Lake in the Hills Makes Effort to Attract New Businesses

Source: Village of Lake in the Hills press release 

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The village of Lake in the Hills is taking steps to attract businesses to the community.

Recently, the Lake in the Hills Village Board approved an agreement for a new business, Woods Creek Tavern, to assist the new establishment with exterior building improvements through the village’s economic incentive policy. The restaurant opened in August in the former Applebee’s location. The building had been vacant since 2013.

“The economic development mission of the Village is to assist businesses in locating their operation in the Village, grow an existing company locally or start a new business enterprise in Lake in the Hills,” Gerald Sagona, Village Administrator for Lake in the Hills, said. “We are positioning ourselves to assist companies interested in our Village to guide them through the permitting, licensing and for economic incentives that may be available. To aid the continued commercial growth in our Village, we have lowered a critical development fee.”

• Woods Creek Tavern Opens at Former Applebee’s Location in LITH

For Woods Creek Tavern, 50 percent of sales tax received by the Village will be refunded to the restaurant for four years or up to $69,700, whichever comes first.

In another attempt to attract businesses, the village board on Aug. 17 approved a 19 percent reduction in water tap-in fees for commercial and residential development.

“We asked our Public Works staff to review and compare our tap-in fee structure versus other communities. We saw this percentage reduction as a way to continue to help development efforts in Lake in the Hills and still allow for water projects to be funded,” Sagona said.

The village’s economic development coordinator George Hahne attended regional economic development conferences and retailing events.

“Conferences disseminate important information that is essential to understanding key elements of successful development. The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) retailing events bring all of the important players to one place,” Hahne said.

Lake in the Hills was well represented at ICSC Deal Makers gathering at Navy Pier in early October with a booth featuring demographic, sales and traffic count information. The village made over 60 contacts, at the event, with companies and organizations interested in expansion and development.

“At Lake in the Hills we believe the Village should be a partner when it comes to business development and retention. Lake in the Hills is poised to thrive”. Our advantages are numerous,” said Dan Olson, Director of Community Development for the Village.

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