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ComEd's Pramaggiore Draws
Record Attendance to Alliance Dinner
More than 150 civic and business leaders attended the Alliance's Annual Meeting October 6 to celebrate countywide development in 2010-11 and hear from ComEd President and CEO Anne Pramaggiore. Pramaggiore addressed the then-proposed Smart Grid upgrade to Illinois' electrical infrastructure. In late October, the Illinois legislature overrode Gov. Pat Quinn's veto of SB 1652 - the Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act - which authorizes implementation of a 10-year, $2.6 billion investment by ComEd to strengthen the existing electric system while adding new digital technology. The event was held at Kankakee's Hilton Garden Inn. |
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EnterpriseU 2011 Winner Unveils
Branding, Website
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Image campaign by
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Third place winner Kankakee County's inaugural EnterpriseU Enterpreneurs Boot Camp & Business Plan Competition - GeekSpeak Inc. - recently launched its website
shopgeekspeak.com
Designed by
LinkPoint Media, the site features
computer products and a menu of related services, including network/infrastructure setup, data backup and recovery, and preventative maintenance. On-site consultation is available for both commercial and residential customers.
GeekSpeak's image campaign and web presence were among services provided in the EnterpriseU 2011 prize package.
EnterpriseU 2012 promises to again provide exceptional free educational and networking opportunities - plus eligibility for a more lucrative prize package - to registered contestants. The program kicks off in January. Contact Gina at the Economic Alliance office to participate as a program sponsor or prize donor. |
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Momence Visioning Workshop Nov. 16
 The first Community Visioning Workshop in Momence's Downtown Master Plan process is set for Wedesday, November 16 at 6:00 p.m. Sponsored by the City of Momence and Main Street Momence, the event will continue to build consensus for desired development in the city's historic commercial core.
Full event details are available by clicking here. Momence's Downtown Master Plan is slated for completion by March.
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Junior Achievement "Company Program" Launched at Kankakee Area Career Center
 Junior Achievement's Company Program, a vehicle that allows high school students to organize and operate an actual business enterprise, is underway for the first time this year at Kankakee Area Career Center.
Harry Bond, former president of Bradley-based Monical's Pizza, serves as chief mentor for the program.
KACC Business Technology/Management instructor Debi Zurek notes, "We truly are fortunate to have such a supportive business community that works with our schools to provide students not just quality education, but real world experience and mentoring as well."
JA Company Program teams are eligible to participate in the North American JA Student Company of the Year Competition.
The Career Center also participates in SkillsUSA. A four-member KACC Entrepreneurship Team won a gold medal for its comprehensive business plan at the national SkillsUSA Championships in June.
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Riverside Reducing Energy Costs
with Rooftop Garden 
One of Thomson Reuters' "100 Top Hospitals" for the fourth year running, Riverside Medical Center is on the forefront on energy sustainability with its new 6,200 square foot Vegetative Living Green Roof System. The garden, atop the hospital's East Tower addition, is expected to reduce Riverside's heating and cooling costs by as much as 20% and help mitigate water pollution caused by urban runoff. To learn more about Riverside's green initiatives, click here. |
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IL Route 50 Commercial Development Briefs
 Kankakee County's primary commercial corridor has seen a flurry of development activity in recent months. In September, Gap Outlet took occupancy of 4,000 square feet at Bradley Commons. Also at the Commons, ground was broken this month for an Olive Garden restaurant. Construction is expected to be complete by spring. Renovations of the former Old Country Buffet property at IL Route 50 and Larry Power Road to accommodate a new Panera Bread restaurant are anticipated by February. Finally, remodeling at the former Bradley Square Blockbuster Video store is underway. Opening of a Texas Roadhouse at the site is expected in early 2012.
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Construction Underway for Manteno's
Legacy Park Phases I & II
 The City of Manteno reports that Tenco Excavating has completed construction work for Phase I and excavation work for Phase II of its 67-acre Legacy Park project. Phase 1 includes softball and soccer fields, an amphitheater, picnic area and handicap-accessible playground. Second-stage development will add more soccer and softball fields, and complete the parking lot area and landscaping. The park on Manteno's north side is being funded, in part, by DNR OSLAD grants. |
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River Roundtable Committee Update
Following the successful WaterWorks Conference held in June (SLIDE SHOW here), which drew more than 200 attendees, the Kankakee River Roundtable is moving to implement strategies that will maximize Kankakee County's greatest natural resource.
Standing committees have been formed in the areas of Environment & Agriculture; Community & Economic Development; and Tourism & Recreation. E&A is exploring a pilot project for sand removal; C&ED is working in conjunction with the Kankakee River State Park (1.5 million visitors/year) to determine the feasibility of a riverfront trail and/or lodge; T&R is building active partnerships with KCCVB, Kankakee Forest Preserve District, Gotcha Outdoors Show and like organizations.
The next general meeting of the Kankakee River Roundtable is set for Friday, November 18 at 10 a.m., 3rd Floor conference room, Kankakee Public Library. All are welcome to attend and participate. Phone 815.935.1177 or visit gokankakeeriver.org for more information.
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