Read about the water forum tonight… and other McHenry County news

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.

Plan an awesome fall with Naturally McHenry County

Goodbye, summer, hello fall – and harvest fun is best of all.

McHenry County’s renowned summer festival season has come to an end, but fall is just as special. Our apple orchards and corn mazes are already open, and as the air grows cooler, you can add pumpkin patches, hay rides, and fall walks to check out nature’s splendor as the leaves change color.

As always, our friends at Naturally McHenry County have compiled a great starting point with which to check out local autumn activities, and you can find it by clicking here.

If you don’t want to miss a thing, be sure to download Naturally McHenry County’s free app to put everything McHenry County has to offer in the palm of your hand; click here to download from Google Play and click here for the Apple App Store.

New deputy director of state tourism visits McHenry County

Last Thursday night, a tourism event held by Naturally McHenry County got a very important visitor!

Daniel Thomas, the new deputy director of Enjoy Illinois and the Illinois Office of Tourism, dropped by the Old Courthouse Center on Woodstock Square as part of his statewide listening tour to see for himself everything that Illinois has to offer visitors.

The attendees – business owners, local governments, event managers and more – made sure that Dan knew everything he ever wanted to know about McHenry County being the land of wonderful places and wide-open spaces.

Thank you to Naturally McHenry County, the City of Woodstock, and the newly renovated Old Courthouse Center, for making this happen!

Employers can now register for Disability Job Fair, workshop

Registration is now open for employers who wish to have a table at the Disability Job Fair, and/or attend an employer workshop to learn about the benefits of hiring people with different abilities.

Click here to register to set up at the Job Fair, which takes place from 9 to 11:30 a.m. October 25 at the McHenry County College Shah Center, in McHenry. The registration deadline is September 29, but space is limited to the first 20 employers who apply, so act fast!

The McHenry County Workforce Network, along with MCC and other sponsors, are also hosting the employer workshop to educate businesses about how workers with different abilities can help solve workforce shortages. Employers can click here to register for the event, which will be held virtually from 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesday, October 11.

Nominations open for MCEDC Business Champion Awards

Nominations are open for the McHenry County Economic Development Corp.’s 2023 Business Champion Awards.

The annual awards bring deserved attention to outstanding local businesses by showcasing them as examples to follow.

There are four categories, from small businesses (24 employees or fewer), to very large businesses employing more than 300. Nominated companies must be located in McHenry County, and must be a primary employer (not retail, restaurant, not-for-profit enterprises, etc.)

Anyone can nominate a local business, but the deadline is September 22. Awards will be presented at the MCEDC annual dinner on November 8. To obtain a nomination form, email MCEDC Regional Project Manager James Sitko at sitko@mcedc.com.

Don’t miss the McHenry County Water Forum tomorrow evening!

Just in case you didn’t mark it on your calendar, the McHenry County Water Forum takes place tomorrow evening at McHenry County College.

The annual event encourages residents, businesses and policymakers to learn more about McHenry County’s water supply, and how to ensure its sustainability for future generations.

The forum takes place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the MCC Luecht Auditorium, 8900 Route 31, Crystal Lake. Admission is free, and so is the food – the event, like past years, will be catered by Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen, so come hungry.

To learn more, visit the McHenry County Water Resources Division website at www.mchenryh2o.com.

McHenry Outdoor Theater will be open into December

Merry (early) Christmas – one of McHenry County’s most iconic attractions will be open through mid-December!

The McHenry Outdoor Theater has traditionally wrapped up its season around Halloween (after sending us off with some scary movies, of course). But thanks to upgrades to its projection booth and concession stands, this year’s season will extend through the weekend of December 15-16.

That’s six additional weekends of movies – and yes, that will mean hot cider, hot chocolate and visits from Santa Claus when he takes a break to catch a film.

The holiday movie lineup hasn’t been announced yet, but you can bet we’ll see some familiar Christmas films and other holiday fare. Visit the theater’s website and follow them on Facebook to learn more!

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.