DuPage committee renews Choose DuPage service agreement through 2027

The DuPage County Economic Development Committee voted to approve a service agreement between the county and Choose DuPage covering Dec. 1, 2025, through Nov. 3, 2027.

Choose DuPage representatives gave the committee a biannual report on program performance, lead sources and municipal services during the meeting. The committee approved the renewal on a voice vote after Member Glassy moved the measure and Member Echoff seconded; no members objected.

Choose DuPage presenter Greg Bedelloff summarized the organization’s 2025 activity and metrics, saying the organization tracks only larger projects that meet established criteria: “a million dollars or more invested, a net gain of 20,000 square feet of real estate development, 20 or more full-time jobs, a headquarters facility, or significant Choose DuPage involvement,” he said. Bedelloff reported 74 projects in 2025 that the organization counted under those criteria and about 2,000 jobs linked to those projects. He also said Choose DuPage has been involved in 1,268 projects since 2015.

Bedelloff described Choose DuPage’s core work as handling requests for information, supporting municipalities that lack dedicated economic development staff, and running marketing and retention outreach. He outlined specific programs the organization runs for the county and its municipal partners: - Municipal Analytics Program: Access to commercial data tools (CoStar, ZoomInfo and others) offered to municipalities for $5,000 per year. Bedelloff said the program started in 2024 with five participants and had grown to 12 municipalities with nine active prospects. - Connect DuPage: A supplier-matching program for small businesses and larger employers, funded in part through a $50,000 county grant. Bedelloff said private-sector sponsorship allowed the county-funded program to be extended nine months into 2026 without an additional county appropriation. - Supplier portal: A searchable database for DuPage suppliers; Bedelloff reported 132 registered suppliers and said the database views and website traffic were increasing. - Sustainable DuPage: A partnership with the DuPage County Environmental Department to provide green-business assessments; Bedelloff said staff completed 20 green business assessments in 2025 and provided a checklist tool for businesses that do not want a full assessment.

Bedelloff also reviewed lead sources for the county: leads from the Illinois Economic Development Corporation (Illinois EDC), the Greater Chicago Regional Economic Partnership (GSEP), and organic leads to Choose DuPage. He noted an increase in leads from the Illinois EDC and said the regional GSEP arrangement is helping DuPage capture leads that previously would have been retained by the city of Chicago.

Committee members asked questions about program measurement, data tools and municipal participation. The committee did not approve any change in funding for Choose DuPage beyond renewing the existing two-year service agreement under the same financial terms.

Action taken: the committee approved the service agreement (EDR 2-25) for the period Dec. 1, 2025, to Nov. 3, 2027. The motion was moved by Member Glassy and seconded by Member Echoff; the committee recorded no opposition.