The Latest McH THRIVE Updates!

Written on October 31, 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.

Video highlights success story fromD-155 Health Careers Lab

Way to go, Stephanie!

Stephanie Gonzalez is the first student to pass the certified nursing assistant exam after being trained at Community High School District 155’s new Health Careers Lab, which received a $1.5 million Advance McHenry County grant to get off the ground.

With that success came another – Stephanie was hired as by a local nursing home! Click on the video to learn more about her and the successes of the program.

District 155 cut the ribbon on the new lab last September at Crystal Lake Central High School; the lab trains students to become state-accredited certified nursing assistants to help meet a crucial and growing need in our hospitals and long-term care facilities. The lab was one of the first grants to be awarded through the Advance McHenry County initiative, which was created to invest tens of millions in federal COVID-19 recovery money in projects that directly benefit the community.

The McHenry County Craft Beverage Trail is back!

Now this is news that we can hoist a glass to hearing!

The popular McHenry County Craft Beverage Trail, which lets people explore the county’s burgeoning breweries, wineries and distilleries at their own pace, is returning starting this Friday!

All you have to do is download the Naturally McHenry County app, select the challenge and then visit each of the 12 participating businesses. You have until Halloween 2024 to finish it, so there’s no rush. A prize awaits those who complete the challenge.

You can download the app and find a complete list of participating businesses by clicking here.

IMEC offers Advance-funded grants to manufacturers

Speaking of Advance McHenry County funding, a program through the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center offers local manufacturers a chance to qualify for grants to overcome challenges.

The grants, which come at no cost to the applying business, offer local manufacturers technical assistance and training solutions to help them rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, and to help them retool and innovate to protect their operations from future unforeseen disruptions.

Funding is available in four pre-determined program areas: growth, strategy, workforce and operations. You can learn more and apply for grants by visiting the application portal at www.imec.org/advancemchenry.

The program is funded through a $1.395 million Advance McHenry County grant, which you can read about more about here.

October manufacturing tours generate career interest

Thirteen local manufacturers welcomed a total of 155 participants to tours of their facilities during Manufacturing Month in October.

The tours, organized through the county’s Manufacturing Pathways Consortium, gave participants an inside look at local manufacturing and the promise that these careers hold. Participants included students, parents, educators and community leaders

Don’t worry if you missed the tours – planners are already gearing up for the next Illinois Manufacturing Month in October 2024! If you’d like to learn more, reach out to Myka Kennedy at mykennedy@district158.org.

Watch the annual McHenry County Water Forum online

The sixth annual McHenry County Water Forum was, once again, a tremendous success.

Residents, businesses, advocacy groups and local governments attended the annual event at McHenry County College to learn more about McHenry County’s water supply, and how to ensure its sustainability for future generations.

If you missed it, don’t worry – you can click on the video above to watch it. And if you want to learn even more about McHenry County’s water resources and how they can be protected, visit www.mchenryh2o.com.

Woodstock, Dole farmers’ markets move indoors for winter

Just because cold weather is returning doesn’t mean that the awesome Woodstock and Dole farmers markets are closed – they’ve just moved indoors until next spring.

The Woodstock Farmer’s Market can be found most Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from November through April at Building D of the McHenry County Fairgrounds – click here for a complete schedule. And with more than 45 vendors signed up, this year’s indoor market is their biggest ever.

And starting this weekend, the Farmers Market+ at the Dole will be moving indoors and will be open on most Sundays through April. You can find the schedule for the market, held at the Dole Mansion at 401 Country Club Road in Crystal Lake, by clicking here.

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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.