Tacos, Tamales and Tortas Trail set to open in Harvard!

Written on September 3, 2024.

Tacos, Tamales & Tortas Trail comes to Harvard!

There are events in the annals of McH Thrive where stories write themselves – and we don’t know about you, but our friends at Naturally McHenry County had our undivided attention at “tacos.” That, and the graphic of Harmilda wearing a sombrero.

Naturally McHenry County has been on a roll. And the newest addition to their growing list of trails showcasing our unique businesses is the Tacos, Tamales & Tortas Trail, in Harvard!

Starting with Mexican Independence Day on Sept. 16, you have a year to visit six participating Harvard restaurants to experience mouth-watering and mind-blowing Mexican cuisine. Complete the trail, and your prize is a custom-made local hot sauce perfect for adding kick to your meals at home.

All you have to do is download the free Naturally McHenry County app, and starting Sept. 16, enjoy some awesome Mexican cuisine. Click here to learn more and download the app if you don’t already have it. And while you’re waiting for this trail to open, check out the Craft Beverage Trail and the Coffee and Tea Trail!

McHenry County raked in $344.2M in visitor spending last year

It’s only fitting to follow our lead story about the creation of a tasty new tourist attraction with a story about how tourism translates to big bucks for McHenry County.

The numbers for 2023 are in, and visitors to McHenry County had an amazing impact of $344.2 million. That spending supported more than 2,200 tourism and hospitality jobs, and generated more than $15.4 million in tax revenue for local governments.

We were part of a statewide trend, according to data from global tourism research firm Tourism Economics and the Illinois Department of Revenue. Illinois welcomed 112 million domestic and international visitors in 2023 – an increase of 1 million – who spent $47 billion and generated $4.6 billion in state and local tax revenue.

Click here to read more about how our Wonderful Places and Wide-Open Spaces are becoming a bigger and bigger draw every year.

EDC to showcase McHenry County in new video series

Regular readers of McH Thrive know that McHenry County is a great place – it’s the place – to do business. And a new video series set to launch soon will help broadcast that fact far and wide.

The McHenry County Economic Development Corp. and McHenry County Government are working together to create Rise and Thrive, a new online video series that will showcase our stellar business climate and the innumerable opportunities for success it offers.

Videos will focus on some of the many success stories of our local manufacturers, our strong and reliable transportation network, our incredibly skilled and talented workforce, the strength of our tourism industry, and much more.

We’ll let you know each time a new video is released so you can watch and share it. Stay tuned!

DCEO announces $26.5M for community development grants

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has announced $26.5 million in funding for public infrastructure and housing rehabilitation projects through the Community Development Block Grant program.

Infrastructure grants are designed to cover water, storm sewer, flood mitigation and other water-related projects, while the rehab grants will target assisting low-to-moderate income homeowners needing structural work, lead remediation, ADA, electrical work, plumbing and more.

Eligible applicants can apply for infrastructure grants between $300,000 and $1 million, and housing rehab grants between $300,000 and $650,000.

Applicants can visit the DCEO website to learn more and apply for the grants; the deadline is 5 p.m. Dec. 4. DCEO is hosting a workshop for applicants on Oct. 1 and Oct. 2 in Springfield, and you can learn more and register by clicking here.

Workforce Network holding job events throughout September

September is Workforce Development Month, and our friends at the McHenry County Workforce Network are celebrating in style.

They’re not only hosting multiple hiring events (click here to find the list) throughout the month, but their calendar is full of free workshops to help people polish their resumes, sharpen their interviewing skills, harness the power of LinkedIn, and more.

Click here to find the calendar – some of the events take place tomorrow and there’s still time to register.

Workforce Development Month has been nationally observed since 2005 – to learn more about it and why it matters, click here.

Flannel Fest returns to Crystal Lake Main Beach

If you’ve always wanted to be a lumberjack, leaping from tree to tree as they float down the mighty rivers of British Columbia, then be sure to mark your calendar for the return of Flannel Fest.

The Crystal Lake Park District festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at Crystal Lake Main Beach. Events include lumberjack shows (at 11, 1 and 3) featuring axe throwing, log rolling, speed sawing and chopping, as well as food trucks, a beer garden, campfires, s’mores, a raptor show, pie-eating and beard contests, and other fun. Click on the video above to check out highlights from the 2022 event.

Tickets purchased in advance are $10 for adults and $5 for children 6 and older; gate prices are $12 for adults and $7 for children 6 and older. Children 5 and under get in free. Click here to purchase tickets and to sign up for the pie-eating and beard/mustache competitions.

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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.