Donors throughout DeKalb County and beyond contributed to the largest-ever Give DeKalb County by donating more than $

1.5 million in support of nonprofit organizations. This philanthropic event is coordinated by the DeKalb County Nonprofit Partnership (DCNP), which is a program of the DeKalb County Community Foundation. “Thank you to everyone who got involved in Give DeKalb County 2022,” said Ben Bingle Director of Grants and DCNP. “May 5 was an exhilarating day that showcased the impact of donor generosity as well as the importance of nonprofit organizations.”

Give DeKalb County reached new all-time highs with a record number of participating nonprofits, the Bonus Pool total, and grand total. This is the first year a donation was made from someone in all 50 states. “This year, 2,780 people made 7,626 donations and the Bonus Pool reached $186,000,” said Bingle. “The community spirit and outpouring of support from donors was remarkable and we appreciate everyone who participated in Give DeKalb County.” Donors gave by mail between April 21 and May 5 and online from midnight to midnight on May 5 at GiveDeKalbCounty.org. The fundraiser topped $1 million shortly after 5:00 p.m. on May 5. A Bonus Pool of funds boosted all online and mail-in donations.

Brian Reis, executive director of the Ellwood House Museum and Give DeKalb County committee chair, was excited by the results. “Whether it be education, environment, social services, or the arts, our nonprofits are giving back to the community every day. And, Give DeKalb County is a massive sign of support from the community. We are thankful to all the organizations and donors who make the day a success,” said Reis. A record number of Community Partners donated to the Bonus Pool and Media Sponsors helped raise awareness about this community-wide event by donating promotional support. A full list of Community Partners and Media Sponsors is available at GiveDeKalbCounty.org.

Want more information? All information can be found on the NIU IGNITE! webpage: Ignite | COB | Northern Illinois University (niu.edu)

2022 Press Release ; IGNITE FAQ 22-23  

Check out these past DCEDC Member Student Intern Testimonials… Dylan Lonteen grows from opportunities with DCCA  & Carson Olofson takes on new opportunities at with NIU College of Business

Peter Rood and Anthony Patino, past recipient of the Kishwaukee College Foundation Mathew J. Rood Diesel Power Technology Scholarship, pose for a photo following a breakfast earlier this month. Peter Rood, the father of former Kish graduate Mathew Rood, established the scholarship in memory of his son to benefit Kish Diesel Power Technology students. Patino was the first recipient of the scholarship and is currently working to complete the DPT program. He is an active service member in the United States Army Reserves and is pursuing his education in diesel power technology to help advance both his military and civilian careers. For more information on Kishwaukee College Foundation scholarships, visit kish.edu/kcfscholarships or contact the Kishwaukee College Foundation at 815-825-2952 or foundation@kish.edu.

The DeKalb County Community Foundation awarded $156,455 in grants to 22 local nonprofit and public sector organizations this spring to support a variety of programs and projects aimed at serving the needs of the community. Available in the spring and fall each year, Community Needs Grants are distributed to eligible organizations in DeKalb County. Applications align with five grantmaking interest areas: Arts and Culture, Education, Community Development, Environment & Animal Welfare, and Health & Human Services. “Shared leadership is that everyone is a leader, every single one of us,” she said. “Everyone in a business, the person that starts day one, the person that has worked there five years, the person that has been there 30. They are all leaders. That is the new philosophy.” Echoing Martin’s sentiments, Borek commended county-wide leaders for their roles in DeKalb’s economic life for the past three and a half decades. “While DCEDC is the cheerleader and facilitator involved in the initial recruitment and support of these projects, DCEDC members, including the county, municipalities, investors, developers, companies and utilities, you are all the real heroes behind these projects,” Borek said. “We commend all these DCEDC directors and members that build these projects and operate these business each and everyday.”

Spring Community Needs Grants recipients include:

• 4-C: Community Coordinated Child Care – $5,000 to support moving expenses
• Barb City Manor Retirement Home – $10,000 to replace an elevator system
• Cor Cantiamo – $3,000 to purchase music for public performances
• Cortland Community Library – $4,000 to expand book shelving
• DeKalb County Community Gardens – $3,000 to purchase farming equipment
• DeKalb Fire Department – $5,000 to purchase bags and mounts for fire equipment tools
• Faith United Methodist Church – $7,500 to update and expand its Genoa Preschool playground
• Fox Valley Community Services – $7,255 to remodel bathrooms for ADA compliance
• Genoa Township Park District – $1,500 to purchase supplies for an aqua fitness class
• Kirkland Rec League – $14,700 to renovate baseball fields
• Kishwaukee Education Consortium – $25,000 to provide welding equipment for a new educational facility
• Kishwaukee Family YMCA – $5,200 to purchase portable basketball hoops
• Kishwaukee Special Recreation Association – $1,500 to obtain technology for an adult day program
• Little Lambs Preschool – $7,500 to renovate a playground
• Northern Public Radio – $4,000 to connect with Spanish speaking individuals in the community and create informational opportunities for them
• Open Door Rehabilitation Center – $12,000 to purchase a generator
• Preservation of Egyptian Theatre – $5,000 to provide monitors for dressing rooms with live feed of stage
• RAMP – $2,400 to provide supplies for a peer mentoring program
• Sandwich Opera House (ARCH) – $12,500 to repair exterior brick
• Sir Donald Foundation – $10,000 to provide supplies to connect individuals to services after incarceration
• Somonauk Public Library District – $2,400 to provide early literacy and school readiness workstations
• Waterman Lion’s Club Charities – $8,000 to renovate a park shelter

Community Needs Grants receive funding through Community Impact Funds, Field of Interest Funds, and Donor Advised Funds. Donations to any fund at the foundation can be made online at dekalbccf.org/donate, or by mail to the DeKalb County Community Foundation, 475 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore, IL 60178. For questions or more information on grants, email grants@dekalbccf.org.

May 11, 2022 – Comcast Business today announced extensions of its advanced fiber-rich network infrastructure to two DeKalb County locations. Expected to come online this month, the first extension will run along East Gurler Road in the ChicagoWest Business Center, home to a major data center undergoing an expansion, a large distribution center and the site of anticipated business growth. Comcast Business first extended its network to ChicagoWest last year and is moving deeper into the area with this latest project. Expected to come online in early 2023, the second extension will serve Park 88, a 565-acre business park located in the I-39 Logistics Corridor in DeKalb.

When the projects are complete, businesses along the expansion routes will have access to Internet speeds up to 100 Gigabits per second (Gbps). They’ll also have access to Comcast Business’ full suite of telecommunications services, which provide levels of connectivity, capacity and technology capable of supporting more and more employees working at home and in the field; reaching and serving more and more customers online; exchanging large amounts of data; and accessing sophisticated cloud-based applications.

“Our location along Interstates 88 and 39; proximity to the City of Chicago, O’Hare and several other airports; available land for manufacturing and warehousing; and the presence of Northern Illinois University makes DeKalb County attractive to business sectors ranging from warehousing to manufacturing, as well as professionals, academicians and students,” said DeKalb County Chairman John Frieders. “Comcast’s investments in DeKalb County’s technology infrastructure not only drive economic growth, they’re helping us prepare for the future.”

The upcoming projects follow fiber expansions last year reaching existing and future businesses within the Sycamore Prairie Business Park along Bethany and Peace Roads in Sycamore and the ChicagoWest Business Center bordered by East Gurler Road and South 4th Street in DeKalb. In addition to providing opportunities to serve more customers, network investments of this caliber are designed to drive economic development by helping these areas retain and attract businesses.

“Our message is resonating. Companies have invested $1 billion in DeKalb County in recent years, translating into 5.2 million square feet of new industrial space and 1,700 jobs,” said Paul Borek, Executive Director of the DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation. “No doubt about it: State-of-the-art connectivity and technology attract new businesses.”

“We see ourselves as more than a service provider. Comcast is an economic development partner,” said Sean McCarthy, Comcast’s Regional Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Initiatives. “Our fiber is helping DeKalb County and Illinois overall attract businesses representing growing sectors of our economy, ranging from data centers to warehouses.

Comcast delivers residential download speeds up to 1.2 Gbps in all the communities and neighborhoods in the company’s service footprint, regardless of zip code, and up to 3 Gbps in locations in the county – and up to 100 Gbps for businesses. The company also operates more than 20 million WiFi hotspots nationwide – more than 15,000 in DeKalb County alone – which allow connectivity on the go.

In addition, Comcast supports the DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation and its Opportunity Unbound Initiative, which is designed to attract talented workers, young professionals and families to work and live in DeKalb County by creating awareness of the county’s amenities, attractions and communities.

Additional advanced Comcast Business services available in DeKalb County include:

• ActiveCore^SM SDN, a software-defined networking (SDN) platform providing businesses intelligent, centralized control for their networks via software applications like Managed Router and SD-WAN;
• Cybersecurity Services, reducing vulnerability to denial of service (DDoS) attacks and helping protect business infrastructure with managed security solutions; and
• Comcast Business VoiceEdge^TM, a fully managed, scalable cloud-based voice system providing unified communications (UC) tools that can improve communication, enhance collaboration and help businesses increase productivity.

About Comcast Business

Comcast Business offers a suite of Connectivity, Communications, Networking, Cybersecurity, Wireless, and Managed Solutions to help organizations of different sizes prepare for what’s next. Powered by the nation’s largest Gig-speed broadband network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and one of the leading service providers to the Enterprise market. Comcast Business has been consistently recognized by industry analysts and associations as a leader and innovator, and one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services.

For more information, call 866-429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social.

With nearly 6,000 local employees, Comcast’s Greater Chicago Region (https://chicago.comcast.com) serves customers in central and northern Illinois, including the Chicago area, Northwest Indiana and Southwest Michigan. “Like” Comcast’s Greater Chicago Region on Facebook by visiting @Comcast. “Follow” Comcast’s Greater Chicago Region on Twitter at @ComcastIllinois.

RockCreek-managed fund, in partnership with minority banks and community-based lending institutions, will provide needed capital to help minority-owned businesses grow, create jobs, and expand in underserved and under-resourced communities served by Exelon.

 Chicago, Ill. (May 4, 2022) – Exelon announced today that RockCreek, one of the world’s largest diverse-owned global investment firms, has opened applications for the $36 million Exelon-funded Racial Equity Capital Fund to support minority-owned businesses in Exelon’s service areas in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Illinois, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  Exelon, which serves more than 10 million customers through its six electric and gas utilities, announced last fall that it had partnered with the Exelon Foundation to create the Racial Equity Capital Fund. The fund will help minority businesses obtain capital to fuel growth and spur job opportunities in communities that have historically been underserved, under-resourced, and overlooked by investors and traditional funding sources. The fund will provide loans and equity investments for numerous minority businesses throughout Exelon’s service areas over the next three years, with estimated loan amounts between $100,000 and $300,000, and equity investments of nearly $1 million. “With this fund, we are empowering small, minority-owned businesses to grow their capacity, increase revenue and hire more employees,” said Calvin Butler, chief operating officer and senior executive vice president of Exelon. “We have identified financial partners who understand the unique challenges these businesses face, but who also share our vision and are eager to reinvigorate the communities we both serve.” RockCreek has forged partnerships with minority-owned lending institutions and community-based banks to increase the investment capacity of the Racial Equity Capital Fund. The fund will invest in minority-owned businesses who have historically lacked access to capital to sustain operations, grow revenues, create jobs, and increase wellbeing throughout underserved and under-resourced communities.“Capital is the fuel that allows businesses to grow, create jobs, and strengthen communities, and for too long, minority-owned businesses – and entire communities – have been neglected by financial markets,” said Afsaneh Beschloss, Founder and CEO of RockCreek. “The Racial Equity Capital Fund will bring this critical fuel directly to minority-owned businesses and will continue serving their communities in the years ahead.” Initial partners in this effort include Providence Bank & Trust; United Bank of Philadelphia; and City First Bank, National Association of Washington, DC. RockCreek continues to seek out and engage with other potential partners throughout Exelon’s service areas. The partnerships are the next step in the launch of the $36 million initiative, which is funded by Exelon and managed by RockCreek. RockCreek will select businesses for financing and manage the fund to serve as a continuing resource to help grow businesses, create jobs, and strengthen the communities Exelon serves.

Interested businesses can access the application here or contact RockCreek at RECFInquiries@therockcreekgroup.com for more information about the program.

About Exelon Exelon (Nasdaq: EXC) is a Fortune 200 company and the nation’s largest utility company, serving more than 10 million customers through six fully regulated transmission and distribution utilities — Atlantic City Electric (ACE), Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE), Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), Delmarva Power & Light (DPL), PECO Energy Company (PECO), and Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco). More than 18,000 Exelon employees dedicate their time and expertise to supporting our communities through reliable, affordable and efficient energy delivery, workforce development, equity, economic development and volunteerism. Follow Exelon on Twitter @Exelon.

About RockCreek One of the largest woman and diverse-owned global investment firms, RockCreek applies data-driven technology to invest sustainably and inclusively. Founded in 2003 by CEO Afsaneh Beschloss, former Treasurer and Chief Investment Officer of the World Bank, RockCreek has more than $16 billion in assets. RockCreek has invested more than $7.4 billion in diverse firms, including over $990 million in Black owned firms, and $6.3 billion in sustainable investments including climate, health, education, job creation, and affordable housing since its inception. Follow RockCreek on Twitter @RockCreekGroup and on LinkedIn.

 Facebook’s parent company, Meta, announced Wednesday it will expand its DeKalb Data Center on the city’s south side by three buildings, bringing with it a community investment that now totals more than $1 billion.

Meta officials and city leaders scheduled a news conference Wednesday at the facility in the 1500 block of Gurler Road, which has been under construction since June 2020. Once work is completed, expected in 2023, the almost 2.4 million-square-foot facility will represent an investment with 200 operational jobs, officials said. Construction is expected to employ more than 1,200 workers over the length of the build.

The landscape at the ChicagoWest Business Center has seen a myriad of changes over the past two years. Last fall, Curran Contracting started the dirt work for three additional buildings at the DeKalb Data Center for Mortenson. These new buildings will total more than 1,500,000 SF. Curran Contracting’s excavation division is performing the mass grading, structural excavation, and structural backfill. Our asphalt paving division is also providing the paving for the “city” of temporary logistics facilities needed to facilitate over 1,500 trades personnel on this project. Once the first phase of this project is completed, this 300 acre site will house over 3,000,000 SF of data center space, a facility operations building, an operations warehouse, and two electrical substations.

• Facebook has announced it will build an $800 million data center in the Chicago-area city of DeKalb, Illinois. The social media giant has selected Mortenson as the general contractor, and Krusinski Construction Co. will participate in the design-build of the necessary new infrastructure.
• Renewable energy will power the 907,000-square-foot data center, which will also use 80% less water than other similar facilities. Infrastructure work includes the repaving of local roads, construction of almost 3 miles of water lines and 1.5 miles of sewer system extensions. When complete the data center will be LEED Gold certified.
• The project, located on a 500-acre campus, is expected to employ as many as 1,200 workers during peak construction activity. Mortenson has dedicated a page on its website to the project and said it will post updates there, as well as information for contractors and suppliers interested in bidding on the data center.

DeKalb Landfill Project

This Spring, Waste Management awarded Curran Contracting a second cell excavation project located at their DeKalb Landfill. This project includes excavation of the new cell 1B, cell liner placement, leachate stone placement, and perimeter berm construction as part of the new cell construction. The overall excavation quantity includes 650,000 CY of earthwork. The final phase of the work will include placement of the final cover material at the completed portion of the West Unit Final Cover.

Kishwaukee College will host a discussion on local community efforts to improve “belonging” at noon on Monday, May 2, via Zoom. Angela Baron-Jeffrey, co-pastor of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in DeKalb, will discuss the formation of the DeKalb Area Belonging Council and the group’s efforts to improve belonging within the community. The council was founded in 2021 by a collection of people from community organizations, including Northern Illinois University, the City of DeKalb and Kishwaukee College. The event is part of Kish’s Brown Bag Discussion series, which occurs on the first Monday of each month, excluding holidays. Open to the public, the Brown Bag Discussion series aims to create a dialogue between students, faculty, staff and community members on topics related to equity, diversity and inclusion. Kishwaukee College is committed to a sustainable culture of equity, focused on respect and fairness, in all aspects of the College experience.

To learn more about the event or join the virtual discussion, visit kish.edu/diversity.

Enbridge, Inc., a longtime partner of the Kishwaukee College Foundation, donated $5,000 towards scholarships for students pursuing careers in welding and engineering at Kishwaukee College. Enbridge has continually supported Kish’s programs with financial support and equipment donations. Enbridge employees stayed after the check presentation to share their expertise with Kish students during a welding demonstration. Pictured left to right are Emily Cutka, Senior Advisor, Community Engagement, Public Affairs for Enbridge; Dan Morang, Senior Welder with Enbridge; Greg Bennett, Field Operations Supervisor for Enbridge; Dave Bareham, Griffith Area Manager for Enbridge; Dr. Laurie Borowicz, President of Kishwaukee College; Chase Budziak, Dean of Instruction; Zachery Caccia, Kishwaukee College Assistant Professor of Welding; Dr. Kayte Hamel, Executive Director of Kishwaukee College Foundation; and students of the Kishwaukee College welding program.