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McH THRIVE Update!

Resume McHenry County becomes McH THRIVE!

With the end of the state and federal COVID-19 states of emergency, it’s time to stop talking about resuming life as normal and dedicate it to moving ahead, together, better than before.

We deserve the opportunity that lies before us… our manufacturers and small businesses, our workforce, our tourism industry, our agriculture and agritourism sectors and our economic development agencies and chambers of commerce… all of us deserve the opportunity to THRIVE!

Thank you for reading and subscribing to the new McH THRIVE! You can help us continue to grow by forwarding this email to people who you think would enjoy it. They can subscribe by visiting McHenryCountyIL.gov/social.com or on social media.

McHenry County Fair celebrating 75th birthday

A week from today, the McHenry County Fair returns to the Woodstock fairgrounds for its 75th year! That’s 75 years of family fun, funnel cakes, Ferris wheels and farming.

The fair this year takes place starting Tuesday, August 1 with the raising of the American flag at noon at the grandstands, and goes strong through the evening of Sunday, August 6 at the fairgrounds, 11900 Country Club Road.

The six-day tribute to McHenry County’s rich agricultural heritage features 4-H displays, carnival rides, grandstand shows including a rodeo and demolition derby, and so much more! Many of the events, including the lineup of live music bands, will pay tribute to the fair’s 75-year history.

Visit the fair’s website to learn more and to buy tickets for events and shows, and be sure to follow the fair on Facebook for updates.

Network to Success Job Club teaches job hunting skills, opens doors

If you’re looking to network while at the same time learn important skills and tips to land that next job, the Network to Success Job Club is for you.

The club, one of the many programs run through the McHenry County Workforce Network, helps participants build skills to find new jobs, re-enter the workforce quickly, and share success stories and best practices.

The club meets virtually every month, and participation is free. Its topic for August is building confidence, and you can register by clicking here – the meeting takes place at 1 p.m. Wednesday, August 9.

Common hiring application makes finding manufacturing jobs easier

Are you on the hunt for a good manufacturing job, but unsure which position, or local company, is right for you?

Our friends at the Manufacturing Pathways Consortium have created a Common Hiring Application for people who want to pursue a manufacturing career, but don’t have a particular employer or position in mind.

Think of it as a job fair in which local manufacturers come to you. The application tells McHenry County manufacturers who you are, your interests, and lists your experiences to see if you could fit into any open roles.

Click here to find the online application, and click here to find the consortium’s hiring webpage, which contains links to member companies’ specific job boards and open career opportunities.

Illinois holding hiring event for state jobs

Illinois is hiring – and you don’t have to take a road trip to attend its upcoming job fair!

The state Department of Human Services, Department of Corrections, Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Transportation, and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity are holding a hiring event this Thursday.

Job seekers can attend in person or virtually. The in-person event takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at AFSCME Hall, 662 Palmyra Road, Dixon. The virtual event takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; registration is required for the virtual event, and you can do so by clicking here.

You can find many other career opportunities with the state by visiting www.work.illinois.gov.

McHenry Riverwalk Shoppes open for business

With the cutting of a ribbon on a perfect summer day, 10 local entrepreneurs opened for business on the McHenry Riverwalk Shoppes business incubator.

A healthy-sized crowd not only attended the Friday grand opening, but also took the time to peruse the small businesses and make their first day of running a brick-and-mortar site a memorable and profitable one. The businesses will occupy the newly built tiny sites through fall.

The shops are located at Miller Point Park, 1202 Riverside Drive, and they look great! Thank you to the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce, the City of McHenry, and of course, the army of volunteers who donated time, money and materials to get this innovative business launcher up and running. And thank you to Kelsey Adams of K-Adams Foto for the picture!

Looking to cool off? Check out our local ice cream parlors

It’s gonna be hot this week – the temperature’s supposed to hit 95 degrees or higher on Thursday. One great way to cool down is to check out some of McHenry County’s locally owned ice cream shops.

Don’t know where to start? Our friends at Naturally McHenry County have put together a list of 10 can’t-miss places with cool treats that go great on hot days – click here to check it out.

Scoop, cone or sundae, these small businesses have just the thing to keep cool – but if you step outside, you may want to eat that ice cream fast.

What is McH Thrive?

McH Thrive is a collaborative initiative being implemented by McHenry County and the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation, MCEDC, in partnership with the McHenry County community, including cities and villages, businesses and residents.