The Princeton City Council voted on Oct. 20 to approve resolution R25 027, authorizing the city manager to enter a one-year service contract with Hometown Consulting LLC to support the city's economic development efforts.

The measure passed on a roll-call vote after a brief motion and second. The resolution authorizes the city manager to execute the contract; the council recorded its approval by roll call (see "Votes at a glance" below). Mayor said the contract is intended to help the city "peck away" at job creation and retention after the recent announcement that the Gardner Denver (Champion) facility in Princeton will close, costing the community about 70 jobs.

The closure, revealed to the council earlier this month, spurred the mayor and councilmembers to emphasize local economic development work. "That's why we're constantly working on that. That's why we've got this contract going into place for a year for help us with economic development," the mayor said during the meeting. Council members said they want to combine retention and recruitment efforts while staff pursues grant and recruitment opportunities.

City staff also announced two grant awards: about $17,000 for police department TASERs, and roughly $165,000 from the Illinois Department of Transportation to install guardrails near Epperson at Railroad Avenue. Staff reported an estimated assessed value (EAV) rise of about 8 percent, a figure staff said is in line with Cook County averages and will inform the city's upcoming levy work.

Council members also heard Mayor and staff updates about housing: the mayor said three single-family homes are under construction (one in Bryant Woods, one in Park Place subdivision, and a Habitat for Humanity project on the north end of town).

The contract with Hometown Consulting was described during council discussion as a one-year arrangement; council members said they were generally supportive and voted to approve the resolution.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution R25 027 (authorizing one-year contract with Hometown Consulting LLC): approved by roll call.
- Ordinance O25 015 (advance to second reading, RMA minimum/maximum contribution agreement): advanced to second reading by motion.
- Approval of invoices and approval of minutes: routine motions made, seconded and approved by roll call.

What it means

The consulting contract gives the city a short-term resource to support economic development outreach, business retention and potential recruitment following the Gardner Denver announcement. Grants described at the meeting add funding for public-safety equipment and a transportation safety improvement. The EAV increase cited by staff will be used as the city develops levy and budget proposals in the coming weeks.

The council will reconvene for its next regular meeting on Nov. 3, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall.