Gurnee hires first economic development director
Gurnee has hired its first economic development director because of what the mayor says is fierce competition to attract businesses.
Ellen K. Dean will start the new year as Gurnee's economic development boss. She's been Glenview's economic development manager.
Dean said she wants to build on a solid foundation in Gurnee that includes a vast retail community and tourist attractions such as Six Flags Great America.
"Gurnee has struck the right balance between being hospitable to business development and tourism, while protecting the quality of life which is so important to its residents," said Dean, whose 20-year public sector career began when she was Downers Grove's economic development director.
Mayor Kristina Kovarik said the importance of having someone lead business development was illustrated when a major manufacturer announced plans to leave the village in 2013.
Kenall Manufacturing, which has produced high-quality lighting products in Gurnee, is moving into a 354,000-square-foot facility in Kenosha, allowing room for growth. The company received an unspecified incentive package from Wisconsin to move to Business Park of Kenosha just off I-94 at Highway 158.
Not only does Gurnee need to aggressively compete with other suburbs, said Kovarik, but also nearby Wisconsin for business retention and attraction. Kovarik said while she, Village Administrator Patrick Muetz and others have worked hard in the economic development arena, Dean will devote all of her time to it.
"You've got to go chase these things," Kovarik said.
Dean will be a liaison between Gurnee village hall and the business community. She'll also be tasked with negotiating incentive packages that would bolster economic growth and identifying opportunities to expand businesses already in the village.
In Glenview, Dean was credited with starting the village's business improvement district, launching a downtown merchants association and marketing a Professional Golfers Association Champions Tour event for seniors at North Shore Country Club.