Black Hat Day 2011
Black Hat Day is back and better than ever. Pumpkins for a Cure has again organized Black Hat Day to be held, Saturday, October 1, 2011 from 9am to 4pm and October 2, 2011 from 9am to 3pm to raise funds for Juvenile Diabetes. A whole day of family activities on October 1st including pumpkin carving, face painting, hay rides, black hat judging and a pumpkin recipe contest are planned. Jeanie B and Jellybeans will perform Saturday morning at 11am and the Jesse White Tumblers will perform at 1pm. In addition, kids will see Pete the Scarecrow walking around on stilts and tying balloons for them. Participating businesses will be decorated with hay bales, pumpkins and a black hat. See this link for a schedule of the day's activities: http://www.genevadowntown.org/calendar//events/index.php?com=detail&eID=1339
Sundays Are Special In Geneva
Downtown Geneva businesses are teaming up to put together exciting Sunday programs for Sunday shoppers. If football isn't your thing, try checking out what's happening in Downtown Geneva. Starting on September 25, stores will be offering various types of demonstrations and activities. Such activities could include fashion and trunk shows, cooking demonstrations, makeovers, musical performances and product demonstrations. Look for these events on the www.genevadowntown.org website and make your Sundays Special in Geneva.
Downntown Trick Or Treat - October 27
Trick or Treating will take place at downtown Geneva Businesses on Thursday, October 27 from 2pm until 5pm at participating stores in the downtown. Look for the orange trick or treating sign at the front of each building.
Trick or Treating through Geneva neighborhoods will take place on Monday, October 31, 2011. Geneva Police Department recommends 3pm to 7pm.
French Market continues until October 30, 2011
The Geneva French Market is located at South Street and 4th Street in the Commuter Parking Lot and operates every Sunday through October from 9am to 2pm. Customers can find an array of products from fresh produce to fine French linens and custom made jewelry. For more details, visit: www.bensidoun-usa.com.
Green Market Open Outside Until Thursday, October 27, 2011
The Geneva Green Market will be open every Thursday until October 27 from 7am to 1pm and is located at 75 N. River Lane in downtown Geneva. On Saturday, November 5, 2011, the Geneva Green Market Winter Market opens at 11 N. 5th Street from 9am to 1pm. The Winter Market will stay open until the Green Market opens again in June of 2012. The Geneva Green Market features locally-grown minimally processed produce and products for chefs or everyday people who really care about the quality of the foods they eat. Mark Weaver, of Geneva's Inglenook Pantry, is actively involved in getting local chefs to support the Geneva Green Market and buy fresh, locally grown product, as well as offering the public educational information and demonstrations on cooking with fresh product. For more information on the Geneva Green Market, please visit them on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Geneva-Green-Market-NFP/85326673757 and http://genevagreenmarket.org/
Welcome to these new Geneva businesses:
Aggati, 500 S. Third St., Suite 117
All Chocolate Kitchen, 35 S. Third St.
Art Box, 514 W. State St. Unit A
B & B Interiors, 600 S. 1st C
Blue Peak Tent Rentals, 204 Dearborn #109
Charming Charlie, 202 Commons Dr.
Dash K9 Sports, 2627 Kaneville Rd.
Fuscia Style (women's boutique) 9 N Third St.
Griffin, Villa, Williams, 501 W. State St #202-#203
HH Gregg, 710 Commons Drive
Invitations by Design, 1 W. State #103
LeLa (women's boutique), 211 W. State
Marble & Granite Tech, 1881 S. Randall Rd. #B
The Mossy Twig, 31 S. Third St.
Nexxus Publishing, 524 W. State St. #E-F
Northern Illinois Foodbank, 273 Dearborn Ct.
Prairie Path Podiatry & Spa, 4 S. Sixth St.
Premier Property Service Group, 2600 Keslinger #15
R & R Laminating 407 Stevens
Vargos Dance, 115 W. State
Venture USA LLC, 65 N. River #209
Vivid Systems, 1141 Commerce Dr.
Congratulations on your new location:
Cornerstone Medical Group 302 S Randall #104C
Dr. Blaszak & Dr. Grossweiner 302 S Randall #303
Geneva Dental Ltd. 401 Williamsburg #201
Greater Illinois Title Company 1795 W. State #107
Midwest Gold Buyers 1096 Commons Dr
Havlicek Builders 648 North
Plasencia Group 5 N 3rd
Rangel Designs 206 W State #201
Coming Soon:
Board Sports Unlimited, 204 W. State St.
Cotto A Legna, 500 S. Third St.
Design Essentials, 219 W. State St.
Mitchell Manz Photography, 321 Stevens St.
Morano's Pizza, 417 Hamilton St.
Sound Sculptor Recording, 127 W. State St.
Tiger Lily Vertical Fitness and Dance, 1749 S. Randall Rd.
Welcome a New Owner:
Circa, 123 S. Third St.
Geneva Nursing and Rehabilitation, 1101 E .State St.
Live Windows On State - Calling Geneva High School Students!
For the last two years, during Christmas Walk, downtown State Street businesses hosted Geneva High School students in "live window" displays. The windows are fun to do for the students and a hit with the Christmas Walk patrons. The children draw attention to State Street and earn service credits from the High School. If your child would be interested in participating this year, please contact Ellen Divita at (630) 232-7449. Geneva High School Principal Tom Rogers has confirmed participation will again count for service points. Windows will "go live" on Friday, December 2, 2011 from 7-9pm. Participants will work with the businesses to develop a theme that matches the business.
South East Master Plan
Work continues on the City's South East Master Plan. This is a "subarea plan" amendment to the City's Comprehensive Plan, the document that guides land use decisions. The Plan considers undeveloped properties within the City's planning jurisdiction, looking at land use and an initial consideration of the engineering routing of costs (for utilities and roads) needed to develop the property. The study area is approximately 300 undeveloped acres just west of the Kane and DuPage county line, south of IL Route 38, and north of Fabyan Parkway.
Information is found at http://www.geneva.il.us/EconomicDevelopment/southeast_masterplan.htm. Questions and comments may be directed to Economic Development Director Ellen Divita at (630) 232-7449, or [email protected].
City Special Event Application
Beautiful Geneva is an ideal location to hold a special event or festival. Centrally located as the Kane County seat of government, the City is home to pleasing neighborhoods, short walkable city blocks, the Fox River and Fox River Bike trail, many non-profit agencies, a vibrant Chamber of Commerce, a strong business community, and active citizens. Since 2002 the number of events held in the City has increased with additional merchant led promotions, Cultural Arts Commission events, Economic Development Department programming, and non-profit group sponsored walks and fundraising activities. The City now uses a "Special Event Application" form to approve requests to host events in the City which are public events using public property and or services. Application forms are submitted to the City Economic Development Department and then routed to each City Department for approval. If you intend on hosting an event in the City of Geneva, please contact Ellen Divita, Director of Economic Development at (630) 232-7449, or [email protected]. The form can be found online at: http://www.genevadowntown.org/?cat=78.
Outdoor Music in Downtown Geneva
http://www.genevadowntown.org/?p=5101
These businesses split the cost of this outside entertainment with the City; attendance is free to the public. The new grant program can be used to bring in singers, mimes, jugglers, musicians or magicians to entertain shoppers when festivals are not taking place. The City of Geneva has set aside funds from their Hotel/Motel funding to be used for grants to enhance visitors experience when shopping in downtown Geneva. Questions regarding this program can be directed to Paul Evans at 630-845-9654 or can be emailed to: [email protected]
www.Genevadowntown.org Calendar of Events
Looking for something to do? Want to know the special events being hosted by downtown businesses? Check the calendar of events on the Economic Development Department's visitor page - http://www.genevadowntown.org/calendar/events/
Economic Development Programs- business recruitment ideas sought
Do you have a business you frequently visit that is outside of Geneva? Do you think they'd like to open an additional location here in Geneva? Do you operate a business here in town and have a supplier who may be interested in locating closer to you, here in Geneva? Please contact Ellen Divita with any ideas you have at (630) 232-7449. Thanks for your consideration! And, thanks for supporting the Geneva Business Community.
Thinking of opening a business in Geneva?
Many people out of work are considering their options. One option you may want to consider is starting your own business. While it does bring risk in this economy, many people find it rewarding to run their own business and make their own decisions. If you are thinking about starting a business, give the Economic Development Department a call. They can advise you as to available locations, access to capital and free business counseling. The Economic Development Department (EDD) recently updated their Business Resource Guide, which is filled with lots of resource information for starting your business. The EDD office can also provide background statistics and demographics which can be helpful when completing your business plan. If we can assist you, please contact us at 630-232-7449.
Northern Illinois Food Bank Warehouse and Community Nutrition Center
The Northern Illinois Food Bank Warehouse and Community Nutrition Center opened in September at 273 Dearborn Court in the Geneva Business Park (south of Averill Road and immediately west of FONA). NIFB's new 147,000 square foot food distribution, community nutrition center and warehouse food storage facility will allow them to more efficiently deliver food to a thirteen (13) county network. In the past twelve years the number assisted by the Food bank has increased four fold. Join us in welcoming the NIFB to Geneva. More information on the project and the NIFB, including how to donate time or money, is found at http://www.northernilfoodbank.org/.
Economic Development Department Lists All Geneva Businesses Online
The City of Geneva Economic Development Department (EDD) has created a list of all business in Geneva and has made it available on-line. Businesses can be searched by category (Apparel, Legal Services, Photographers, etc.) alphabetically or by business district (Downtown, East Side, and West Side). This is a great resource for residents who are looking to utilize local businesses.
According to a recent study, if every family spent just $10 a month at a locally-owned, independent business, over $9.3 billion would be directly returned to local economies. The money benefits schools, police and fire departments, roadways and infrastructure and the overall health of the local economy.
The list of all businesses can be found at geneva.il.us and on genevadowntown.org.
O-M-G! Have you heard the music on 3rd Street on Fridays or Sundays in Downtown Geneva. The City has approved 13 grants which help bring music and entertainment to the downtown. Businesses already approved for the grants and planning to bring entertainment downtown are Graham's 318, Galena Cellars and Peaceful Parlour. Follow this link to see who is playing and where: