Buffalo Grove tries again to plan for economic success

Buffalo Grove is no stranger to economic development plans.

In the minds of some village board members, however, what would be unusual is a plan that results in some serious economic development.

Aiming to try again to create a plan that leads to results, the village board Monday night will kick off a 4- to 6-month process to develop an Economic Development Strategic Plan.

Christopher Stilling, the village's new community development director, outlined the process and the intentions behind it last week.

One of the goals is to promote a pro-business attitude and a culture of cooperation in the village, he said.

"(What) the development community really appreciates most is this idea of predictable outcomes," he said. "They like to know that you have a vision in place and that, when they're ready to act, that we're ready to respond."

Having a plan in place, he said, would enable the village to obtain funding through grants and other sources, and team with organizations like Lake County Partners to attract development. Lake County Partners is Lincolnshire-based economic development corporation that works to develop public/private collaboration and improve the business climate in the region.

Stilling likened economic development to a three-legged stool, with the legs consisting of a property owner, a business opportunity and the village.

"For a successful project to occur, all three of those have to align," he said.

As the planning process unfolds, Stilling said the village will assess its strengths and weaknesses in the market, gaining an understanding of its demographics and employment trends.

He said the goal is to bring a final plan to the village board in July or August. Judging from the reaction of village trustees last week, it will be met with a skeptical audience.

"I think it is also important to point out that we have seen a number of economic development plans or documents titled economic development plans over the years, and they have been a source of considerable frustration for the board and even other members of the staff and the community," Trustee Jeffrey Berman said.

The source of that frustration, he said, was that the plans often turned out to be more fluff than substance.

Berman, however, said he was heartened to hear that one intent of the plan is to produce tangible results. He said it is important to have strategies for "closing the deal."

Stilling said the market assessment will be important if the plan is to succeed.

"I think a lot of times where we have failed as economic developers ... we don't look hard enough at the back of the house, at the things that have significant influences on our processes," he said. "How is our world viewed through the developer's eyes."