MISSION STATEMENT
DCEDC is a public/private partnership
working to facilitate sustainable and diversified economic
growth within DeKalb County.
GOAL 1: Continue efforts directed toward industrial retention,
expansion and attraction.
Objective: Monitor existing industrial
base of DeKalb County.
Activities:
- Participate and communicate with local, state, and community
development, economic development, chamber and other business
associations in the county to facilitate development of a
sound business climate
- Monitor status of key county companies and report on issues
regarding retention and expansion
- Encourage networking among local industrial and business
leaders through DCEDC and other organizations’ programs;
publish annual Industrial Directory
Measurement: Regular and consistent participation
in networking events and professional organizations; speaking
engagements.
Objective: Attract new industry and business
to DeKalb County.
Activities:
- Participate in the Chicago Chapter of CoreNet Global (former
IDRC & NACORE)
- Participate in MEGA Chicago
- Undertake marketing projects utilizing a public relations
consultant directed toward Chicago metro area residents, industry
owners and managers, real estate agents, developers, utility
companies, and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunities (DCEO) aimed at target industries and influence
groups;
- Participate in target industry trade associations
- Participate in the I-39 Logistics Corridor marketing programs
to target warehousing and distribution businesses
- Maintain current inventories of sites and buildings in the
county and publish listings on the web site
- Maintain a database of labor market, transportation, utilities,
wage, and other information for response to serious prospect
inquiries
- Provide prospect response and follow-up services in conjunction
with local and state community and economic development, utility
company, chamber and other similar economic development associations
Measurement: Participation in networking
activities related to target audiences; track web site hits.
Objective: Assist
county communities in developing prepared industrial sites
and business parks.
Activities:
- Update information on county development issues such as
municipal utility capacity, municipal incentives, municipal
taxes, and school, vocational, and educational programs
Measurement: Self-evident – see community
profiles, etc.
Objective: Organize and structure the office
for efficient, effective daily operation.
Activities:
- Provide for staff development training in Quick Books, Microsoft
products, Dreamweaver, and other software as needed for producing
improved financial reports and communications with clients
and contributors
Measurement: Self-evident.
GOAL 2: Continue participating in workforce development
efforts
Objective: Facilitate relationships between
private employers and public/private training, retraining,
and educational organizations including the implement of the
Workforce Investment Act.
Activities:
- Support activities to reorganize the Illinois Employment
and Training Center (IETC) at Kishwaukee College in connection
with services funded by the River Valley Workforce Investment
Board
- Encourage participation by county companies in the activities
of the Kishwaukee Education Consortium (KEC) and Indian Valley
Vocational Center (IVVC) in career and technical educational
partnerships
- Facilitate interaction between welfare and education organizations
and private employers
- Promote employers’ use of training resources available
through Kishwaukee College, Waubonsee Community College, KEC,
IVVC, and NIU
- Facilitate board involvement in workforce development activities
Measurement: Consistent attendance at meetings
of groups and agencies and evidence of meetings with local
employers.
Objective: Assure availability of workforce
that meets the needs of local industry by pinpointing skills
that are in demand and pay a living wage.
Activities:
- Build awareness of the value of industrial work
- Facilitate staff capability at the DeKalb IETC to take the
initiative for developing partnerships with local employers
for training and recruitment projects
- Monitor the 25-person enrollment objective for the DCEO
grant to re-equip the Manufacturing & Engineering Technology
Academy
- Continued participation in organizing Linking Leaders and
the Educator Internship Programs of KETCP
Measurement: Self-evident.
Objective: Maintain a clearinghouse of information
on workforce development statistics.
Activities:
- Act as a resource for local news media and secondary educators
on the importance of workforce development
- Undertake a wage and salary survey; and publish news and
information on the web site
Measurement: Self-evident.
Objective: Provide support and encouragement
for affordable housing, which will produce an expanded workforce.
Activities:
- Support development of affordable housing projects as long
as they are planned and managed within municipal, county,
and school growth capabilities
- Monitor housing stock growth and sales and commuting patterns
to facilitate recognition of housing market opportunities
Measurement: Self-evident.
GOAL 3: Facilitate public/private partnerships to
achieve economic vitality.
Objective: Generate networking opportunities
for business, government, and educational officials.
Activities:
- Collaborate with other associations and groups to organize
economic development programs as needed
Measurement: Self-evident
Objective: Foster and facilitate interaction
between industry and local government, education and business
organizations.
Activities:
- Work cooperatively with local chambers of commerce, economic
development commissions and other local business organization
initiatives
- Participate in regional economic development activities
such as the I-39 Logistics Corridor Association, MEGA Chicago,
and the regional strategies from the Illinois DCEO
Measurement: Self-evident.
Objective: Produce public relations and marketing
information for use in identifying the direction of growth
in DeKalb County.
Activities:
- Publish monthly articles in NI Business Connections for
distribution to DCEDC membership Circulate Director’s
Report of confidential information on activities and operations
of DCEDC
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date data and information about
sites and buildings, demographic and other workforce development
information on the web site
- Organize links between industry and other businesses, education,
and associations with DeKalb County through DCEDC’s
web site
- Provide Annual Report summarizing economic growth and vitality
in the county as part of Annual Meeting
Measurement: Self-evident.
GOAL 4: Continue to expand the funding base and mix
of DCEDC.
Objective: Generate new contributors to
DCEDC each year.
Activities:
- Target new contributors and coordinate efforts to develop
new long-term members
- Organize annual fundraising campaign and assist board members
and fundraising committee with visits
- Update the annual list of contributors and use marketing
materials to augment fundraising activities
- Assist fundraising committee with implementing new ideas
to increase contributions
Measurement: Self-evident.
Objective:
Increase awareness of DCEDC’s membership benefits, and
better present them to contributors and potential contributors.
Activities:
- Highlight members in the Industrial Directory and on web
site
- Highlight member activity and involvement in economic development
retention, attraction and municipal preparedness activities
Measurement: Self-evident.
GOAL 5: Provide private sector leadership as part
of the non-profit public/private partnership.
Objective: Provide suitable balance in the
organization of the Board.
Activities:
- Recruit board members that represent a cross-section of
the industrial, business, government, and education constituencies
of the organization
- Balance the membership of the board geographically from
the county
Measurement: Self-evident.
Objective: Develop a plan for succession
to leadership positions of the Board.
Activities:
- Link the officer and committee chair functions to the leadership
positions of the board
- Organize board membership to provide opportunities for participation
in governance of the organization
Measurement: Self-evident. |
