Evanston’s economic development committee is attempting to make the city more accessible to new and existing businesses.
The committee presented the city’s economic development strategy to 75 people representing business associations, non-profit organizations and major employers, including Northwestern, during an economic development summit at the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave., on Friday. The strategy’s two-pronged approach focuses on attracting new businesses and retaining current ones by providing more information and resources, Community and Economic Director Lehman Walker said.
“The city is trying to be more business-friendly than in the past,” Walker said.
As one of Evanston’s largest employers, NU has a stake in the city’s economic development, NU Economic Development Director Jeff Coney said.
“To the extent that Evanston does well, we do well,” he said.
NU students rely on city businesses and jobs, said Weinberg junior Chris Lee, who represented Ald. Coleen Burrus (9th) at Friday’s summit.
“When you see more economic development, it can only benefit us,” Lee said.
The city hopes to encourage economic development through a new business advisory center, Walker said. The center, which will open sometime in the next three months, will provide a “one-stop shop” for local businesses so they don’t have to go through different city departments if they, for example, have questions or require permits or other resources, Ald. Melissa Wynne (3rd) said.
The center will provide information regarding economic development programs already available, such as the neighborhood business district improvement and facade improvement programs, Wynne said. These programs help fund activities such as marketing campaigns and improvements to the appearances of commercial buildings.
The effort is an attempt to make Evanston more competitive in attracting businesses even as they struggle in the recession.
“We should take advantage of the lull,” Wynne said. “This economic crisis is not the time to sit still.”
Local businesses said they are enthusiastic about the prospect of an advisory center.
Paige Finnegan, co-owner of TruFit Personal Training Studio, 610 Davis St., said the idea thrills her. However, she said the city should focus on keeping the businesses it already has rather than attract others.
“The first goal should be business retention,” Finnegan said, noting the empty storefronts that are “everywhere” on Davis.
Bringing in new employers is important, however, to non-profit organizations such as the Youth Job Center of Evanston, which hopes the economic development committee will build a strong relationship between non-profits and employers, YJC Employer Outreach Coordinator Jordan Burghardt said. Non-profits can help new businesses find employees and help local residents find jobs, she said.
“It’s important to facilitate as much economic growth as possible,” Burghardt said.[email protected]
