At its meeting, the Stephenson County Planning and Development Committee approved a request to expand the Northwest Illinois Enterprise Zone to accommodate an addition proposed by BCG Group, the committee heard.

Speaker 4, presenting on behalf of county staff member Andrea, described the proposal from Brian Caldwell, owner of BCG Group, which operates the Auto Smart/visitor center property. "That would be a 100% for 3 years on building materials exemption certificate, which would be the sales tax on that," Speaker 4 said, describing the building-materials sales-tax exemption the company would seek. The presenter also said the boundary amendment would enable property tax abatement on the value of the improvement to encourage the proposed indoor showroom.

Speaker 4 said the applicant intends the new building to serve as an additional indoor showroom for high-end vintage cars and that the expansion is intended to increase sales volume and local sales tax revenue. If the committee's approval is supported by the Enterprise Zone Board, the county will take the request forward to the full county board; Speaker 4 said staff plans to request the Enterprise Zone Board's support in January.

Committee members moved and seconded the request and, when asked, members present said "aye"; the motion carried. The committee did not record a named roll-call tally in the transcript and no objections were recorded. The item will next be considered by the Enterprise Zone Board and, if supported there, by the Stephenson County Board.