Chamber and Village Set Sights on Economic Development

Future economic development in Huntley is a priority for village leaders and the local chamber of commerce.

Huntley chamber members on Wednesday listened as village business directors outlined their plans for luring new businesses to the Huntley.

Margo Griffin, Huntley business development coordinator, and Victor Narusis, business recruitment coordinator for the village, gave a short presentation highlighting steps the village is taking to develop Huntley’s economic base.

“We are really branching out this year,” Griffin told chamber members at the monthly meeting held at Pinecrest Restaurant, 11220 Algonquin Rd.

“Not only are we reaching out locally and regionally, but we are also reaching out internationally. We have (literature) currently being translated into Japanese, and we have someone to represent us (in Japan) and trying to get businesses to consider Huntley.”

Griffin also gave a brief overview of the village’s new website, HuntleyFirst.com, which was launched in January. It is an informational hub filled with a plethora of statistics about Huntley and all it can offer business leaders considering an expansion or move.

It also provides information about businesses already established in the village.

“It helps us sell Huntley to let people know about you,” Griffin told chamber members. “When people come in looking to open a business, they’re looking for what’s here.”

Narusis pointed out the village’s strong selling points including its location along Illinois Tollway 90 and Route 47 and the soon-to-be full interchange. Huntley is located within 30 miles of O’Hare and Rockford international airports. There are 2.7 million residents living within a 30-mile radius of the village, Narusis said.

The median wage rates in the Chicago northwestern counties are among the lowest in the Chicago area, village officials said, a selling point for businesses when hiring a workforce.

“Huntley offers lower labor, tax and municipal service rates than most suburban communities,” he said.

In addition, Huntley is one of the few communities in the area that has continued to grow despite the recent economic downturn.

“The growth is going to be here, and we need to keep talking about that,” Narusis said.