[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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",6180263,"mediaKeyId","5119806-6d34906ffa4ec9d1d04fc6abc294bc28","parentId",5119806,"title","Visit Lake County reports nearly $2 billion in visitor spending, highlights arts initiative and expanded marketing","audioSeconds",357,"startMs",1491000,"endMs",1848000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5119806-6d34906ffa4ec9d1d04fc6abc294bc28&start=1491&end=1848","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5119806-6d34906ffa4ec9d1d04fc6abc294bc28/thumbnail_1491000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6180263/Lake-County/Illinois/Visit-Lake-County-reports-nearly-2-billion-in-visitor-spending-highlights-arts-initiative-and-expanded-marketing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6180263-e377b81ecfec4161f201dbb61290be4a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185261&Signature=LIc7WeLMvUww7fF~YMwIAUzhUA~yLzYwkuOWpjQ7q3zsoUh8bq03Ql5mv1D7weA4acc2WSetzJQj1oDldmD5T31diH-Gf2tzgPemYTPp7EZMFvlzrx7-u-wOl7cVYFjJc~XpiTaM7lLb-wdWy1rKWwuuEK4F0SM1NALMx63AhTd21D6xAc0z8VA1EhrM3M2pIOdhvN6RcgCP7X1PiEM-GPzHtawr58ydpvCoSgzMnk7uPm6QaA9FEXqm9UzBQmmFCJXGjSAB4Qk44PonRZs1Z3GDdcoz8bYcuj1XOE~3Qdb562mgy4IHFCCLaCFY6WildNXBQusJ7xyqPwEgfhSIDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lake County, IL","date","2025-06-10T00:00:00Z","article","Visit Lake County’s executive director delivered the agency’s annual update to the county board, reporting that visitor spending in Lake County has risen to nearly $2 billion and outlining new marketing, arts and cultural initiatives, and partnerships.

“Just to give you a quick overview on our organization…Our funding sources, we’re very fortunate to receive a state grant. It’s been at 1,500,000.0,” the presenter said, describing the bureau’s mix of state grant funding tied to hotel tax and local matching from community investors and partners.

The tourism agency told the board that the new county line-item support and hotel tax in unincorporated areas helped expand programming this year, including an Arts and Cultural Alliance website called ArtsLink North and an expanded Flavor Fest promotion joining the libation trail with restaurant week. The bureau reported that visitor spending is up more than 7% from the prior year and estimated almost 16,000 tourism-related jobs in the county.

Maureen Reedy, presenting the update, highlighted marketing and outreach plans for the summer and fall, including digital advertising, television spots and a fall “spooks and spirits” campaign built around regional attractions. “We’re almost at $2,000,000,000 in visitor spending,” she told board members, adding that lodging, outdoor recreation and retail are top visitor spending categories.

Board members praised Visit Lake County’s work and asked how to broaden participation in the ArtsLink initiative. Reedy said the agency plans a targeted digital marketing push and requested board members’ help reaching small galleries, dance companies and other grassroots arts groups so they could add listings to the ArtsLink portal.

The bureau also reported on prior ARPA-funded efforts that brought tournament and group business to the county, generating hotel room nights and economic impact, and on a new hospitality “heroes” program recognizing long-serving hospitality workers. The board discussed the local economic impact of tourism and the role county support plays in leveraging state grants and private partnerships.

The presentation concluded with a “save the date” for the bureau’s annual luncheon scheduled for Sept. 4 at the Marriott Lincolnshire and an invitation for board members to promote and support the agency’s seasonal campaigns.

No formal board action was required for the presentation; the item was informational.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lake County Board Meeting - June 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Visit Lake County presented its annual tourism update to the Lake County Board, reporting nearly $2 billion in visitor spending and outlining new arts and cultural initiatives, state grant funding, and marketing efforts for 2025.","taxTitle","Lake County, Illinois","taxId",3918,"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},6180269,"Lake County accepts $2 million state grant to open fixed homeless shelter in Waukegan",618,6089000,6707000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5119806-6d34906ffa4ec9d1d04fc6abc294bc28&start=6089&end=6707","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5119806-6d34906ffa4ec9d1d04fc6abc294bc28/thumbnail_6089000.jpg","/articles/6180269/Lake-County/Illinois/Lake-County-accepts-2-million-state-grant-to-open-fixed-homeless-shelter-in-Waukegan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6180269-581d206829d080df3ddab273a52334f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185261&Signature=OT9Jnn~1edPNy2a~md0h1aydUuXLEUvUg7Ll7BAWyBUwsCRYC-eJ2FAsQe85wiAqt~V2jkW6oD81Nv7KnQJmZM13hokYqLBinSUrofmJLC5jdN0jizwrCemNCoy5teZwcpj9uG8buRLDA4Hj-JsXchy26bbqZz8VpxDmy3d~9Yh6a53zab6DR9TCgaQWmO1ZnfC2OJOPsjebK4O-2HAfRp-Pc41056YnGUONByg62-UrkBg21ca2WhOIyn86kxJWwl9qZl0IDwbNktlMZtjaXdSHolBlArSCd5t2YdcQooKejMlY0nywKgtygIlfSdqdMInHx9Ifrl2l2iBro9mcfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lake County accepted $2 million in state funding from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to support a fixed-site shelter in Waukegan, officials announced at the June 10 County Board meeting.

The appropriation was presented as part of a DCEO Urban Shelter Program award and a motion to accept the emergency appropriation was made by Member Parikh and seconded by Member Hewitt. County staff and board members described the award as part of a broader effort to expand shelter capacity and provide wraparound services to unhoused residents.

“We’re really excited that the DCEO has provided us $2,000,000 of their $15,000,000 in funding for a fixed shelter site in Waukegan in conjunction with PADS,” a board member said during the meeting, noting the grant traces to pandemic-era CARES Act initiatives and has been pressed forward to support local shelter capacity.

Members who serve on the PADS board stressed the program’s role in moving people from temporary shelter to permanent housing. “This appropriation represents an important paradigm shift in the way we view housing and homelessness,” a PADS board member who was on the dais said, adding that shelter plus wraparound services can help people exit homelessness and regain stability. That speaker abstained from the vote because of their PADS board membership.

Vice Chair Cunningham described recent examples of people who received immediate help through PADS and urged municipalities and board members to support siting and operations. Members also discussed the ongoing funding needs for local shelters and the county’s interest in partnering with municipalities to increase affordable housing and shelter capacity.

The roll call vote to accept the appropriation passed (recorded as unanimous among voting members present); no recorded nay votes were noted in the meeting minutes. The resolution authorizes appropriation of the $2,000,000 award and acceptance of the DCEO funds to support a fixed-site shelter in Waukegan; county staff said the funds would support operations and related services in partnership with PADS and local stakeholders.

Board members asked staff to continue working with municipal partners and nonprofit operators to identify sites and ensure the grant funds are used for shelter operations and related services. No additional county appropriation beyond the state award was approved at the meeting.","The Lake County Board unanimously accepted a $2,000,000 Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity grant to fund a fixed shelter site in Waukegan run in conjunction with PADS; the measure passed by roll call.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6180274,"Lake County Board approves $108,340 contract for organizational assessment after hours of debate",2347,3559000,5906000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5119806-6d34906ffa4ec9d1d04fc6abc294bc28&start=3559&end=5906","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5119806-6d34906ffa4ec9d1d04fc6abc294bc28/thumbnail_3559000.jpg","/articles/6180274/Lake-County/Illinois/Lake-County-Board-approves-108340-contract-for-organizational-assessment-after-hours-of-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6180274-fd0e96b3f2035f89bf9ce43afcebe45c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185261&Signature=N1Qmx~VMUQeJXj8oUzwQfOxCmG1VIelfMTwiSO3q2cbZfIy-1q-XUfiv6GmH2THNDsD1Ve0Tsw6RV7o9UInKr27c0NA9uu51k8w6D374LPaTrG2yaBzq5W5A6cWLrjTmZgnXtiCLnPnrm~j1wnRJl8Y-g2mncJRmrUqnGQa3uuRth5htKnBlWY8My7Jongw7SwWKvLKP89b8vteEaGs3O3yeMEdi9L~Pnyy-Q0hLbMR1HBoWdH9W0TJOUyaPpupg06pZhadStDc3Ef5dfbABoXM-yfBNunNljBA2Bu-zFek1TXc2mQswCv700c-WxmRY7J7dkieuBemMlLZHKdA20Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lake County Board voted to approve a $108,340 contract with Carter Development Group LLC to conduct an employee engagement and organizational assessment in the County Administrator's Office, a proposal supporters said is intended to help the county become a more inclusive employer.

Proponents said the assessment is part of the county’s strategic plan to be an employer of choice and to identify operational changes that make employees feel they belong. “The nature of this contract is to review our policies and procedures and operations to ensure that all employees feel as if they belong,” a county staff member stated during the meeting.

Opponents criticized the use of the phrase “diversity, equity and inclusion” and said the county should not spend the funds amid concerns about federal guidance and legal risk. “I can’t support that,” Member Kevin Hunter said during debate, calling federal DEI programs wasteful and urging the board to avoid funding similarly labeled initiatives.

The board’s vote followed nearly two hours of discussion in which members exchanged views about workplace culture, recruitment and legal exposure. Supporters described the expenditure as an investment in retention and workplace improvements, with Vice Chair Mary Ross Cunningham saying the county has “come a long ways” and that the investment would help sustain recent progress in hiring and retaining diverse staff.

The motion was made by Member Roberts and seconded by Vice Chair Cunningham. A roll call recorded 16 ayes and 3 nays (Danforth, Hunter and Peterson). The resolution authorizes the contract and a related line-item transfer in the County Administrator’s Office; the contract amount was stated in the resolution as $108,340.

County officials said the assessment will review policies and operations, identify barriers to inclusion and recommend actions to improve recruitment and retention. The board did not adopt specific policy mandates during the vote; rather, it authorized the vendor engagement and asked staff to proceed with the assessment.

The board discussion included requests for clarity about legal risk and whether the county’s human resources office had been consulted; members said staff would continue to engage department leaders as the assessment proceeds. The resolution passed and the county will proceed with the vendor engagement under the terms and budget approved.","After extended debate, the Lake County Board approved a $108,340 contract with Carter Development Group for an employee engagement and organizational assessment requested by the county administrator, with the measure passing 16–3.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Visit Lake County reports nearly $2 billion in visitor spending, highlights arts initiative and expanded marketing

Lake County accepts $2 million state grant to open fixed homeless shelter in Waukegan

Lake County Board approves $108,340 contract for organizational assessment after hours of debate