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Kane County program could grow small business, lure more jobs

Kane County is about to double down on a program hailed by Cook County officials last October as an unprecedented regional collaboration to grow local small businesses and lure jobs to the region.

Kane was part of a seven-county partnership created last fall aimed at bolstering international exports from the region by awarding grants to businesses with fewer than 500 employees. The Metro Chicago Exports Grant Program, funded by $500,000 from JPMorgan Chase, is designed to help at least 50 companies in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry or Will counties. Qualified businesses can receive grants of up to $5,000 to fund education, consulting, marketing and compliance costs associated with doing global business.

Exports, particularly manufacturing exports, are the focus of the program. The pace of the Chicago region's post-recession export growth rate has lagged behind 31 other metro areas, according to a Brookings Institution analysis.

Ten Kane County businesses applied for the first round of grants; six met eligibility requirements. Three of those businesses completed the application process.

Mark VanKerkhoff, Kane County's development director, said he would like to see that number grow. He pitched a plan Tuesday for the county to create its own grant program adding to what Metro Chicago Exports already has in place.

VanKerkhoff said the county has money from its share of Grand Victoria Casino profits set aside for economic development from a position in his department that has been vacant since 2009.

The casino money to fund the position has been socked away all this time, and it's enough to create an additional $5,000 grant for up to 10 Kane County-based companies. The grant would go to businesses that already have survived the Metro Chicago Exports screening process and were selected for the larger program.

“With this program, we could double the available micro grants funds and incentivize Kane County businesses into being exporting companies,” VanKerkhoff said.

With the Metro Chicago Exports group doing the heavy lifting, Kane County Board members were enthusiastic. Theresa Barreiro, co-chairwoman of the county board's jobs committee, said the time is right for grants as many local communities cut business grants and development programs during the down economy.

“This is a great idea to promote businesses,” Barreiro said. “They have to start somewhere. We'll put the word out that we have this pilot program, see how it works and possibly do it again. I think it will be well-received.”

The full county board must still vote on the grant program, but board members hope to have it in place by Metro Chicago Export's July 31 deadline for the second wave of grants.

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