Reservation forms and dinner details are available on our website (click here).  Tickets are $75 each or $540 per table of 8. Payment may be made by Pay Pal.

The 2010 Business Champion receipients will be presented with their awards and all nominees will be recognized. 

Networking: 5:30 PM

Dinner: 7:00 PM

Keynote Speaker & Business Champion Presentations 8:00 PM.

Please call with any questions 815.363.0444.

Register today by calling our office 815.363.0444 - send an email to jschober@mcedc.com - or click here.

Date:  FRIDAY, August 13th!

Time: 7:30 AM

Location: Woodstock North High School - 3000 Raffel Rd, Woodstock (South on Raffel from Charles Rd.)

EDC received over 30 nominations for the 2010 Business Champion Awards and our task force is hard at work conducting telephone interviews.  The nominated companies include:

Over 100 employees: Althoff Industries, Associated Electric, Brown Printing, Dean Foods, Family Services, Filtertek, General Kinematics, Kenmode Tool & Engineering, Nissan Fork Lift, Scot Forge, Watlow, Wauconda Tool & Engineering.

25 to 100 employees:  Corporate Disk Company, Curran Contracting, Exemplar Financial Network,  Mastercoil, Olsun Electric, and Silgan Plastics Corporation

Under 24 employees: Astro Craft, Chirch Global Manufacturing, Hueman Water Conditioning, Joseph H. Huemann & Sons, Jan Air, Inc. Marengo Signs, Stonehill Shopping Center, Tessler Construction, The Woodstock Independent and Wirfs Industries.

All of the nominated companies will be introduced at our EDC Annual Dinner (September 23rd at the Holiday Inn Crystal Lake) and the 2010 Business Champions will be presented with their awards. 

Congratulations to all of the nominated companies on your contributions to McHenry County's economy!

There will be representatives from the major agencies of the federal government responsible for awarding grants and purchasing products and services from local suppliers and contractors. 

Of specific interest will be a free workshop on identifying and bidding on contracts, both large and small presented by the  Defense Department’s procurement agency, the Department Logistic Agency .

Other agencies exhibiting will be the Export-Import Bank, Homeland Security (FEMA), the Environmental Protection Agency,  the Department of Health and Human Services.   Additional free workshops will be conducted by the Small Business Administration, the Export Assistance Center and General Services Administration.

Information booths will be available from 9 AM to 2 PM.  Doors open at 8:30 AM.  Your reservation would be appreciated. Please call Congressman Manzullo's local office at 815.394.1231.  

EDC encourages our businesses to take advantage of every opportunity!

These reports can be helpful in a variety of ways including updating your strategic and business plans, attracting businesses to your available properties, and market analysis.

There are over 30 reports available and each is described on our website. Several examples are also provided.

Investors in McHenry County EDC have unlimited free access to the reports. .

Other McHenry County individuals or businesses who wish to receive a specific report will be able to do so at a minimum cost per report.

Please visit our website under the Business Information tab – Statistics – ESRI reports or

 click here for more information.

Friday, August 13th, 2010

Woodstock North High School

3000 Raffel Road - Woodstock

7:30 - 9 AM

With elections approaching and the state's financial situation critical, we know you have

questions for our elected officials.  Take advantage of this opportunity. Please register by Monday, August 9th, 2010.   Click Here to Register today!

If you have a specific question you wish to submit, please email to:  info@mchenrycountyedc.com.

Subject line:  Legislative Breakfast Question.

We hope to you see you on Friday, August 13th!

Peoria Civic Center, 201 Southwest Jefferson Avenue, Peoria, IL

• Explore opportunities to supply the Wind Power sector
• Evaluate capabilities relative to customer requiremnts
• Develop plans for penetrating the market and
• Make connections with wind turbine technology companies

Register to attend or sponsor online at http://www.RenewableEnergy.ilstu.edu, click on Annual Conference in the Upcoming Events list. For questions, please call 309-438-7919.

In addition to land use and transportation, GO TO 2040 also addresses the rull range of qualtiy-of-life issues including the natural environment, economic development, housing and human services such as education, health care, and other social services.

The open house is scheduled for:

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010 6 to 8 PM

Woodstock Public Library,3414, W. Judd St., Woodstock, IL 60098.

The open house will feature a short plan overview presentation by CMAP staff, followed by a question and answer period.  Formal public comments will also be accepted.  Residents may also review the plan and submit comments on the GO TO 2040 website, www.goto2040.org.

CMAP - Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning was created in 2005 as the comprehensive regional planning organization for the noreastern Illinois counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will.  By state and federal law, CMAP is responsible for developing GO TO 2040 metropolitan Chicago's comprehensive regional plan. The agency projects that metropolitan Chicago will gain more than 2 million new residents and 1 million jobs in the next three decades. The GO TO 2040 planning campaign will develop and implement strategies to address that projected growth. Scheduled for completion in 2010, the plan will shape the region's transportation system and development patterns  while also addressing the natural environment, economic development, housing, education, huiman services and other factors shaping quality of life. See www.cmap.illinois.gov for more information.

On  May 27th,  Navistar went public with the difficulty in reaching an agreement with DuPage County and the City of Lisle. Collaborating with the County Board Chairman Ken Koehler, the City of Harvard Mayor Jay Nolan,  our Congressman Don Manzullo, State Senator Althoff and Representative Franks, as well as the Jones Lang Lasalle the broker for the site, we mounted a full court press to make Navistar aware of the former Motorola Facility.

In concert with our partners,  President Pam Cumpata developed a multi level strategy to bring our facility to Navistar's attention.   Multiple contacts were made from several directions and contacts were also made to the Governor's  COO,  Jack Lavin,   to share the concern that it is important to keep Navistar in Illinois and that we have an existing facility which would meet their needs. 

Pam also reached out  to Janyce Fadden at Rockford Area EDC since workforce in  both McHenry and Winnebago counties would factor into this opportunity as well as the Rockford International Airport.

Our multi-level strategy paid off today with Navistar's management commenting to Chairman Ken Koehler, that McHenry County received Navistar's 'persistence award'...so we are in the hunt!

Go to our website  www.mchenrycountyedc.com and click on Nominate a Business Champion on the left side of the home page on Quick Links. Members of the Business Champion Task Force will contact your nominee for an interview.  Finalists and their nominators will be invited to attend a private reception with our keynote speaker Orion Samuelson, noted broadcaster, prior to our annual dinner and winners will be featured in a short video. Details are available on our website as well as photos of the 2009 Business Champions.  Help us recognize those businesses who have made an impact on the economy of McHenry County.

Questions, give our office a call. 815.363.0444.

The two hour session provided an inside look on how to become a supplier to Boeing. After the presentation which focused on the many facets of the company and its high quality and delivery standards, members of the procurement team met individually with attendees.  Currently, there are 22,000 suppliers that work with Boeing. The vice presidents both emphasized that Boeing continuously looks for innovative technology and that Boeing works with all sizes of suppliers, from  a small one man shop to larger companies.  The trick is to get to the right person and that was the purpose of this event.

McHenry County EDC President Pam Cumpata expressed appreciation to Congressman Manzullo for his continued focus on growing our manufacturing sector.  She also thanked Catherine Jones, director of the MCC Shah Center for Corporate Training, for her assistance and encouraged businesses to take advantage of the wide variety of programs geared to manufacturers which are available at the Shah. 

Note: To start the process to become a supplier for Boeing, go to Boeing SupplierGATEWAY website: https://app.suppliergateway.com/boeing.  Click on the "Potential Supplier Registration", (Do NOT use a registration key).

Participating agendies at this event include:

• Small Business Administration: 504, 7a and Express loan programs, and small business development tools
• Internal Revenue Serivce: small business tax incentives (net Operating Loss carryback, bonus depreciation, health care)
• Commerce Department: export programs to link to targeted countries or client
• Dept. of Energy: green energy/efficiency grants, tools or incentives
• Labor Department: workforce development
• Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE): business management consulting services

RSVP by June 1st to: IL08.outreach@mail.house.gov or call Donna Riley at 847.517.2917.

The program will feature: Mr. Stanley Deal, Vice President and General Manager, Supplier Management, Boeing Commerical Airplanes along with the supplier management teams for Boeing Commercial and Defense.

You may RSVP directly to the office of Congressman Manzullo, 815.394.1231 or email his office at bryan.davis@mail.house.gov. 

The villages of Algonquin, Fox River Grove, Huntley and Lakewood and the cities of Crystal Lake, Marengo, McHenry participated in the event.  EDC provided demographic data on Market Profiles, Retail Sales and Expenditures, and Business Summary by SIC codes for each municipality.

Pam Cumpata, EDC President, emphasised that our municipal partners are important to EDC's overall mission of growing the economy and EDC will continue to provide support and assistance.

Do you know a business champion or are you one?  Visit the Business Champion Nomination page beginning June 1st to nominate your company, your associate or your boss!

Raising the visibility of McHenry County is also on the agenda as we work on identifying the key sound bites that best describe our unique municipalities.

McHenry County EDC will continue the series of EDC Roundtables in the Fall.    

McHenry County EDC understands the importance of retail to our municipalies and has invited municipal economic development staff to attend this roundtable which will focus on how economic gardening can help grow retail and generate tax dollars.

Contact EDC for additional information or to rsvp.

Are you a business champion?  Do you work for one?  Do you know a business or individual who has made an economic impact to McHenry County?  Nomination forms will be available June 1st!

Contact EDC if you have any questions.

Individual Champion awards have been presented to Mike Eesley, Centegra, John Blanchard, NASA, and Todd Bessey, Wayne Hummer Wealth Management. 

Are you a Business Champion?  Do you know a Business Champion? Nominations will be available on the EDC website on June 1st.  Please contact our office with questions or for additional information.

Tom Murphy of RSM McGladrey and National Association of Manufacturers(NAM)presented a number of interesting statistics such as 25% of costs added to the production of goods in the US are imposed by our own country  ie Healthcare costs, Environmental Restrictions, Litigation and Taxes.  He pointed out that US goods are not competitive worldwide because of those costs and our manufacturers must  find ways to be competitive through other cost controls or processes.  He also stated that Foreign Trade Agreements do not negatively impact export/import business, but felt that the lack of an agreement presents a greater obstacle.   Mr. Murphy proposed a Pro Growth Agenda:

• Lower Corporate Tax
• Permanent & higher Tax Credit for Research and Development
• Implement a Comprehensive Energy Policy
• Modernize US Export Controls
• Invest in Energy, Broadband & Transportation
• Enhance pool of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)Graduates
• Support programs of Technical Training and Certification

Grant Aldonas of Split Rock International presented on Examining the Forces and Strategies shaping the global business environment.  His first statement was “We are part of a Global Market” so in other words,  now figure out how to use that knowledge and resources to enhance your business and your region.

The goal of the conference was to present opportunities and resources to assist with Global outreach for McHenry County EDC and our manufacturing community.  Give Pam a call for further highlights.