Hampshire seeking business experts for new commission

Hampshire is seeking experienced residents and stakeholders to serve on a special committee aimed at strengthening the local economy.

The new business development commission, established in October, is tasked with attracting, expanding and retaining businesses in the village. Seven members, including Trustee Michael Armato, will serve three-year terms on the commission, which acts as an advisory committee to the village board.

"We're looking to make Hampshire a more business-friendly community," Armato said.

Officials this week began searching for experts in management, marketing, finance, real estate and other areas of business who could use their experiences to carry out the group's goals. Members must be appointed by Village President Jeff Magnussen and approved by the village board.

"We need to go out and find people who have done things like this before so we know who to reach out to," Armato said. "All this kind of knowledge, I'm sure, is out there that we're just not tapping into because we don't know it's there and they don't know we're looking for help."

At least five commissioners must be Hampshire residents, according to village documents, and two can be nonresidents with a financial tie to the village.

Armato serves on a similar commission in Carpentersville and introduced the concept in Hampshire with hopes of finding ways to broaden the village's tax base and lessen the tax burden on residents.

In addition to preserving the village's quaint downtown and filling vacant storefronts, he said, he wants to spur development along Route 72, as well as at the Interstate 90 and Route 20 interchange.

"Those are areas that really should have been developed much more than they have at the present time," Armato said. "It's just a win-win, provided we get moving in the right direction and become a little more proactive than we have been."

Those interested in serving on the commission are asked to send a statement to BDC@HampshireIL.org.