Huntley Launches New Website, Effort to Lure Businesses

Huntley’s new website dedicated to promoting economic development within the village is up and running.

At the same time, Village Board members on Thursday gave their nod to a five-year economic development plan that aims to lure more businesses to town.

The new website, www.HuntleyFirst.com, went live Thursday and is packed with information about every aspect of the village. Huntley leaders hope businesses considering relocating to the Chicago area will like what they learn about the community from the new webpage.

“For communities our size, it’s pretty much a rarity to have this much information” available to businesses, Margo Griffin told trustees.

Griffin is the village’s business development coordinator. She and Victor Narusis, business recruitment coordinator, worked together to design a comprehensive website that business, industrial and corporate leaders can consult, even if they are miles away.

Griffin and Narusis gave a short presentation, guiding trustees through the many links and informational aspects of the page.

Economic Development Strategic Plan

Their presentation also focused on Huntley’s five-year Economic Development Strategic Plan for 2012-16.

The plan outlines goals, objectives and strategies village leaders plan to implement to build the community’s economic base.

“We want to build on what we already have in place,” Village Manager Dave Johnson told the Village Board. “And we want to be aggressive in selling our community on the many positive aspects it has to offer.”

The plan’s mission is to “identify, coordinate and create opportunities to attract, expand and retain business activity in Huntley to diversify the village’s tax base, enhance municipal revenues, create and preserve jobs and improve the quality of life.”

Since the economic downturn, village leaders have been committed to making infrastructure improvements and working toward attracting new business to Huntley, Johnson said.

The ideas and strategies outlined in the five-year plan are not quick fixes.

“This is long-term,” Johnson said. “This is a marathon, not a sprint.”

The board has committed $35,000 this year toward economic development activities.

Some of Huntley’s positive attributes, per the presentation, include:

• $100 million in infrastructure improvements including the soon-to-be $70 million full interchange at Interstate 90 and Route 47.
• Huntley is within 30 miles of O’Hare International Airport to the east, and 30 miles from Rockford International Airport to the west.
• Continued housing growth and fast-track permitting by the village.
• Low local taxes and low property taxes. Communities in Cook County have significantly higher tax rates, research showed.
• Plenty of acreage for business and industrial development.
• Good school system.

Huntley has 520 businesses that employ 4,670 workers, Narusis said.