On Wednesday, February 6th, DCEDC held our first Business Roundtable & Networking Event of the year. The focus of the educational event was about the DeKalb-Taylor Municipal Airport and their recently completed strategic plan, ”Charting a Course”.  The airport is one example of the many competitive advantages in DeKalb County, IL.

Approximately 88 attendees gathered at Faranda’s for networking and a delicious buffet luncheon. The program kicked off at noon with an upbeat introduction by DeKalb’s City Manager, Bill Nicklas. Following the intro, a compelling presentation was given by Keynote Speaker Jack Penning, Managing Partner of Volaire Aviation, where he enlightened the group about the outcomes of the strategic plan.  You can review Penning’s presentation: DKB Community PRES 2-19. DCEDC Executive Director Paul Borek fielded several questions from the audience to Penning, closing with updates about DCEDC’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategic Plan and the five working groups.

DCEDC is proud of the quality events that we have. This would not be possible without the ongoing support and involvement of so many. Special thanks to our guests who attended, Jack Penning, Dr. Bill Nicklas, Tom Cleveland for their guidance, assistance, and participation. A big thanks to Faranda’s for catering the delicious food and the Annual Event Sponsors for supporting DCEDC events: Bayer, City of DeKalb, ComEd, DeKalb County Government, First Midwest Bank, First National Bank, IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC., Larson & Darby Group, Nicor Gas, Northern Illinois University, Northwestern Medicine, Superior Diesel, Inc., Tate & Lyle Company, and Venture One Real Estate.

To review the article that was published in the Daily Chronicle about our event, please click Here

The City of DeKalb-Taylor Municipal Airport is asking for your input!  Please consider taking a few moments of your time to take their brief survey by clicking the link below.  This data will prove to be beneficial with future plans, as it is populated. Click Here  Thank you for your participation!

DCEDC would like to congratulate longtime Contributing Member-Resource Bank, N.A. for being awarded an Honorable Mention for Adaptive Reuse/Preservation/Restoration Design by the Prairie Chapter of the American Institute of Architects at their AIA Prairie Design Awards in November.

Well done Resource Bank, N.A.!  We appreciate your significant investments made in DeKalb County, Illinois!

Click on the attached link to read the full article, by Daily Chronicle Architectural Restoration

DCEDC Executive Director Paul Borek shared in a recent article that we are pleased to welcome back aviation consultant Jack Penning to keynote its first Business Round Table luncheon of 2019 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 6 at Faranda’s Banquet Center in DeKalb.

For more information, please click on the article Business Luncheon

Historic Egyptian Theatre is poised to begin a $4.5 million dollar renovation.

DCEDC, along with several other businesses and organizations have proudly showed support via penning letters of support of the historic theatre and the project.  An abundance of  community support has resulted in about $1 million from private donations, including an undisclosed amount from Holly actor and DeKalb native, Richard Jenkins along with a substantial donation by local businessman Steve Irving and his wife TJ.

A major component of the renovation project will be to install air conditioning in the 90-year-old Egyptian Theatre. “It is not just about comfort, Executive Director Alex Nerad said. It’s about maintaining an economic engine, sustainably, for the DeKalb region and beyond.”

Click on the attached link to read the full article,  written by Kelsey Rettke of Daily Chronicle Egyptian Theatre

DCEDC is proud to share upbeat news about partners who collaborate!

Together, Kishwaukee College and the City of Sycamore have launched a new innovative partnership, “Sycamore U”.

The program provides leadership training for city employees. Employees completing the four-course program will earn a leadership certificate. The courses are part of the Associate in Applied Science in Marketing Management degree at Kish. Upon program completion, participants will have completed the first semester of the degree. The first course will begin this month.  Feel free to check out the many courses offered by Kishwaukee College Home Page  

Click on the attached link to read the full article, by The Midweek City of Sycamore

DCEDC is proud to share news about our partners!

DeKalb – A trial run of a free public Wi-Fi network in downtown DeKalb and at Northern Illinois University has been extended indefinitely.

Click on the attached link to read the full article,  written by Kelsey Rettke of Daily Chronicle DeKalb’s free Wi-Fi

DCEDC  is happy to share our partner’s upcoming event information.

For more information on the Village of Kirkland events, please click here

DCEDC  is happy to share our partner’s upcoming event information.

For more information on The Sycamore Chamber events, please click here

DCEDC  is happy to share our partner’s upcoming event information.

For more information on the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce events, please click here

DCEDC  is happy to share our partner’s upcoming event information.

For more information on the Genoa Area Chamber of Commerce events, please click here