Jobs are up!! Read about that and other news in this week’s McH Thrive!

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.

NIU, SIU to offer classes at MCC University Center in 2024 school year

McHenry County College’s new University Center is just getting better and better – and living up even more to its name – with two more universities planning to offer courses.

MCC purchased Aurora University’s annex near downtown Woodstock, and created the University Center at MCC to collaborate with the university to continue to offer its existing four-year degree programs. Since then, both Northern Illinois University and Southern Illinois University announced plans to offer four-year college credit courses at the center, starting in 2024.

While AU now offers courses in elementary education and social work through the Center, NIU will offer business administration, computer science, early childhood education, health sciences and psychology, and SIU will offer accounting, information technology and industrial management and applied engineering.

The University Center offers students the wonderful opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree while staying in McHenry County – and that opportunity will expand significantly next year. Congratulations to MCC, and thank you to its newest partners! Interested in learning more or enrolling? Click here.

Check out the great work of Project SEARCH

We all need a feel-good video once in a while. Click on the video above to learn about Luke, and the great work that Project SEARCH does for McHenry County!

Project SEARCH is a nine-month vocational training program for young adults, ages 18 through 24, with disabilities. Participants learn valuable employability skills through three, 10-week internships at Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital. And prior to program completion, interns receive job development and placement services to obtain competitive employment in the community.

A lot of local agencies come together with Northwestern Medicine to make this wonderful program possible. The McHenry County Workforce Network provides funding and transportation vouchers. McHenry County College provides certificates of completion and hosts a celebratory graduation ceremony. The Illinois Department of Human Services offers funding and support, and the Parents Alliance Employment Project provides classroom teachers and support staff.

You can learn more about Project SEARCH by clicking here.

Take the 2050 Comprehensive Plan survey

Total non-farm jobs increased in all 14 metropolitan statistical areas in Illinois between June 2022 and June 2023, according to recently released data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

In the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights metro division, which includes McHenry County, a total of just under 3.85 million nonfarm jobs were reported, which is an increase of 74,000 jobs from the previous year. Our metropolitan statistical area also was the only one to report a decrease in the unemployment rate; it dropped 1 percent since June 2022 to 4.3 percent.

Statewide, Illinois reported 6.19 million nonfarm jobs (an increase of 129,200), and an unemployment rate of 4.5 percent (down from 4.8 percent in June 2022).

The Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights metro division also includes Cook, DuPage, Kendall, Grundy and Will counties.

McHenry County mobile home tax bills due October 10

Property tax bills for mobile homes went out in the mail earlier this month, and residents have until Tuesday, October 10 to pay them, the McHenry County Treasurer’s Office announced.

Payment can be made by cash or check, in person or by mail. Checks must be made out to the McHenry County Collector, and payments can be mailed to the McHenry County Collector, 2100 N. Seminary Ave., Woodstock, IL 60098. Please don’t mail cash. Online payment, or credit/debit card payment, is unavailable for mobile home property taxes.

Mobile home owners can also pay in person during regular business hours of 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Another successful MCEDC annual picnic is in the books

We’d have a much harder time writing every week about McHenry County’s business climate and the ways it’s thriving without the McHenry County Economic Development Corp.

The MCEDC recently held its annual picnic at Three Oaks Recreation Area in Crystal Lake; it was a wonderful event, and Mother Nature couldn’t have cooperated any more than she did.

Founded in 1991, the MCEDC is a nonprofit public-private business advocacy group made up of business and industry leaders countywide to leverage McHenry County’s many resources to support continued economic development. It helps build long-term economic development strategies, and acts as a liaison between the public and private sectors to help meet the needs of businesses, with the goal of helping businesses, municipalities, and the county as a whole thrive.

Thank you to the MCEDC and its generous participating members for everything it does to move McHenry County’s economy forward! Click here to visit the MCEDC‘s website and learn more about what it has to offer.

Palmer’s Picnic takes place this Saturday

Grab your picnic basket and blanket, and head on over to the Colonel Palmer House this Saturday to find out what it was like to picnic like the Palmers.

The free event takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Colonel Palmer House, 1 E. Crystal Lake Ave. (at the corner of Route 176 and Terra Cotta Road), in Crystal Lake.

The event educates people about favorite snacking items, activities that were typically enjoyed on a sunny Victorian afternoon, and other family traditions. Activities include a garden scavenger hunt, historic games and crafts, and live music.

The Colonel Palmer House, which is operated by the Crystal Lake Park District, is open for other free fun during its regular hours; you can learn more by clicking here.

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.