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| Retention of existing businesses been overlooked, Morley said |
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Members to be added to economic development group The retention of existing businesses in Elmhurst has been overlooked to some extent, according to Steve Morley (6th Ward), chairman of the Development, Planning and Zoning (DPZ) Committee of City Council. The addition of three more members to the nine-person Elmhurst Economic Development Commission (EEDC) will enable the group to be more proactive than reactive and to be more forward thinking, Morley said at a July 19th meeting of the DPZ Committee. “The work of the EEDC is very labor intensive,” he said. Citizens are encouraged to apply at City Hall or fill out an application on the web site. Previously, the City Council approved an expanded effort by the EEDC. “Some aldermen could have 'nit-picked' the EEDC plan, but they didn’t do that,” Morley noted. Turning to the addition of ex officio members of the Commission, the alderman stated, “I would love to be on it. I was in a retail grant program before and I loved it.” Assistant City manager Mike Kopp supported the idea of ex officio members. “That would be a huge benefit," he said. "Aldermen carry a lot of weight.” DPZ Committee member Norm Leader (2nd Ward) agreed those were great ideas. “We need to throw out the red carpet to not only businesses new to the City, but to existing ones," he said. "We cannot survive without retail sales taxes [one of the City’s main revenue sources]." Kevin York (4th Ward) is not a member of the DPZ Committee, but he attended the July 19th meeting to encourage support for economic development efforts and for adding more members. “I attended a lot of the EEDC meetings and have seen how people in that group are reaching out into the community," he said. “Members of this volunteer group are networking and reaching out for the good of the City from the very north side of Elmhurst to the far south areas of the City. Some members of the business community will talk more freely to another business person who is volunteering than to a City staff member. “No system is perfect and never will be. There is a great dynamic going on. This is an exciting time with a much-needed change.” |
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