Check out McH THRIVE for the week of June 19th!

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 Riverwalk business incubator entering final stretch

The McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce and the people of McHenry are coming together to finish construction of the McHenry Riverwalk business incubator.

Ten businesses are poised to occupy the tiny shops being built at Miller Point Park, just next to the Riverwalk on Boone Creek. The project will provide a physical retail experience to small businesses ready to take on the challenge of operating in a brick-and-mortar location.

The chamber is in need of skilled and unskilled carpenters to get the shops finished and ready to go as soon as possible. If you’re interested in volunteering, please email Amy Humbracht at amy@mchenrychamber.com.

Almost 90% of businesses that are incubated – meaning startups get a workspace and resources access – are still open after five years, and 84% of them stay in the area they started, according to the National Association of Business Incubators.

Follow the Riverwalk business project on Facebook for updates..

DCEO hosting webinar for Blue Collar Jobs Act grant

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is hosting a webinar for businesses interested in the Blue Collar Jobs Act program.

The one-hour technical assistance webinar starts at 1 p.m. Monday, June 26; you can RSVP by clicking here. You can click here to learn the tax credit eligibility criteria, and companies seeking more information can email ceo.bcja@illinois.gov.

Illinois created $20 million in tax credits under the act for companies making substantial capital investment in Illinois. To be eligible, a company must be located in an Enterprise Zone or a River Edge Redevelopment Zone, be designated as a High-Impact Business, or have an agreement under the state EDGE program.

McHenry County has an enterprise zone that includes much of Harvard and Woodstock, as well as the Marengo I-90 interchange and Routes 23 and 14 connecting the cities. You can find an interactive map here.

Talk and Tour presentation focuses on clean energy incentives

There are financial incentives galore for businesses, governments and homeowners to invest in clean energy technology – and the May presentation of the county’s Talk and Tour best management practices series laid out a bunch of them.

You can click on the video above to watch the May 19 presentation, which featured guest speakers from the Citizens Utility Board, the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, and a Rockford architect who designed the eco-friendly renovations for the Old Woodstock Courthouse.

The Talk and Tour series, now in its second year, is an ongoing partnership between the McHenry County Planning and Development Department and the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County to give the public a close-up look at ways that communities, businesses and households can sustainably manage resources and save money doing so.

You can find a schedule of upcoming events, and register for them, by clicking here. Talk and Tour events are held monthly, on Friday afternoons to make attendance convenient.

Student loan repayment freeze ending this fall

After more than three years, the federal pause on federal student loan repayment has ended.

The more than 43 million borrowers whose payments were first suspended at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic will resume paying their federal student loans in October, according to the Department of Education. Interest will begin accumulating on the loans starting in September.

A June law enacted to address the federal debt ceiling officially ended the pause from being extended; it had been extended eight times under the Biden and Trump administrations.

If you have federal student loan debt, click here for more information, and for steps to take to prepare.

DCEO has a portal to sign up for management training

One of our many goals is to inform the McHenry County business community of the numerous grant opportunities that exist to help them thrive – hence the name of our e-newsletter.

Many of these opportunities come from the DCEO, as you read earlier with the Blue Collar Jobs Act. It seems like almost every week that we’re sharing new state initiatives directly targeted at helping businesses of all sizes grown.

Did you know that DCEO makes it easy to learn more about grant opportunities and how to apply for them? Click here to fill out a form to participate in information sessions and office hours designed to help businesses and other entities seeking grants.

Patriot Run, Pedalpalooza return this weekend

The McHenry County Patriot Run is returning on Sunday, June 25 to McHenry County College. Available options are a 5K run/walk, a 5-mile run, and a 1-mile walk/run. Start time is 7:30 a.m. for the run, and the proceeds benefit our veterans and their families.

Click here to register, and be sure to visit the Patriot Run’s Facebook page to learn more and watch highlights from previous races.

The third annual Pedalpalooza to support the mission of the Family Health Partnership Clinic takes place Saturday and Sunday throughout McHenry County’s awesome bike trail system. There’s no start or finish – plan your own route, and make sure to stop by participating businesses to take advantage of some great deals.

Click here to learn more and to register.