Arlington Economic Alliance Meeting Coming Up

The monthly Arlington Economic Alliance meeting will be held Thursday, June 27 at Arlington Heights Village Hall, and a number of important economic issues in the village will be presented.

Among the agenda items will be a small business agreement initiative between the village and the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce.

“During our recent budget meeting, Mayor Tom Hayes  brought up earmarking $50,000 for a small business retention initiative,” said Charles Perkins, director of planning and community development at the Village of Arlington Heights.

That initiative will be further explored, Perkins said. 

A consumer research survey previously reported by Public Research Group to the Economic Alliance will be revisited. Perkins said the Alliance asked the research group to come back and further break down their analysis.

“The alliance is looking for age groups and different locations where people shop; based on where they live, where do people go to purchase goods and services,” he said.

The Disability Employment campaign also will be presented at the meeting by the chairman of the Arlington Heights Disabilities Commission, which Perkins said is working on a program to encourage local businesses to employ citizens with disabilities, similar to Jewel Food Stores and Target stores.

A zero interest small business loan concept is another item on the agenda, which would originate - if approved - when the village issues a Class 6B tax abatement to individual businesses, Perkins said.

“A nominal fee would be charged for the first few years, and that money would go into a separate fund for a revolving loan program for local business owners,” Perkins said, though he said there has been no strong movement forward on that initiative in recent meetings. 

An update on a new marketing campaign for Discover Arlington will also be discussed, and will incude new areas of new promotion such as on Metra billboards and new advertising developments, Perkins said.

Village staff also will present a business development and marketing update, including businesses that are coming to town, along with attraction and retention efforts currently put forth by village staff.

“We do try to take a step above and beyond; we attend various trade shows, identify businesses that may be missing in the village, and actively look for businesses who want to expand into the Chicago area,” Perkins said.

The Economic Alliance meeting will be held Thursday, June 27 beginning at 7:30 a.m. in the Buecher Room in Arlington Heights Village Hall, 33 S. Arlington Heights Road.