Adopted February 2016

INTRODUCTION and OVERVIEW

The update and expansion of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the Northern Illinois Region represents a natural evolution of a continued focus on regional collaboration in support of economic vitality.   This is the second CEDS for Boone and Winnebago counties (originally adopted in 2010), and the first for McHenry County.  It overlaps two metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) – the Rockford MSA (Boone and Winnebago counties) and the Chicago MSA (of which McHenry County is a part).  Shared industry strengths, transportation assets, and recent regional economic development partnerships form the basis for collaboration.  Together Boone, Winnebago, and McHenry counties (collectively called the Northern Illinois Region) are more competitive in the global economy and can better leverage limited local, state, and federal funds to drive job creation and improved quality of life for residents.

ADDITION of McHENRY COUNTY

Collaboration between the Rockford MSA and McHenry County began in earnest in 2013 with development of a nine-county application for the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA’s) Make it in America Challenge.  The application focused on expanding the advanced manufacturing cluster, attracting foreign direct investment, and training and educating domestic workers to fill engineering positions.  Initiatives identified in the Make it in America process continue as part of this CEDS update.  In order to quickly delve into important local issues and prepare for participation in the Strategy Committee, McHenry County also created its own steering committee that included representatives from the governmental, nonprofit, and private spheres.  This committee met ahead of the Strategy Committee meetings and sent its findings and priorities to the larger committee as part of the planning process.

Download the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Plan    9.9 Mb
Adoption Resolution    252 Kb

THE CEDS PLANNING PROCESS

A three-county CEDS Strategy Committee that included a mix of public- and private-sector representatives spearheaded the CEDS process.  The Strategy Committee included some members from the previous CEDS Strategy Committee for Boone and Winnebago counties, as well as new members from those counties and from McHenry County.  It represented the main economic interests of the region, including leaders from manufacturing, healthcare and other companies, key public officials, community leaders, economic development professionals, workforce development stakeholders, minority and labor groups, and higher education representatives from across the three counties.

The CEDS planning process was supported by a Technical Committee that included representatives of the Economic Development District of Northern Illinois (EDDNI), Northern Illinois University’s Center for Governmental Studies (NIU), and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP).  The Technical Committee worked closely with Boone, McHenry, and Winnebago county officials and the region’s economic development professionals at Growth Dimensions for Belvidere-Boone County, the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC), and the Rockford Area Economic Development Council (RAEDC).  The Technical Committee provided background data on the region, analysis of the previous CEDS and existing regional plans, and facilitation of CEDS Technical Committee meetings and other public outreach.  More detailed information about the planning process and how CEDS relates to other plans is found in the CEDS document.

PARTNERS and RELATED INFORMATION LINKS

• McHenry, Boone, and Winnebago County governments
• McHenry County economic development information portal
• McHenry County College Workforce Development
• McHenry County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) 
• Northern Illinois University’s Center for Governmental Studies
• Growth Dimensions for Belvidere-Boone County 
• Rockford Area Economic Development Council (RAEDC)
• Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) information (U.S. EDA)  
  
  
  

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