Elmhurst Business Group Barred From City Committee

ELMHURST, IL – A north Elmhurst business association won't be allowed to have a representative on a city committee that reviews requests for business grants.

By a 13-1 vote, the City Council voted down a request Monday from the Lake-York Business Association to participate.

The lone dissenter was Alderman Jacob Hill, who represents northwest Ward 2.

The local chamber of commerce and City Centre, which represents downtown, belong to the panel. Like the northside group, other organizations, such as the Spring Road Business Association, are not members.

In a memo, the city's Development, Planning and Zoning Committee recommended against Lake-York's involvement.

The committee cited three reasons:

• The association is less than a year old. (A Patch story and the group's Facebook page indicate it started in late summer or fall 2024.)
• The association lacks a full-time professional staff, which the chamber and City Centre have.
• Potential conflicts of interest could occur. A volunteer member from the association may be a grant applicant or a competitor to an applicant. The volunteer could potentially read a competitor's business plan and marketing materials.

Hill said the city should encourage local business associations to become involved.

"How long does a business association have to be in existence to be valid?" Hill said. "It would be in our best interests to be inclusive with things such as grants and have input from our business organizations."

Alderman Michael Bram, who represents northeast Ward 3, said he would support the committee's recommendation, but added he had "some level of concern." He said the city should take another look to determine whether the committee has the right makeup.

Alderwoman Jennifer Veremis, CEO and president of the local chamber, said a volunteer, likely a business owner, referred to potential conflicts of interest.

"If you owned a pizza place and another pizza place was opening up down the street from you, you would be seeing their whole business plan," said Veremis, who represents west-central Ward 1. "You would be seeking their competitive analysis."

Alderman Chris Jensen, who represents northeast Ward 3, said any business association could provide its feedback during meetings of the Development, Planning and Zoning Committee, which he said has the final say.

The grant committee is made up of a city staffer, an alderman from the finance committee, an economic development commission member and the chamber's CEO. When considering issues involving a downtown tax district, the executive director of City Centre can take part.

The grants are for the improvement and renovation of businesses.