Economic Development Commission

AGENDA MUNDELEIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING November 20, 2025 - 7:30 AM Village Hall - Board Room 300 Plaza Circle, Mundelein, IL 60060 I. CALL TO ORDER II. ATTENDANCE III. ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO AGENDA IV. PUBLIC COMMENTARY V. MINUTES APPROVAL A. Approval of the October 23, 2025 Minutes VI. NEW BUSINESS A. Event Dates for FYE 2027 Motion to set dates for the Spring Mixer, Fall Mixer, and Business Appreciation Breakfast for FYE 2027. VII. OLD BUSINESS A. Changes to the S.T.A.R. Grant Application B. Fiscal Year 2026 Village Board Report All changes to the report should be submitted by December 8, 2025, to allow sufficient time to prepare the final version and be presented at the EDC meeting on December 18, 2025. C. Fall Business Mixer D. 2026 Business Appreciation Breakfast Page |1 Page 1 of 22 VIII. COMMITTEE UPDATES A. Recognize (Robert Kalicki, David Shutan) B. Advise (Michael Decker, Raymond Jackson) C. Attract (Ed Streb, Sarah Mitial) D. Retain (Angela Trillhaase, Miguel Echevarria) E. Educate (Virginia Gibbs, Laurie Lowry) IX. OTHER REPORTS X. VILLAGE PROJECT UPDATES XI. NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING, XII. ADJOURNMENT The Village of Mundelein, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, requests that persons with disabilities who require certain accommodations to allow them to observe and/or participate in this meeting, or who have questions about the accessibility of the meeting or facilities, to contact the ADA Coordinator at 847-949-3200 to allow the Village to arrange accommodations for those persons. Economic Development Committee Agenda 11/20/2025 Page |2 Page 2 of 22 Mundelein Economic Development October 23, 2025 Commission Meeting Minutes CALL TO ORDER The regularly scheduled meeting of the Economic Development Commission was held on October 23, 2025. Chairperson Decker called the meeting to order at 7:30 AM. ATTENDANCE Commission Attendance: Present: Chairman Decker, Commissioner Streb, Commissioner Lowry, Commissioner Kalicki, Commissioner Mitial, Commissioner Trillhaase, Commissioner Gibbs, Commissioner Jackson, Commissioner Shutan Absent: Commissioner Echeverria Also Present: Amanda Orenchuk, Director of Community Development; Isabel Guadarrama, Senior Planner; Erin Swanson, Administrative Assistant ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO AGENDA Chairman Decker requested to delay the discussion regarding changes to the STAR grant program until Commissioner Echeverria returns. PUBLIC COMMENTARY There was no public commentary. MINUTES APPROVAL Commissioner Decker requested a change in wording on page 6 of the prior meeting minutes. Approval of the September 25, 2025 Minutes E. Streb moved, seconded by R. Kalicki, a Motion to Approve, as amended, the Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes of September 25, 2025. RESULT: Passed [Yes 9, No 0, Abstained 0] MOVER: Commissioner Edward Streb SECONDER: Commissioner Robert Kalicki AYES: Michael Decker, Edward Streb, Laurel Lowry, Robert Kalicki, Sarah Mitial, Angela Trillhaase, Virginia Gibbs, Raymond Jackson, David Shutan NAYS: None ABSTAIN: None NEW BUSINESS Page 3 of 22 S.T.A.R. Grant Application — Nova Dental Care A. Trillhaase moved, seconded by E. Streb, a Motion to to recommend Approval of Nova Dental Care's S.T.A.R. Grant application for an amount not to exceed $5,000.00 RESULT: [Yes 9, No 0, Abstained 0] MOVER: Commissioner Angela Trillhaase SECONDER: Commissioner Edward Streb AYES: Michael Decker, Edward Streb, Laurel Lowry, Robert Kalicki, Sarah Mitial, Angela Trillhaase, Virginia Gibbs, Raymond Jackson, David Shutan NAYS: None ABSTAIN: None Dr. Mohammad Omari, Dentist and owner at Nova Dental Care PLLC, gave a brief overview of the STAR grant application request. Nova Dental care will be forming their first location in Mundelein with a substantial investment of $700,000 in the community. The requested grant will cover the purchase a CVCT machine purchase of around $55,000. This is a 3-D scanning machine using advanced technology to allow the dentists to fully view tooth and sinus conditions before moving forward with any procedures. This would allow the patients to remain in-office without having to go to a third party, and the use of the machine would be available upon request to outside medical professionals. The commissioners asked follow-up questions to Dr. Omari regarding the business. He confirmed the location will be across from the post office, shared his review of other dental offices in the area, the proposed ROI on this machine purchase, and what drove him to Mundelein as the location to set up his initial office. The purchase of this machine is necessary for advanced dentistry work. The office will have 2 full-time and 1 part-time dentists, as well as 2 full-time hygienists, and 10–15 employees. There will be 8 operative rooms, 1 surgical suite, 1 lab room, and 1 continuing education room. The commissioners discussed that the balance remaining in the budget for the STAR grant for the fiscal year is around $4,000. Going above this amount would be up to the Board's discretion, but it is a request the Commission could make if they felt this was a strong case for the full grant reimbursement. The commission reviewed the standards for granting the funding assistance and found that this application would be a good fit for the program and decided to move forward with the full grant funding request. Page 4 of 22 OLD BUSINESS Changes to the S.T.A.R. Grant Application Item postponed until next meeting. Fiscal Year 2026 Village Board Report I. Guadarrama will provide a draft of the fiscal year report by the December meeting. She gave a summary of the following: • Grant applications received • Business Registrations • EDC sponsored events • EDC tabled events Chairman Decker reviewed some of the goals for the EDC for the upcoming year. The commission discussed the closing of the CLC small business center. The nearest location with similar program is at Harper College. Fall Business Mixer Economic Development Commissions should follow up with all the businesses and encourage them to attend. L. Lowrey sent hand-written invitations to all trustees. She stated that she also toured the venue and has begun selecting discussion questions for the event. The event is scheduled to begin at 5:30 PM, but in prior years many businesses arrived prior to start time. 2026 Business Appreciation Breakfast J. Marvin compiled recommendations for STAR awards. The commission briefly discussed some of the businesses on the ballots before casting votes. I. Guadarrama requested that commissioners send recommendations for a keynote speaker. COMMITTEE UPDATES Recognize (Robert Kalicki, David Shutan) R. Kalicki introduced a proposed monthly write-up for "Made in Mundelein" that would feature manufacturers located in Mundelein. A. Orenchuk stated that the newsletter could be sent to staff to work with the Village Marketing department to get the write- up published through the multiple Village channels. Page 5 of 22  Advise (Michael Decker, Raymond Jackson) No discussion. Attract (Ed Streb, Sarah Mitial) Mundelein Micro Shops is scheduled for Board Approval on November 10th. Next steps will be hiring an architect and forming a committee. Retain (Angela Trillhaase, Miguel Echevarria) A. Trillhaase gave overview and goals for retaining businesses. She would like to review information from businesses as to why businesses are leaving to find ways to retain them. Educate (Virginia Gibbs, Laurie Lowry) L. Lowrey went over the networking mixers and reviewing small business resources provided by the Commission. OTHER REPORTS I. Guadarrama opened the discussion on the meeting scheduled for November and if there was a need to cancel or reschedule. A. Orenchuk stated that they may need a meeting to approve items for the mixer. The commission briefly discussed and decided to leave the date as-is for now. VILLAGE PROJECT UPDATES R. Jackson asked for further information on a statement made by the mayor for a new position for attracting businesses for the Bank Triangle. A. Orenchuk stated that the Village did hire a consultant for the specific property and to review frequent vacancies within the Village. M. Decker requested any Village updates. A. Orenchuk provided the following new projects going to the Board: • Solaria Crossings - Townhouses • Walnut Ridge - November 10th meeting - 155 until single family development proposed by Pulte. • Storage facility located in Mundelein Crossings to the North of Home Depot. L. Lowrey left at approximately 9:08 AM S. Mitial left at approximately 9:15 AM The commission asked about some specific parcels being developed within the Village. A. Page 6 of 22  Orenchuk gave an overview of the projects (an office building with car storage, and a carwash with small retail strip center both being done by right). The commission discussed the relocation of Bolt Baseball within the Village. NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING, The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Economic Development Commission is on November 20th. R. Jackson left at 9:20 AM ADJOURNMENT The meeting lost quorum at 9:23 AM. Meeting adjourned at 9:24 AM Page 7 of 22 To: Commission Members From: Isabel Guadarrama, Senior Planner For: Mundelein Economic Development Commission Meeting of November 20, 2025 Subject: Event Dates for FYE 2027 Attachments: 1. 2026 Mundelein Meeting Dates Background: To ensure full Commission attendance and increase participation from the business community, the Chairman proposes setting the dates for mixers and breakfast events by January 1st. This will allow additional time for advertising and planning. The following events have established specific dates that the EDC should consider when scheduling: Veterans Appreciation Dinner - April 17, 2026 5PM - 8PM Memorial Day Parade - May 25, 2026 10AM - 11:30AM Community Days - July 2-5, 2026 Mundelein Grand Prix - July 20, 2026 All day National Night Out - August 4, 2026 6PM - 10PM The following dates have been blocked off to host an event by Mundelein Staff: February 1 - May 30 (Business Appreciation Breakfast is still scheduled for February 26, 2026) July 21 - August 8 Recommendation: Motion to set dates for the Spring Mixer, Fall Mixer, and Business Appreciation Breakfast for FYE 2027. Page 8 of 22 Page 9 of 22 To: Commission Members From: Isabel Guadarrama, Senior Planner For: Mundelein Economic Development Commission Meeting of November 20, 2025 Subject: Changes to the S.T.A.R. Grant Application Attachments: 1. S.T.A.R. Grant Edits Background: The Retain Committee will review proposed changes to the S.T.A.R. Grant application with the Economic Development Commission. Recommendation: Page 10 of 22 Page 11 of 22 To: Commission Members From: Isabel Guadarrama, Senior Planner For: Mundelein Economic Development Commission Meeting of November 20, 2025 Subject: Fiscal Year 2026 Village Board Report Attachments: 1. Draft EDC Budget Proposal Packet FYE2027 Background: Chairman Decker has requested that Commissioners provide staff with a list of their 2025 committee updates, board recommendations, and accomplishments throughout the year. Attached is a draft report to the Village Board. Recommendation: All changes to the report should be submitted by December 8, 2025, to allow sufficient time to prepare the final version and be presented at the EDC meeting on December 18, 2025. Page 12 of 22  Community Development Economic Development Commission Purpose Statement “The Economic Development Commission shall endeavor to attract business and industry for the Village of Mundelein which will reflect credit to the Village. The Commission shall also endeavor to retain and promote business and industry within the Village. The Commission shall serve as an advisory body to the Village Board on matters related to the business community. The Commission shall have such additional powers and duties as may be assigned to it from time to time by the President and Board of Trustees of Mundelein” Mundelein Brand Promise “Mundelein will be central Lake County’s premier location for entrepreneurs and known as a welcoming community.” PURPOSE The following goals and objectives of the Economic Development Commission have been developed to advance the objectives of the statements above. These goals and objectives provide a framework and include specific actions for the EDC to undertake during the course of the 2026-27 fiscal year. IMPLEMENTATION Committees composed of two EDC members have been assigned to each of the five priorities below. Throughout the year, these members strive to implement the goals and objectives contained within that priority as noted below. Regular reports from each Committee are presented at Commission meetings to inform the group. Additionally, EDC members will each be assigned to a ‘district’ of the Village. To advance the Goals and Objectives of the Commission, EDC members will conduct site visits, offer Village assistance, gather feedback, and establish relationships with the businesses within their district throughout the year and report their findings back to the Commission. SUMMARY After careful consideration and in-depth review of the current and future activities of the Economic Development Commission, the following represents the budget requests for consideration during the FYE 2027 budget process. The total proposed budget recommends $10,000 budget. This includes $10,000 towards the typical spending items of the commission. The Commission would like to continue their business outreach by hosting events throughout the year (i.e. Business Appreciation Breakfast, Spring and Fall Mixers). There is no change to traditional spending by the commission. PAGE 1 OF 7 Page 13 of 22 Proposal 1: 11/14/2025 Current Proposed Dollar Percentage Organization Budget Budget Difference Difference 100-102 $10,000 $10,000 $0 0% Attached are the following reports as exhibits: Ref. Descriptions A FYE 2027 Proposed Budget B Accomplishments from Prior Year C 2026-27 Draft EDC Goals and Objectives Page 2 of 7 Page 14 of 22 Proposal 1: 11/14/2025 EXHIBIT A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (EDC) - FYE 2027 PROPOSED BUDGET EDC Budget Proposal - FYE 2027 2026 2027 Conventions/Schools/Meetings $5,750 $6,750 BIG Event LCP $500 $500 Other Meeting/Events $1,400 $1,400 Business Appreciation Breakfast $4,850 $4,850 Venue $4,000 Est $4,000 Est Speakers $0 $0 Gifts for Speakers $150 $150 Nametags and Folders $150 $150 Postage and Misc. $250 $250 Advertising $2,500 $2,500 Printing Services $300 $300 Business Resources $0 $0 Business Cards $300 $0 Business Appreciation $0 $300 Professional Dues $0 $0 Miscellaneous Other Services $200 $200 Food Hosting Broker/Developer Event(s) $0 $0 Chamber Grant $200 $200 Gold Star Awards Frames and Paper $0 $0 Grand Total $10,000 $10,000 Page 3 of 7 Page 15 of 22 Proposal 1: 11/14/2025 EXHIBIT B ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (EDC) - ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM FYE 2026 The purpose of the Economic Development Commission is to attract business and industry to the Village and serve as an advisory body to the Village Board on matters related to the business community. Below are a few of the highlights from FYE 2026. 1. Determined not to pursue the Naval Base Flyer due to high cost and limited anticipated impact on Mundelein businesses. The EDC engaged Mundelein’s two hotels and motel and redirected efforts toward developing a promotional flyer highlighting local businesses for hotel guests; business recruitment is currently underway. 2. Hosted an EDC information table at the Mundelein Grand Prix and select Farmers’ Market events to share business resource information. 3. Presented the Micro Shop Proposal to the Village Board, including a request for support in establishing a working committee to develop a formal proposal. 4. Conducted outreach to Mundelein businesses to support the Arts Festival, Mundelein Grand Prix, and MHS internship program. 5. Received more grant inquiries this year than in previous years. Reviewed and recommended approval of three STAR Grant applications totaling $10,000, as well as one Chamber Grant application. 6. Participated in the Lake County Partners Economic Development Advisory Group meeting (three commissioners were in attendance). 7. Welcomed guest speakers at monthly EDC meetings, including Lynne Monroe (Assistant Village Administrator), Freedom Nguyen (Communications and Community Engagement), and Courtney Combs (Lake County Community Foundation). 8. Provided ongoing support for the business vacancy survey, including updates and outreach to new businesses. 9. Represented the EDC at ribbon-cutting and ground-breaking events, attending 16 ribbon cuttings from January 1 to November 12 for new or expanding businesses. 10. Hosted events for the Mundelein business community, including the Business Appreciation Breakfast in February and business mixers in June and November (with Mundelein Community Connections (MCC) participation this year). 11. Presented Gold Star Awards to four Mundelein businesses. 12. Attended the Hospitality and Retail Workforce Development Conference and shared key takeaways with the commission. 13. The vacancy position on the EDC has been filled. Page 4 of 7 Page 16 of 22 Proposal 1: 11/14/2025 EXHIBIT C ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (EDC) GOALS AND OBJECTIVES NARROW GOALS 1. Reach more businesses through the STAR and Chamber Membership grants. 2. Increase interactions with the business community through networking events and site visits. 3. Improve mechanisms for receiving feedback from the business community. 4. Fund additional opportunities for networking and business development for Village businesses. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 1. Recognize Local Businesses a. Goals i. Administer and promote award programs ii. Publicly recognize the contribution of local businesses to the community and economy of Mundelein. iii. Promote and attend events highlighting achievements or contributions of local businesses. b. Objectives i. Select recipients of the Gold Star Award, an award created by the EDC for recognition of local business achievements. The EDC shall promote the award recipients through Village newsletters, at EDC events, and other innovative methods. ii. Establish “Made in Mundelein” communication to inform residents about manufacturing businesses in Mundelein. iii. Develop social media business highlights and recognitions to promote a wide range of local businesses and help boost revenue. iv. At least one EDC member will attend ribbon cutting or groundbreaking ceremonies to celebrate alongside the business. v. Host EDC information tables at more events and provide materials promoting Mundelein businesses to the general public (e.g., the business Promotion Flyer). 2. Advise the Village Board a. Goals i. Inform the Village Board of the Village’s impact on local businesses. ii. Report to the Village Board the current conditions affecting the business community. iii. As needed, research and advise the Village Board on business-related trends or issues that may arise from time to time. b. Objectives i. Prepare an annual economic and activity report for the Village Board highlighting EDC activities and a general economic summary of the Village. ii. Prepare an annual list of recommended public improvements for the Village Board’s consideration. Recommended public improvements shall be those which would have a significant and positive impact on the local business community. iii. Prepare reports or recommendations to the Village Board on topics or issues that significantly impact local businesses. This year’s focus will include investigating Page 5 of 7 Page 17 of 22 Proposal 1: 11/14/2025 the vacancy issue in District 6 to determine whether there are actionable steps the Village can take to address it. iv. Increase outreach by meeting with business owners in a small group setting, similar to “Coffee with the Mayor.” 3. Retain Existing Businesses a. Goals i. Develop and promote Village marketing materials that demonstrate the assets and value of Mundelein. ii. Promote and explain Village programs, grants, or other incentives to Mundelein Businesses. iii. Communicate and foster relationships with local businesses. b. Objectives i. Review, distribute, and promote the Village’s marketing materials through more tabling events and site visits. ii. Promote and explain the Business Incentive Grant program or other Village grants to Mundelein Businesses. Ensure that all businesses are informed about the availability of such programs. iii. Request additional funding for the START grant in order to have the opportunity to help businesses grow. iv. Conduct a business survey to gather feedback on how the Village and EDC can better serve the business community. v. Develop an Exit Survey for businesses leaving Mundelein to further understand their departure. vi. EDC members are to conduct two (2) business site visits each quarter to local businesses to receive feedback on Village activities and identify factors contributing to local businesses’ successes or struggles. 4. Attract New Businesses a. Goals i. Hold events to inform business professionals of local opportunities. ii. Support small businesses in testing and transitioning to Mundelein storefronts. iii. Ensure that the information and data needed by potential businesses is readily available. b. Objectives i. Hold an annual event(s) to inform real estate agents, developers, brokers, and other business professionals of local opportunities. ii. Create a Micro Shops program that provides small and emerging businesses with an affordable, low-risk opportunity to test a brick-and-mortar location in Mundelein, with the long-term objective of helping successful participants transition into vacant commercial spaces within the Village. iii. Work with Village staff to update and promote available properties and development opportunities on the Village’s website and print materials. 5. Educate EDC Members, the Village Board, and the Public a. Goals i. Attend regional or local meetings to further Commission member’s understanding of local conditions or the activities of other agencies. ii. Invite other economic development professionals or leaders to EDC meetings and events. Page 6 of 7 Page 18 of 22 Proposal 1: 11/14/2025 iii. Promote local events to foster additional participation and outreach from the local business community. b. Objectives i. Update the Mundelein Business Support Network informational pamphlet to keep all resources up to date. ii. Identify a replacement resource for the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), as the College of Lake County will discontinue its operation effective January 1, 2026. iii. Invite the Presidents of Lake County Partners, Visit Lake County, Mundelein Community Connection, and other regional groups to the EDC meetings and events. iv. A minimum of one EDC member will attend Lake County Partners’ annual BIG Event. v. Attend general economic development meetings such as Regional Transportation Authority, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Illinois Restaurant Association, Lake County Partners, Lake County government, Lake County Transportation Alliance, Lake County Chamber of Commerce, or GLMV. vi. Review and summarize data provided by a variety of sources such as Lake County Partners, CoStar, Village vacancy report, census, Dept. of Labor, etc. relating to the health of the Village’s economic climate. 2026 RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Increase the STAR Grant maximum award from $10,000 to $15,000 for FYE2027. Due to increased outreach by the EDC in 2026, awareness of available business grants has grown within the community. Staff has observed a corresponding increase in inquiries regarding these funds. The budget for the STAR Grant in FYE 2026 was $10,000; however, this amount covered only three requests and exceeded the budget by an additional $1,000. The EDC recommends increasing the STAR Grant budget to $15,000 to support at least one additional business. The STAR Grant is particularly attractive to existing businesses, as it supports projects that do not require the larger scale funding associated with new businesses, covered by the BIG Grant. Page 7 of 7 Page 19 of 22 To: Commission Members From: Isabel Guadarrama, Senior Planner For: Mundelein Economic Development Commission Meeting of November 20, 2025 Subject: Fall Business Mixer Attachments: None Background: The Committee will provide an overview of the event. Recommendation: Page 20 of 22 To: Commission Members From: Jessica Marvin, Associate Planner Isabel Guadarrama, Senior Planner For: Mundelein Economic Development Commission Meeting of November 20, 2025 Subject: 2026 Business Appreciation Breakfast Attachments: None Background: We are three months away from the 2026 Business Appreciation Breakfast (BAB). At last month’s meeting, the Commission nominated businesses for each of the Gold Star Awards. 1) Keynote Address: Staff has received only a few proposed keynote address topics so far. It is important to begin brainstorming now to avoid making last-minute selections. The subcommittee will be responsible for reaching out to keynote speakers to confirm their availability and for creating the event agenda. If assistance is needed in identifying or selecting keynote topics or speakers, the subcommittee may request guidance from the Commission. Keynote speaker(s) and topic(s) must be contacted and confirmed no later than December 18, 2025. 2) Scheduling a Subcommittee Meeting: J. Marvin will send an email after the November EDC meeting to schedule a subcommittee meeting to discuss event details. The subcommittee will report back to the Commission with a high-level overview of their progress at the December 18 EDC meeting. 3) Gold Star Awards: Congratulations to the four businesses who have been awarded the 2025 Gold Star Award! The businesses below have yet to be informed, and the Business Appreciation Breakfast subcommittee (David, Robert, and Virginia) should inform the winners. Please contact them in person or over the phone by Thursday, December 18, by the end of the day. If you are unable to contact them by that time, please let staff know immediately. Staff will work with Kevin Quinn of KTR Media to create a Gold Star Awards video to be presented at the breakfast. Page 21 of 22  • Business Investment/Expansion: Advantage Handing Materials • Community Involvement: AREA Coffee • Customer Service: TieMart • Mundelein Pride: Out of This World Embroidery Below is the remaining tentative schedule for the 2026 Business Appreciation Breakfast. Timeline for the 2026 Business Appreciation Breakfast December 19th, 2025 EDC Meeting • Finalize Keynote Speaker(s) and Topic Early January 2026 • Start promoting the BAB • Organize and record the BAB Gold Star Video January 22nd, 2026 EDC Meeting • Promote the event through EDC members, social media, word of mouth, and emails. EDC members should visit businesses in their districts to help promote this event. • Prepare the Gold Star Awards – Signed by the Chair February 2026: Event Month • Continue to promote the BAB • Finalize any items that are left Recommendation: Page 22 of 22