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Lisle trustees map objectives for business grant program; staff to return with options
Summary
Trustees on the Lisle Committee of the Whole outlined goals for revising the village business grant program — including diversification, targeted area strategies, hotel health, incubator ideas and funding-source review — and asked staff to return with draft options in July or August.
On June 2, 2025, the Lisle Village Board Committee of the Whole discussed objectives for revising the village’s business grant program, with trustees emphasizing diversification, targeted-area approaches and clearer funding guidance.
Mayor Mullen asked trustees to identify high-level outcomes before staff drafted program options. Trustees generally agreed on three recurring priorities: adopt best practices, target specific geographic areas or corridors, and diversify the village’s business mix so it is more resilient in downturns.
Trustee Duffy summarized his priorities as “best practices, integrated throughout,” a targeted approach for particular areas such as downtown, and diversification across small and large businesses. Trustee Saima urged the board to focus on bringing new businesses to Lisle rather than repeatedly funding owners who already operate multiple local businesses: “How do we bring in new businesses to Lisle, new attract new potential businesses to Lisle?”
Trustee Lesniak recommended staff meet with hotel owners and the Destination CVB to assess the health of the hotels that fund the program through hotelmotel tax revenues and to consider whether grants should cover more than building-code work: “I think a discussion like that, to assess the needs of the funding source of our business grant program, is really important.”
Trustee McGovern proposed a low-cost incubator concept to help micro businesses start small and scale into larger spaces; Trustee Crowell and others favored attracting experiential businesses that create evening activity and draw customers to surrounding restaurants and retailers. Trustee Olsen urged the board to weigh funding sources — hotelmotel tax versus sales tax or a combination — and to consider whether grants should be a few larger awards or many smaller ones: “Is it better to do 1 big grant versus a bunch of small grants?”
Several trustees raised transparency and administrative issues. Trustee McGovern said grant information on the village website was not easy to find and suggested improved outreach; Mayor Mullen and staff noted prior experience combining multiple grant elements for applicants and encouraged flexibility to avoid overcomplication.
Village Manager Cook said staff will review past grant awards, talk with recipients and stakeholders, and return to the board with recommended objectives and draft program options. The board agreed on a tentative timeline for staff to present options at the Committee of the Whole’s second meeting in July or the first meeting in August.
No formal changes to the grant program were adopted at the meeting; trustees provided direction and a set of objectives for staff to use in developing draft program options.
