DOUBLE RIBBON CUTTING AND OPEN HOUSES/BETTER HOMES AND GARDEN REAL
ESTATE STAR HOMES AND MAGNOLIA SALON CANYON: TUESDAY JULY 11, 2017; 4:00 PM TO 7:00 PM (OPEN
HOUSES) 5:30-5:45 PM (RIBBON CUTTINGS); 4817 ELM STREET; http://business.mchenrychamber.com/events/details/ribbon-cutting-13814
MCHENRY DOWNTOWN
BUSINESSES SIDEWALK SALES: JULY 22,
2017, 10:00 AM TO 4:00 PM, DOWNTOWN MCHENRY http://mchenrydowntown.biz/events
MCHENRY DOWNTOWN
BUSINESSES FIESTA DAYS PARADE: JULY 23,
2017, 1:00 PM (STAGING ON MAIN STREET IN PARKING LOT-WEST OF TRAIN STATION) http://mchenrydowntown.biz/events
TEE UP FOR CHARITY
PIONEER CENTER FOR HUMAN SERVICES GOLF OUTING:
JULY 16, 2017, 11:30 AM (REGISTRATION) TO 12:30 PM (SHOTGUN START),
DINNER/RAFFLE COMMENCES AT 5:00 PM PRAIRIE ISLE GOLF COURSE: 2216 ILLINOIS ROUTE 176, PRAIRIE GROVE www.facebook.com/STARCharities
MCHENRY AREA CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE MIXER AT MCHENRY SAVINGS BANK: AUGUST 1, 2017,
5:00-7:00 PM, 353 BANK DRIVE
MCHENRY AREA CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE/MCHENRY COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION MIXER AT SMITH’S CENTRAL
GARAGE: AUGUST 8, 2017, 5:00-7:00 PM,
3315 PEARL STREET http://business.mchenrychamber.com/events/details/mixer-13803
MULTI-CHAMBER MIXER AT
CHIRO ONE: AUGUST 10, 2017,
4:00-6:00 PM, 435 ANGELA LANE, CRYSTAL LAKE http://business.mchenrychamber.com/events/details/mixer-multi-chamber-13804
BINNY’S BEVERAGE DEPOT WINE
TOUR: AUGUST 12, 2017, 1:00 PM TO 4:00 PM, 4610 W ELM
STREET; http://www.binnys.com/
MCHENRY ROTARY BLUES
BREWS AND BBQ: AUGUST 18, 2017-AUGUST 20, 2017, PETERSEN
PARK, 4300 PETERSEN PARK ROAD https://www.mrbbb.com/
MCHENRY AREA CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE DOWNTOWN UNCORKED: SEPTEMBER 16, 2017,
1:00 PM TO 4:00 PM, DOWNTOWN MCHENRY http://business.mchenrychamber.com/events/details/mchenry-downtown-uncorked-13679
MCHENRY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
#156 MANUFACTURING TRADE AND INDUSTRY CAREER EXPO (MTI EXPO): SEPTEMBER 27, 2017, 6:00-8:00 PM, 1012 N GREEN
STREET (MCHENRY HIGH SCHOOL EAST CAMPUS)
MCHENRY DOWNTOWN
BUSINESSES FLAVORS OF FALL TASTE FEST: OCTOBER 7, 2017, 1:00
PM TO 4:30 PM, DOWNTOWN MCHENRY, http://mchenrydowntown.biz/events
THANK YOU TO ALL BUSINESSES AND
ORGANIZATIONS WHICH HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT TO GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY,
SUPPORT/VOLUNTEER AT A LOCAL EVENT, AND/OR LOCATE THEIR BUSINESS AND/OR EXPAND
IN THE CITY OF MCHENRY…EVERYONE CONTRIBUTES!!!!!
Please help us keep our community vibrant and strong to the
greatest extent practical for businesses, residents and visitors alike! The City Council is
continually evaluating ways to assist in promoting business, tourism, community
events and service! Economic development
is an ongoing effort the City is committed to and is a community-wide
effort. At the end of the day the entire
community and everyone who is a part of it benefits!!
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)
@mchmarketpulse
dmartin@ci.mchenry.il.us
