Naturally McHenry County is OPEN in the Old Courthouse on Woodstock Square!

Come visit Naturally McHenry County’s cool new home!

McHenry County’s travel and tourism organization opened its doors at the end of March in the historic Old Courthouse Center on Woodstock Square – and while the picture we included is awesome, it still doesn’t do it justice.

Pardon our gushing, but this is a match made in heaven – it’s the perfect place for an organization like Naturally McHenry County, and will complement its mission to welcome visitors and showcase McHenry County as a great place to visit, shop and play.

You can find their new office in Unit 1D of the Old Courthouse Center, 101 N. Johnson St. (the west side of the Square). They’re open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays – and starting May 3, they’ll be open Saturday mornings for the Woodstock Farmers Market.

Take a quick survey to help secure federal broadband funds

The federal government has allocated $1.04 billion to Illinois to help connect underserved areas, and we at McH Thrive want to help make sure that McHenry County receives its fair share to get service out to our rural areas, especially portions of the county where previous surveys have shown a need.

The deadline has been extended to Friday, April 11 – please spare a few minutes to take the survey, which only takes five to 10 minutes. Filling out the survey, regardless of where in the county you live, will help the state identify local need, which in turn improves our odds of receiving meaningful funding.

To take the survey, click here; please connect to your internet router (i.e. Wi-Fi) to take the survey, which includes a speed test.

Want to buy and run a business? Take this course and learn how

If you’re thinking about buying a business, the McHenry County Economic Development Corp. and the Illinois Small Business Development Center at McHenry County College are holding a workshop that could help make your dream a reality.

The eight-session Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition program covers the ins-and-outs of buying, building, and growing a business. Weekly sessions include detailed information on identifying purchase opportunities, negotiating and funding a purchase, transitioning into leadership, and sustainable growth strategies. No previous business ownership experience is necessary to participate.

The classes take place from 6 to 8 p.m. every Thursday from May 8 to June 26 at the MCC Catalyst Campus, 222 E. Church St., Woodstock. The program fee is $1,899; scholarship opportunities that will cover $1,710 are available. Apply for a scholarship by clicking here.

The ETA program is the latest offering from the Strong Transitions Program; a $225,000 Advance McHenry County grant funded the program, which assists existing business owners with transition planning, and helps aspiring entrepreneurs acquire businesses seeking a transition right here in McHenry County.

To learn more about the program, contact the EDC at info@mcedc.com.

Make sure you have a say in the future of Chicago-area transportation

Do you want to have a say in how northeastern Illinois develops in terms of transportation? Have you ever had an idea on what might help improve your commute to and from work?

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) wants to hear YOUR feedback on where our transportation system needs improvement. They are developing the 2026 Regional Transportation Plan that will guide northeastern Illinois to a more reliable and connected transportation system.

Take the questionnaire to make your voice heard at https://cmap.is/rtp.

With spring here, be on the lookout for spongy moths

Spongy moth caterpillars are known for devouring oak leaves, but this invasive species (formerly known as the gypsy moth) is not a picky eater; it will feed on more than 250 species of trees and other plants.

If you find egg masses, please remove them before they have a chance to hatch – click here to watch a video showing you how.

One way you can help control their spread (and the spread of emerald ash borers and other ecological menaces) is to not transport firewood more than a few miles from where it originated. If possible, buy “seasoned” firewood that has been heat treated to be pest-free, and has a sticker certifying such.

Click here to learn more about the spongy moth in Illinois, and what is being done to stop them.

McHenry County Historical Society hosting Museum Week events

The McHenry County Historical Society is hosting several events to commemorate Museum Week in McHenry and Lake counties.

All events take place at the McHenry County Historical Society Museum, 6422 Main St., Union.

They include a free Tuesdays for Tots story time and playtime, free yoga, a workshop on how to find your connection to county history through the historical society library, a curator’s tour of the museum’s collection, and a happy hour event.

Click here to learn more about these events.

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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.