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, July 11, 2025

10:30 AM

County Board Room

Call To Order

Chairman Lewis called today's meeting to order at 10:52 AM.

Roll Call

Board Member Anita Lewis

PRESENT

Board Member Deborah Allan

Board Member Mavis Bates

Board Member Cherryl Strathmann

Ex-Officio County Board Vice Chair Bill Roth

Board Member Ted Penesis

REMOTE

ABSENT

Board Member Gary Daugherty

Board Member David Young

Ex-Officio County Board Chair Corinne M. Pierog

Also present: Co. Bd. members Arroyo*, Juby*, Molina*; Dev. Exec. Dir. VanKerkhoff;

JEG LLC., 360 CEO Grueling; ASA Ford; ITD staff Peters; and members of the press

and public.

Remote Attendance Requests

Chairman Lewis announced the remote attendance requests for today's meeting. She

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

attending remotely. There were no objections.

Approval of Minutes: May 16, 2025

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Deborah Allan

Public Comment

None.

Jobs Committee Priorities

Kane County Economic Development Initiatives Staff Updates

Dev. Dir. VanKerkhoff provided information on the American Rescue Plan

(ARPA) funded projects related to Economic Development and Jobs. The Elgin

and Aurora Convention Visitors Bureau has completed their Tourism Travel

Guides. VanKerkhoff reported that twenty companies were added to an ARPA

funded initiative Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) to support

manufacturers.

JEG LLC., 360 CEO Grueling stated that the Kane County Economic

Development Corporation (EDC) had their tenth Board meeting last week. There

were discussions on completing a feasibility study on raising funds from the

private sector in Kane County to fund the ongoing operations for the EDC.

Interviews for the campaign consultant will be conducted for four weeks.

Grueling anticipates there will be interviews with up to sixty to seventy

companies. Once interviews are completed, the consultants will prepare a report

that will be presented to the EDC Board. The findings from these interviews will

identify whether there is interest from the private sector to support the

organization, and what the target dollar amount configured to be available based

on the feedback received from the interviews. Depending on the outcome of the

report from the interviews, the Board will then consider hiring this group for a

second contract to manage a fund-raising campaign. Grueiling addressed

questions and comments from the Committee. Further discussion ensued.

Office of Community Reinvestment - Workforce Development Division

Monthly Report

The monthly report is on file. No additional report was made.

New Business

Chairman Lewis spoke on the Kane County Internship Program. She stated that the

policy for internships needs to be updated. A survey will be sent out to all county

departments asking for any interest in an internship program. She noted that

discussions regarding funding for this program are underway. More information on this

topic will be presented at next month's meeting. Further discussion took place.

Comments by Co-Chair

None.

10.

Executive Session

The Jobs Committee entered into Executive Session at 11:34 a.m. to discuss the

Release of Closed Session Minutes on a motion made by Bates, seconded by Allan.

Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

RESULT:

APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE

Mavis Bates

MOVER:

Deborah Allan

SECONDER:

Anita Lewis, Deborah Allan, Mavis Bates, Ted Penesis, Cherryl

Strathmann, and Bill Roth

AYE:

Gary Daugherty, David Young, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

Release of Closed Session Minutes

11.

Return to Open Session

The Jobs Committee returned to Open Session at 11:38 a.m. on a motion made by

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

RESULT:

APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE

Mavis Bates

MOVER:

Deborah Allan

SECONDER:

Vote on Release of Closed Session Minutes

The Jobs Committee came to a consensus to vote on the Release of Closed Session

Minutes. Motion was made by Bates, seconded by Strathmann. Motion carried

unanimously by roll call vote.

RESULT:

APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE

Mavis Bates

MOVER:

Cherryl Strathmann

SECONDER:

Anita Lewis, Deborah Allan, Mavis Bates, Ted Penesis, Cherryl

Strathmann, and Bill Roth

AYE:

Gary Daugherty, David Young, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

12.

13.

Reports Placed On File

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Mavis Bates

Adjournment

RESULT:

APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE

Cherryl Strathmann

Mavis Bates

MOVER:

SECONDER: