Government Center

719 S. Batavia Ave., Bldg. A

Geneva, IL 60134

Kane County

KC Jobs Committee

Meeting Minutes

LEWIS, ALLAN, Bates, Daugherty, Penesis, Strathmann, Young, ex-officios Roth (County

Vice Chair) and Pierog (County Chair)

Friday, January 17, 2025

10:30 AM

County Board Room

2025 Committee Goals

• Goals from the July Jobs Committee meeting

1. Revise County Code Definition of the Jobs Committee

2. Economic Development Strategic Plan - Begin implementation of the strategies

recommenced by the Kane County Economic Development Strategic Plan

3. Regional Partnerships - Continue to work with the Greater Chicagoland Economic

Partnership and other regional partners on economic development activities

4. Local Economic Development Programs - Continue to meet the objectives of the active

ARPA Programs and Grant Programs while actively seeking new opportunities to enhance

current programming

• Support for Jobs Committee focusing on the Six Priorities

• Implement the Economic Development Strategic Plan for Kane County

• Implement approved ARPA projects

oKane County Economic Development Corporation - Launch

oFabulous Fox! Water Trail - Launch sites and marketing

oFarmer Grants – staff managed grants to local food farmers

oTourism – with CVB’s

oManufacturing – with IMEC

• Support the Kane County Economic Development Corporation

• Support County’s role in the Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership

• Continue to strengthened partnerships with economic development efforts by the State

of Illinois, municipalities, chambers of commerce and economic development groups

• Continue to network and development partnership for the future Hydrogen economy

• Renew “Made and Kane” series in Kane County Connects featuring companies and

products that are made in Kane County

• Continue to apply for additional outside grants

_______________________________________________________________________

Call To Order

Co-Chair Allan called today's meeting to order at 10:45 AM.

Roll Call

Board Member Deborah Allan

PRESENT

Board Member Mavis Bates

Board Member Ted Penesis

Board Member Cherryl Strathmann

Ex-Officio County Board Vice Chair Bill Roth

Board Member Gary Daugherty

REMOTE

ABSENT

Board Member Anita Lewis

Board Member David Young

Ex-Officio County Board Chair Corinne M. Pierog

Also present: Co. Bd. members Gripe, Juby*, Kious; Dev. Dir. VanKerkhoff and staff

Toth and Thavong; JEG 360, LLC CEO Grueling; Community Reinvestment Dir.

Berger; ASA Vargas; ITD staff Peters; and members of the press and public.

Remote Attendance Requests

Co-Chair Allan announced the remote attendance requests for today's meeting. She

asked the Committee if there were any objections to Committee Member Daugherty

attending remotely. There were no objections.

Approval of Minutes: November 15, 2024

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Mavis Bates

Public Comment

None.

Jobs Committee Priorities

Approving a Contract Extension with GMCI for the Continued Marketing of the

Fabulous Fox! National Water Trail

KC Executive Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Executive Committee

Mavis Bates

MOVER:

Cherryl Strathmann

SECONDER:

Deborah Allan, Mavis Bates, Gary Daugherty, Ted Penesis, and

Cherryl Strathmann

AYE:

Anita Lewis, David Young, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

Kane County Economic Development Initiatives Staff Updates

JEG 360, LLC CEO Grueling stated that the Kane County Development

Department is in partnership with the statewide economic development

organization called Intersect Illinois, which focuses on bringing new businesses,

jobs, and investment to Illinois. The organization helps companies navigate the

site selection process by providing data, site location assistance, and

connections to companies looking to grow in Illinois. Grueling stated that the

Kane County Economic Development Corporation had their first Board meeting,

and are in the process of creating bylaws for becoming a member. Once the

bylaws are established, nominations for board members can begin. The next

step for the organization will be to file with the IRS to receive the tax exempt

status.

VanKerkhoff noted that World Business Chicago is poised to become a leading

HUB for Quantum Technology and Innovation. He highlighted that World

Business Chicago recently attracted PsiQuantum, which is a quantum

computing company campus site, to the South Chicago region. He addressed

questions and comments from the Committee. Much discussion ensued.

Office of Community Reinvestment - Workforce Development Division

Monthly Finance Report

Community Reinvestment (OCR) Dir. Berger stated that the monthly accounts

payable report is on file. No additional report was made.

New Business

Reports Placed On File

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Mavis Bates

10.

11.

Comments by Co-Chair

None.

Executive Session

The Jobs Committee entered into Executive Session at 11:21 a.m. to discuss the

release of closed session minutes on a motion made by Daugherty, seconded by

Strathmann. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

RESULT:

APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE

Gary Daugherty

MOVER:

Cherryl Strathmann

SECONDER:

Deborah Allan, Mavis Bates, Gary Daugherty, Ted Penesis, and

Cherryl Strathmann

AYE:

Anita Lewis, David Young, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

Release of Closed Session Minutes

12.

Return to Open Session

The Jobs Committee returned to Open Session at 11:24 a.m. on a motion made by

Bates, seconded by Strathmann. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.

RESULT:

APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE

Mavis Bates

MOVER:

Cherryl Strathmann

SECONDER:

Vote on Release of Closed Session Minutes

The Committee came to a consensus to vote on the release of closed session minutes

on a motion made by Penesis, seconded by Strathmann. Motion carried by roll call

vote.

RESULT:

APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE

Ted Penesis

MOVER:

Cherryl Strathmann

SECONDER:

Deborah Allan, Mavis Bates, Gary Daugherty, Ted Penesis, and

Cherryl Strathmann

AYE:

Anita Lewis, David Young, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

13.

Adjournment

RESULT:

APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE

Cherryl Strathmann

Mavis Bates

MOVER:

SECONDER:

This meeting was adjourned at 11:26 a.m.

Rachel Santora

Recording Secretary