[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6238412,"mediaKeyId","3352528-8804464c56c876ebbd84ec2a8bf91e23","parentId",3352528,"title","Kane County jobs committee updates: IMEC manufacturing programs, disability workforce camp and regional SelectUSA spin-off","audioSeconds",533,"startMs",759000,"endMs",1292000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3352528-8804464c56c876ebbd84ec2a8bf91e23&start=759&end=1292","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3352528-8804464c56c876ebbd84ec2a8bf91e23/thumbnail_759000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6238412/Kane-County/Illinois/Kane-County-jobs-committee-updates-IMEC-manufacturing-programs-disability-workforce-camp-and-regional-SelectUSA-spin-off","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6238412-30abf8894e9fb9ab1a55e35a8f9b6a64/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143807&Signature=IgxJUFcufUfjBy4EdDvfVlSrAAfEpD3YmhQdxPC1wur-SiAa5uGfRAYmY0HD69oS2bnB5nnxgWTrdpmwQhjSPooiOzNKKfFpcA1m6vDXBmOj0RZUdTywoouXl-m4eTppU1rc0uirNrLGe7K8odjgSUIFSKqW-hAQ1L24pcqsHTnV4uSZLZTmom6rV3dlofpmMKZQYKGVf~T6Oxc4cPx~tT6k9Vgn5uCAOlvVlsL0zYIm~JaNOLIq-SLILrvAucmiZwQuWIRHdbck6-DcrsjIeHncMi3ub~uCB1IV-53FgFyfKpkt-LoRrezu8kVS7NUKB2HZvDKWv29hIvueuLG2tQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kane County, IL","date","2025-05-16T15:43:09Z","article","Kane County staff and committee members on Friday reviewed workforce and manufacturing initiatives funded or supported through county partnerships and ARPA dollars, including IMEC-run manufacturing programs, a Sparkforce camp for people with disabilities and regional business outreach tied to SelectUSA.

Mark Van Kirkoff briefed the committee on the county's continued membership in the Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership and on a recent SelectUSA spin-off event organized with World Business Chicago and county partners. \"Access to World Business Chicago's data team for the region has been huge,\" Van Kirkoff said, and he described a roundtable at the spin-off event that brought about 50 foreign companies to ask questions about doing business in the region.

Committee staff and partners also highlighted local workforce-development programs supported with ARPA funds. Crystal (staff) drew attention to a flyer in the committee packet for a Sparkforce program for individuals with disabilities, run in partnership with IMEC and scheduled June 9\u0000to 18 with job shadowing and tours at local manufacturers. \"If you know anyone who may benefit this or you have a partner that you can share this with, please share this out,\" Crystal said.

Staff reported 20 companies are currently in the county's \"lighthouse\" manufacturing program funded by ARPA; IMEC and partners plan to add roughly five additional companies that had earlier been unable to enter the cohort because of capacity limits. IMEC will also conduct a targeted survey of Kane County manufacturers to develop a detailed benchmark of their needs, staff said.

The committee discussed transportation barriers to participation in the Sparkforce camp and noted additional local workforce programs, including Project SEARCH at Delnor, funded by the county workforce development board. Committee members emphasized coordination: the programs aim to expand pipelines to talent and link trained individuals with local employers.

Ending
Committee members asked staff to follow up on transportation options and to report back on the manufacturer survey and plans to expand the lighthouse program. No formal committee action was taken on these program updates during the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","KC Jobs Committee May 16 2025","oneSentenceSummary","County staff and committee members reported on ARPA-funded manufacturing programs with IMEC, an expanding pipeline program and a Sparkforce camp for individuals with disabilities, plus regional promotion via a SelectUSA spin-off event.","taxTitle","Kane County, Illinois","taxId",12845,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6238416,"Kane County launches Economic Development Commission, names seven-member founding board",1193,1243000,2436000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3352528-8804464c56c876ebbd84ec2a8bf91e23&start=1243&end=2436","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3352528-8804464c56c876ebbd84ec2a8bf91e23/thumbnail_1243000.jpg","/articles/6238416/Kane-County/Illinois/Kane-County-launches-Economic-Development-Commission-names-seven-member-founding-board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6238416-53d9f00536be22fc218dbc7110fb6eb3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143807&Signature=D~nEEQJUN-MKhLioQYBuVe3g1e~1W5~FArx9bypINk~PC2JR72BL~bFhLSIQIRjEw0gMwBoTOwD9D9q7ERRzATo5LfCADuwxK-z9myDx4Bz19aURmN6YD-JYt95Ur4FM2Dtj7ptgJx7xAB55CV-IpSjsGFCNU2qqePtsSkYZvdMef2vaCc-MkG-vHedYLwlz4hJe4DX2mII5WZQK8Rlsx-gzwfu6uHvMmNWLAIgn0yIZD20OY91pGOtufH7iNvprM6QocqdbHNdNVE689UoL12Jo8Wra2BQptZmrrdmkN3N~G0qESUCM3qpKSBk28oelaYrH5J1CgTQeBzBowiFBgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kane County on Friday announced the launch of a new countywide Economic Development Commission and named a seven-member founding board that county leaders say will coordinate economic strategy across municipalities.

Jobs Committee Chair Anita Lewis told the committee the commission was formed after a county-funded study and a $150,000 initial grant and will operate as an independent organization supported initially by ARPA funds. \"These are people that are in the trenches working,\" Lewis said of the founding board.

The commission\u0000officially formed after recommendations from the county's study work and is structured as a 501(c)(6), Lewis said. The initial board of seven includes Austin Dempsey, president of Batavia Enterprises; Sean McCarthy of Comcast; Lacey Young of General Mills; Peggy Heinrich, president of Elgin Community College; and Steve Pinsticker, representing agriculture interests. John Grueling will provide county staff support to the commission, Lewis said. The commission will locate offices next to the county workforce development office in Batavia in a building Lewis described as a restored former windmill factory.

Why it matters: County leaders framed the commission as a way to unify municipal economic development efforts, share resources such as regional data partnerships, and present a single countywide offering to prospective employers. Lewis said the commission will help smaller municipal chambers and development groups access resources they otherwise lack, while letting municipalities continue to promote their own local priorities.

Committee members said the new commission will work closely with workforce development and community partners. Lewis said the county's ARPA commitment runs for three years and that the commission's organizers expect to transition to a business-member funding model and seek municipal and nonprofit investors over time. \"The goal is that we will step out and this fledgling Kane County Economic Development Board will fly on its own,\" Lewis said.

Committee discussion and next steps
Committee members asked about membership and governance. Lewis said the initial seven-person board was selected to enable quick decision-making and that the commission will expand its board and investor classes over time to include municipalities, community colleges, hospitals and other stakeholders. Committee members asked for more detail on how the commission would fit with existing county offices; Lewis and other presenters said the commission will be an independent nonprofit but will report back to the jobs committee.

Staff told the committee the commission has contracted a national firm to survey local businesses to create a benchmark assessment of manufacturers' needs; results are expected by late summer or early fall. The commission will continue a \"lighthouse\" manufacturing initiative with IMEC and expand programming to additional firms that could not initially enter the ARPA-funded cohort.

Funding and timing
Lewis reiterated that ARPA seed funds provided the start-up funding and that allocations must be managed under ARPA spending timelines; committee members discussed the need for the county and municipal partners to consider follow-on investment when ARPA funding sunsets. A committee member noted that funds from the Grand Victoria Riverboat Casino are also designated to support education, environment and economic development and could be considered in future planning.

The committee placed the reports on file by consensus and adjourned; no formal vote to create the commission was recorded in the committee minutes during this meeting.

Ending
Committee members said they expect the commission to begin public programming and report back with survey results and early program plans in late summer or early fall. Chair Lewis said invitations will be sent to jobs committee members for an economic development roundtable on June 20 that will include an update from the commission and municipal partners.","Kane County\u0000jobs committee discussed the new Kane County Economic Development Commission, announced its initial seven-member board, an office location in Batavia next to workforce development, and a plan to transition from ARPA seed funding to a business-supported membership model.","actionData","errors"]

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Kane County jobs committee updates: IMEC manufacturing programs, disability workforce camp and regional SelectUSA spin-off

Kane County launches Economic Development Commission, names seven-member founding board