The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) announces that the Elgin Development Group (EDG), a program of the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce, has been recognized by IEDC as an Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO).

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A group of franchisees operating within the world’s largest restaurant chain are opposing a move by McDonald’s to hike its franchise fee for the first time in 30 years.

Closings in New York, Seattle, San Francisco and Portland Set for Oct. 21

Discount giant Target is closing nine stores in four major markets coast to coast, blaming theft and violence that it said risks the safety of its customers and employees, as retail crime nationally soared to an estimated $112.1 billion in losses last year.

Little New Industrial Space Is on Track To Complete Construction in Late 2024 and Early 2025

The series of interest rate increases initiated by the Federal Reserve in early 2022 has helped curtail the record wave of new distribution center development that was underway. Throughout the summer of 2023, industrial tenant demand softened and the pullback in groundbreakings grew more extreme.

Gallup Poll Shows Workers’ Link to Company Mission Declines With Rise of Flexible Schedules

The rise of remote work dealt a blow to the nation's commercial real estate market. But as the workplace trend settles into a more permanent role, new polling data is pointing to another potential victim: company culture.

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Darden Restaurants reported rising sales for its Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse chains, but there are signs that customers are cutting back on spending at its higher-priced brands as inflation boosts costs for essentials like groceries and gasoline.

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A prominent outplacement firm is projecting relatively subdued retail hiring during this year’s holiday season compared with prior years, even as e-commerce giant Amazon announced this week it planned to hire 250,000 seasonal workers nationwide, a company record.

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Disney is planning to nearly double planned investments in its division that includes theme parks to about $60 billion over the next decade as the media giant looks to counterbalance its profit struggles in streaming and broadcast entertainment.

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Persistent high mortgage rates sent homebuilder confidence into negative territory for the first time in five months, according to the latest survey by the National Association of Home Builders.

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A prolonged and expanded version of the United Auto Workers strike that began Friday could pose significant production challenges for a U.S. industrial economy that is still recovering from pandemic-fueled supply chain disruptions, according to analysts at Oxford Economics.

The Fox River Trolley Museum and Rotary Club of Elgin have teamed up to bring an Oktoberfest celebration to South Elgin.

The Fox River Trolley Museum and Rotary Club of Elgin have teamed up to bring an Oktoberfest celebration to South Elgin.

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U.S. retail and food service sales in August rose 0.6% from the prior month, and topped the year-earlier figure by 2.5%, as consumers remained resilient despite economic uncertainties.

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Rising costs for energy, especially gasoline, were particularly notable as August’s annual inflation rate reached 3.7%, up from 3.2% in July, the Labor Department reported.

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Small business confidence declined in August from the prior month, with a quarter of national survey respondents reporting inflation still posing a significant challenge to their business prospects, according to the National Federation of Independent Business.

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Consumers expect to spend less over the coming weeks because of declining optimism about their financial situations, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said.

Rebound in Demand for Downtown Apartments Catches Up With Suburbs

When it comes to apartment rent growth, the difference in demand for suburban and downtown living is shrinking.

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A slowdown in new construction project spending posted in some categories earlier this year is expected to extend well into 2024.

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A recent rise in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations could make it tougher for companies to bring employees back to offices.

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The volume of mortgage applications hit a near 27-year low for the week that ended Sept. 1, even as mortgage rates backed off slightly from highs not seen in more than two decades, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Retailer Closed Some Locations, Renegotiated Leases With Landlords

Party City, North America's largest party-goods retailer, is ready to emerge from its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding with what it called an "optimized" store footprint after exiting some locations and getting better deals on leases for others.

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Analysts at Goldman Sachs lowered their expectations of a U.S. recession within the next 12 months to 15%, from a prior projection of 20%, as the firm joined other prominent financial firms and economists expressing increasing optimism amid lessening inflation and other factors.

John B. Sanfilippo & Son will take over the million-square-foot facility, Treehouse Foods' only remaining manufacturing plant in Minnesota.

Company Views Healthcare Services, Not General Merchandise Sales, As Its Growth Driver

A change in leadership for global drugstore giant Walgreens Boots Alliance is part of a pivot by a streamlining international chain to become more of a healthcare provider than a retailer.

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Slowing job growth in August provided the latest sign of a slowdown in the past year’s rapid pace of hiring in many industries and could affect Federal Reserve strategy on interest rates.

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Analysts said property damage and related economic losses could reach $20 billion after Idalia, the hurricane that turned into a tropical storm, left roads flooded and thousands without power in Florida and three other states.

Process Involves Air-Filled Balloons to Move Wooden Platforms and a Significant Cost

Four behemoth live oak trees appear to float on air as a light breeze tugs at their limbs, and a litany of workers position themselves to slowly roll each gentle giant weighing in at more than 172,000 pounds — or about the weight of the Space Shuttle Endeavor — to its new home.

Charity Softball Game Raises $5,250 for NWSRA

The Enhancing Elgin Committee of the Elgin Development Group is seeking nominations for this year’s esteemed annual Elgin Image Awards. This prestigious recognition program honors individuals, projects, and organizations that have made a significant impact on Elgin through their time, talents, actions, and unwavering dedication.

Preschool students to return on Aug. 22

Classes resume Tuesday, Aug. 15 for more than 35,000 kindergartners through 12th graders, as well as Transition students, across School District U-46. Following a successful bond proposal in the spring, District officials will work on plans and projects to replace or renovate some of U-46’s older school buildings to provide equitable access to learning environments that support academic success for all.

Drake Announces Elevated Executives Middleby Processing enhanced its leadership by recently naming Norm Buggele President of CV-Tek and RapidPak. Norm led the build and integration of the recently opened Middleby packaging facility in Elgin. Ill. His deep expertise and proven leadership skills will be an asset not only to these brands but to Middleby as a whole. Mark Salman, President Middleby Food Processing said, “Norm’s broad knowledge of the packaging industry has been invaluable. He is building trusted partnershi

Superintendent Johnson announces new Cabinet members, school principals for the 2023-24 school year

Letter from Raul Anaya, President of Business Banking

Three siblings. Three generations. And now, three CEOs. If good things come in threes, as the saying goes, Hoffer Plastics, a leading provider of custom injection molding solutions, definitely has a good thing going. The company’s board of directors has promoted Gretchen Hoffer Farb, Charlotte Hoffer Canning and Alex Hoffer to co-CEO’s following their successful sharing of the company’s leadership after taking the helm in January 2020.

Dr. Michael Montgomery resigned from his position as Executive Director of Food for Greater Elgin. The Board of Directors has hired Andres Diez to replace him in that role.

The City of Elgin is proud to announce the upcoming renovation and addition project for the Hemmens Cultural Center, a historic landmark and beloved venue for the performing arts. Designed and constructed by the esteemed Cordogan Clark & Associates, this project aims to modernize the facility while preserving its rich legacy as a premier destination for national, regional, and local performing and presenting organizations.

St. Sophia Church at 525 Church Road in Elgin (Rt. 31 and I-90) will present its 44th annual summer “Greek Fest” the weekend of July 7th, 8th and 9th 2023. The fest will be open on Friday and Saturday from 12 noon to 11pm. Sunday’s hours are 12 noon to 10pm. Six thousand people attend the festival each year – it is open to the public and admission is FREE.

ELGIN - The School District U-46 Board of Education approved a multi-year superintendent contract for Dr. Suzanne Johnson, who began her career in education at U-46 26 years ago. Since February, she’s served as the district’s interim superintendent. Dr. Johnson will officially assume the role of superintendent in the state’s second-largest school district on July 1, 2023. The Board voted 7-0 Monday night in favor of the agreement. In short remarks after the vote, Dr. Johnson noted that her parents were career educator

On January 1, 2023, we saw the Illinois minimum wage increase from $12.00 to $13.00. The City of Chicago and Cook County are also increasing their set minimum wages on July 1, 2023.

Longtime U-46 educator is currently serving in interim capacity

ECC wins national award for excellence in diversity efforts

Elgin Community College is the recipient of the 2023 Inclusive Excellence Award by the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE). ECC won the Institutional Excellence Award for a two-year institution.

The City of Elgin has partnered with 120Water to offer free water testing and pitcher filter kits for water customers who live or do business in Elgin. This new program is designed to help residents and business owners identify and reduce lead in their drinking water.

Senior Services Associates' Caregiver Specialists identify caregiver needs through a program called Tailored Care Assessment (TCARE). We develop a tailored plan to reduce caregiver stress and burnout. We support caregivers and their families in helping seniors live independently as long as safely manageable in their home.

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra today announced details of its 74th season featuring six classics concerts. Season subscription packages for the 2023-24 programs are now on sale at www.elginsymphony.org or by calling the ESO box office at (847) 888-4000 Tuesday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra has announced details of its 2023-24 season featuring 6 exciting classic programs.

Site Selection Magazine - an international industry-leading business publication -- released its annual corporate expansion and relocation rankings, naming Illinois 2nd in the nation for corporate projects and Chicago the Top Metro for the 10th year in a row. The publication noted 487 Illinois projects in 2022, moving the state up from the number three spot in the previous year's rankings.

The 2022 mid-term election has shifted the scales in Washington, D.C., with the Democrats no longer controlling both houses of Congress. While it remains to be seen if ? and when ? any tax-related legislation can muster the requisite bipartisan support, a review of certain provisions in existing laws may provide an indication of the many areas ripe for action in the next two years.

The U-46 Board of Education has appointed Dr. Suzanne Johnson as the interim superintendent for the state's second-largest school district. For the past five years, Johnson has served as the deputy superintendent of instruction for the district.

During a review, the IRS determined it will not challenge the taxability of payments related to general welfare and disaster relief. This means that people in the following states do not need to report these state payments on their 2022 tax return: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. Alaska is in this group as well, but please see below for more nuanced information.

Investments in the power grid continued to pay reliability dividends for ComEd customers as the electric company delivered record reliability in 2022. Since grid improvements began in 2011, overall reliability has improved more than 80 percent.

Governor JB Pritzker today announced the reopening of a homeownership program designed to help working-class families and underrepresented communities of color throughout the state of Illinois

Reducing smoking and vaping among staff and promoting a smoke free workplace helps protect the entire workforce from the harms of tobacco smoke and improves health, morale and team performance.

The Governor's Office of Management and Budget (GOMB) released the annual Illinois Economic and Fiscal Policy Report showing under Governor Pritzker's leadership Illinois is in its best fiscal shape in decades.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) includes a wide range of tax incentives aimed at combating the dire effects of climate change. One of the provisions receiving considerable attention from consumers is the expansion of the Qualified Plug-in Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Credit (IRC Section 30D), now known as the Clean Vehicle Credit.

Governor JB Pritzker joined the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) today to announce a $34.6 billion program to improve roads, bridges, transit, rail, airports, and ports over the next six years. This funding represents a robust commitment to invest in people and communities backed by the historic Rebuild Illinois capital program.

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) Director John J. Kim today announced the opening of Illinois? Electric Vehicle (EV) Rebate Program. The program was created under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) passed by the General Assembly and signed by Governor Pritzker in the fall of 2021. Individuals can now access and complete an application for a rebate under Illinois? EV Rebate Program at: https://www2.illinois.gov/epa/topics/ceja/Pages/Electric-Vehicle-Rebates.aspx. Applications for the first funding r

Beginning tomorrow, the Illinois Family Relief Plan will go into effect, making good on the promise by Governor Pritzker and the General Assembly to provide relief on the grocery tax, gas tax, and property taxes. The plan totals an estimated $1.83 billion in relief, including income and property tax rebates and a temporary cut in several sales taxes.

Governor JB Pritzker today signed the Family Bereavement Act, an amendment to the Child Bereavement Leave Act that expands leave time requirements to cover pregnancy loss, failed adoptions, unsuccessful reproductive procedures, and other diagnoses or events impacting pregnancy and fertility. SB3120 also mandates leave after the loss of family members previously not covered in the act

Governor JB Pritzker today signed legislation designed to increase access to Illinois? higher education system, close equity gaps, and improve student protections and operational effectiveness. The bills expand resources available to students and build on the administration?s efforts to expand equitable access to public universities and community colleges.

The City of Elgin is pleased to announce its participation in Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6), the most comprehensive economic impact study of the nonprofit arts and culture industry ever conducted in the United States. Administered by Americans for the Arts, AEP6 will examine the economic impact of the arts and culture in Elgin and 386 additional communities representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia.