Stephenson County staff: visitor center sold, manufacturing site sold, fueling-station project delayed; programs planned

At a Stephenson County Planning & Development Commission meeting, economic development staff reported multiple local business developments: the county-owned visitor center building has been sold and is expected to reopen as Auto Smart in April 2025; a manufacturing property previously occupied by HP Plastics was sold to a Chicago-area metal manufacturer that will lease part of the building back to HP Plastics; and a planned fueling station and convenience store from Hull City Elevator has been delayed.

County staff said the buyer of the visitor center is relocating from the Oswego area and currently lives in the Lake Carroll area. "As of December 31, 2024, the visitor center has been sold and, it will become April 2025, Auto Smart," the staff member reported. Staff said they met with the buyer to help refresh the facility's digital sign and will provide guidance on enterprise-zone benefits and other local assistance as needed.

The staff member said the manufacturing building sale should preserve jobs because part of the building will be leased back to HP Plastics, and the new owner plans future additions. "They're going to use what HP Plastics is not using and they are looking to add on," the staff member said.

Not all projects are moving forward on the original timetable. Staff reported that Hull City Elevator delayed the planned fueling station and convenience store near Round 20th; the enterprise-zone application is complete from the county side and awaiting final paperwork from the company. "They are just wanting to wait and to not move forward with the project at this point," the staff member said, citing current commodity prices and other uncertainties expressed by manufacturers during year-end business retention visits.

Staff outlined several business-support events and resources for 2025: an HR roundtable next week explaining new legislation affecting local businesses; an informational session on the foreign trade zone administered at Bradford International Airport on Feb. 13, presented by Carrie Seth Meyer, executive director of that foreign trade zone; and an entrepreneur base camp that begins Jan. 28, a 12-week program with six classes offered on Tuesday evenings. Registration is open; the fee is $200 with some scholarships available through a Foundation for Northwest Illinois grant.

Finance staff reported local revenue and permit figures that provide context for the business updates. "$3,040.96 was deposited for the month of December. Total to the general fund for the year 2024 was $200,311.62," Zoe, a county staff member, reported. Zoe added: "The only reason we had a good year this year is because of all the solar that went in." She also said building permit receipts were low for 2024 — about $44,000 — and that the county plans to be stricter on late permit fees in 2025.

Staff also said local solar projects continue to use many local contractors; union representative Zach Holycross of IBEW Local 364 attended to discuss local solar bills and upcoming applications. County staff said they are coordinating field inspections, occupancy certificates, mill-permit enforcement and administrative hearings; the first administrative hearing is expected in February.

The staff member emphasized that some businesses are taking a "wait-and-see" approach pending federal policy changes and tariff uncertainty. The foreign trade zone session and HR roundtable were presented as resources to help businesses manage cash flow, compliance and importing costs.

Ending: Staff invited questions and said a quarterly report will be presented next week at the county board meeting. The items reported are operational updates; no new county policy or funding decisions were made during the meeting.