Read Resume McHenry County’s latest edition! February 14, 2023

Through our collaboration with McHenry County, we will continue to share important information on services, programs to help our citizens, and events in our county through Resume McHenry County updates.

Please take a moment to scroll down to see new advancements this week as we move forward in McHenry County. If MCEDC can be of any help, please call. Forward this email to your friends and family to help get the word out!

County, municipal leaders travel to Springfield

The McHenry County Council of Governments led a delegation of county and municipal leaders to Springfield last week to meet with state lawmakers.

The delegation for the two-day trip included representatives from McHenry County government and the governments of Algonquin, Cary, Crystal Lake, Lakewood, Ringwood and Woodstock. They met with representatives from the members and legislative leaders of the Illinois General Assembly, as well as representatives from the Governor’s and Comptroller’s offices, and the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Thank you to MCCG and its members for making the trip to advocate for McHenry County’s legislative priorities, and to the Springfield officials for meeting with them!

MCC speaker to address workforce recruiting problems

Local businesses that are having trouble recruiting and retaining workers in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic may find an upcoming McHenry County College workshop worth their while.

It’s been called names like “The Great Resignation” and the “Great Reshuffling,” and terms like “quiet quitting” and the “vanishing workforce” have become the bane of HR departments everywhere.

Local economist Patrick Dolan will discuss employers’ recruiting and retention challenges, and strategies to overcome them, at a presentation from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Friday, March 10, at the MCC Shah Center, 4100 W. Shamrock Lane, McHenry. Learn more and register by clicking here – the $29 fee includes a continental breakfast.

Read this week’s edition to learn about another upcoming event designed to help connect local businesses with workers!

We’ll drink to that – Craft Beverage Trail a success

The numbers so far for the McHenry County Craft Beverage Trail call for a celebration – and a drink.

Through 2022, the 12 participating breweries and distilleries have reported almost 3,700 check-ins, with 106 people completing the challenge of visiting them all. Better yet, the businesses report an average 740% return on advertising spent, based on every check-in purchasing one $5 drink.

The craft beverage trail, which highlights our growing local craft beverage industry, is continuing through the summer. Visit www.McHCraftBev.com to download the Naturally McHenry County phone app and participate.

Disability job fair, employer workshop scheduled for April

Once again, the McHenry County Workforce Network and McHenry County College are teaming up to help people with disabilities find jobs.

They’re hosting a virtual workshop on April 5 for employers, which will cover how workers with different abilities can help address ongoing labor shortages, hiring incentives and other topics. Employers can register by clicking here.

On the morning of Wednesday, April 12, a Disability Job Fair will be hosted at the MCC Shah Center, where people with disabilities can meet employers ready to hire. Employers wanting to participate in the job fair can click here to register, but space is limited to the first 20 who do so.

ShamROCKS the Fox parade applications open

Applications are now being accepted for groups wanting to participate in the McHenry ShamROCKS the Fox Parade.

The online form and entry rules can be found by clicking here. Nonprofit and service organizations are eligible to participate (political campaigns are not). A complete set of rules can be found on the form.

McHenry’s annual weekend celebration takes place from March 17-19 this year – it includes an extra day because St. Patrick’s Day falls on the Friday before.

You can find the schedule of events at the websites of Naturally McHenry County and the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce.

Donations sought for My Sister’s Dress event

My Sister’s Dress, a nonprofit that makes prom and formal event dresses affordable while raising money for charity, is looking for donations.

If you have gently used formal dresses, dress shoes, jewelry, purses and accessories, please consider donating them through the Feb. 22 deadline. Please donate formal wear only – no casual items, please. Drop-off sites for dresses and accessories have been set up in Crystal Lake, Woodstock, Algonquin and McHenry – you can find the complete list by clicking here.

The sale itself will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at McHenry County College. All formal dresses sell for $25, and all accessories for $5; all proceeds will go to Home of the Sparrow and the MCC Foundation for the Education to Empowerment Scholarship Fund.

Visit the My Sister’s Dress page on Facebook to learn more.