TODAY Show names Woodstock Square one of the Merriest Main Streets!

Through our collaboration with McHenry County, we will continue to share important information on services, programs to help our citizens, and events in our county through Resume McHenry County updates.

Please take a moment to scroll down to see new advancements this week as we move forward in McHenry County. If MCEDC can be of any help, please call. Forward this email to your friends and family to help get the word out!

TODAY show names Woodstock Square one of its Merriest Main Streets

The TODAY show came to Woodstock Square on a cold Dec. 9 morning to feature it as part of its holiday “Merriest Main Streets” countdown to Christmas!

You can watch it by clicking here or by clicking on the picture. The reporter for NBC Chicago also did a wonderful story about Woodstock being a stop on TODAY’s national search for merry Main Streets, which you can read and watch here.

Thank you to everyone who turned out that morning to give NBC a warm Woodstock welcome!

Comcast donates laptops to help disadvantaged job seekers

A gift of 20 laptop computers from Comcast will help disadvantaged McHenry County residents pursue new jobs and career education opportunities.

Comcast donated the laptops to the McHenry County Workforce Network and its partner social service agencies Last Chance House, New Directions Addiction Recovery Services, Refuge for Women, and Wish House.

The donation is part of Project UP, Comcast’s 10-year, $1 billion initiative to advance digital equity. One of Project UP’s centerpieces is Internet Essentials, a low-cost internet adoption program for eligible low-income households, which has helped more than 1.6 million people in Illinois connect to the internet at home since it launched in 2011.

Naturally McHenry County announces light show winners

Congratulations to the winners of Naturally McHenry County’s third annual Light UP McHenry County Holiday Lights Contest!

This year’s champions by category are:

• The Griswold – 665 Krenz Ave., Cary
• Disco Fever – 551 Chantilly Circle, Lake in the Hills
• White Christmas – 1241 Amber Court, Woodstock
• Blow it Up – 719 Coventry Lane, Crystal Lake
• Overall Favorite – 665 Krenz Ave., Cary
• Best Local Business – Cherry Tree Inn Bed & Breakfast
• Best Community Display – Woodstock Square

Thank you to all the participants, and to everyone who voted! You can see all of this year’s winners and entries by clicking here.

Cary mayor named head of influential mayors’ caucus

Congratulations to Cary Mayor Mark Kownick, who was named chaiman of the executive board of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus for 2023.

The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus is a membership organization of the Chicago region’s 275 cities, towns, and villages. Founded in 1997, the caucus brings municipalities together to work on policy issues and provides a collaborative forum to find solutions to common problems.

Kownick, who represents the interests of the McHenry County Council of Governments on the caucus, has previously held the positions of second vice chair and secretary on the caucus Executive Board.

New WorkShare IL program seeks to prevent layoffs

The Illinois Department of Employment Security has unveiled a new program to help employers that are facing declining business prevent layoffs.

WorkShare IL is a voluntary program that allows an employer to temporarily reduce the hours worked in any unit of their business – affected employees experience a 20% to 60% reduction in hours, but receive a corresponding percentage of unemployment benefits during the period of temporary reduction to offset lowered earnings.

If you’re an employer and wish to apply for the program, you can do so by clicking here.

McHenry Festival of Trees collects goods for vets charity

The McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Festival of Trees, decorated by local businesses and civic organizations, through Dec. 30.

The trees are on display at the chamber office at 1257 N. Green St., in McHenry. Each is decorated in a theme of their sponsors’ choice.

To vote for their favorite, visitors bring canned non-perishable food or toiletries for Veterans Path to Hope to place beneath their choice. The organization with the winning tree gets bragging rights and free entry for next year’s event.