Read this week’s edition of McH THRIVE!

Written on October 18, 2023.

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 or on social media.

State manufacturing tour makes McHenry County stops

McHenry County had the honor last week of hosting three stops on the Makers on the Move manufacturing tour!

The statewide bus tour, put on by the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center, highlights the vital importance of manufacturing to our state and county economies; it coincides with Manufacturing Month, which is observed every October in Illinois.

The bus first came to Woodstock for a news conference, where participants were told about how the Advance McHenry County grant program created by the County Board has supported local manufacturing and job training. After that, they toured AFC Materials Group, in Lake in the Hills, and then held a mixer and celebration at Sew Hop’d Brewery in Huntley.

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped show off McHenry County’s manufacturing might!

McHenry Riverwalk Shoppes looking for next group of occupants

The McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce is looking for the next class of businesses to open up in the McHenry Riverwalk Shoppes business incubator!

The Riverwalk Shoppes, which opened this summer at 1202 Riverside Drive in Miller Point Park, consists of 10 tiny-house buildings where small business owners can learn the challenges of operating in a brick-and-mortar location.

The deadline to apply is November 1; final participant business selections will be made before the end of the year, and the next round of shoppes will open next May through December. To learn more and apply, click here.

Incubators help small businesses find success – 87% of incubated businesses are still open after five years, and 84% stay in the area where they started, according to the National Association of Business Incubators.

Disability Job Fair takes place October 25 at MCC Shah Center

The McHenry County Workforce Network and McHenry County College are again teaming up with the State of Illinois to help people with disabilities get into the workforce or find new jobs.

The Disability Job Fair, which is free and open to job seekers with any type of disability, will take place from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 25, at the MCC Shah Center, 4100 W. Shamrock Lane, McHenry. You can register by clicking here. Job seekers should dress like they would for a job interview, and bring copies of their resume to network with county employers who will be there, and ready to hire.

If transportation is an issue, click here to learn about the MCRide countywide paratransit service!

It’s now the McHenry County Enterprise Zone!

The Harvard/Woodstock Enterprise Zone has officially been renamed the McHenry County Enterprise Zone with its expansion into Marengo!

Why build or expand your business in the McHenry County Enterprise Zone? Benefits include sales tax exemptions on building materials, and a half-percent deduction of the total project cost from state taxes. Also, depending on where you build or expand in the zone, your business can be eligible for a significant eight-year real-estate tax abatement program, making the McHenry County Enterprise Zone an attractive option for your new business or expanding

The zone’s new addition extends along Route 23 south through Marengo, and includes the newly constructed full interchange at Route 23 and I-90. You can see an expanded version of the map to the right by clicking on it, or you can click here for an interactive GIS version.

Click here to learn more about the McHenry County Enterprise Zone, or contact zone Administrator Ed Dvorak at 815-893-0895, or by email at ed@mcedc.com.

Naturally McHenry County is your go-to Halloween resource

Whether your idea of a great Halloween is trick-or-treating, haunted houses, community events, or sitting all night in a pumpkin patch like a blockhead waiting for the Great Pumpkin, our friends at Naturally McHenry County have you covered.

Besides a complete listing of every municipality’s trick-or-treat hours, Naturally McHenry County’s Halloween events page includes a list of local haunted houses and displays, and an eclectic list of events from bar bashes to a haunted car wash (no, we’re not making that up).

Click here to check it out, and happy haunting!

Dog Walk of the Dead lets pets enjoy Halloween

If you can’t stomach the idea of leaving your four-legged family members out of Halloween festivities, the Lake in the Hills Dog Walk of the Dead is just for you.

The spooky and safe event for dogs and their humans takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday at the LITH Bark Park, 9027 Haligus Road

The event includes a two-mile dog walk, trick-or-treat booths with dog treats, the Howl-o-Ween Doggy Derby, and more. People and pet costumes are highly encouraged. The fee is per dog. Dogs must be leashed at all times while outside of the bark park fence and be current with their vaccinations.

Admission is $10 a dog, or $15 per dog for both the walk and the derby. People and pet costumes are highly encouraged. Dogs must be leashed at all times while outside of the bark park fence and be current with their vaccinations. Click here to register.

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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.