Itasca looks to create its own economic relief package

Itasca is joining a growing number of suburbs aiming to create their own economic relief package.

The village this week launched Hire Itasca, an ongoing program that lists open jobs at local companies and Itasca-based corporations on the village's Web site, itasca.com/jobs. Since Sunday, more than 50 jobs were posted by local companies like Willy Wonka, Marketday and Itasca Bank & Trust. Postings are free for employers.

The village also recently launched Dine Itasca, which offers 10 percent discounts at approximately 15 participating restaurants, although the program encourages patronage at all 28 local eateries. The village attached a Dine Itasca card, which must be presented for the discount, to all village newsletters mailed to residents. All Itasca businesses also received cards for their employees. The card lists all participating eateries on the back, and discounts do not include alcohol.

Itasca officials said they launched both programs after considering how to localize the $787 federal economic recovery bill signed last month by President Obama.

"We obviously don't have the money the federal government has to help people, so we tried to think of ways we could help the residents in our own community," said Itasca Village President Claudia "Gigi" Gruber. "We have lots of local talent and more than 50,000 workers who come to Itasca each day, so Hire Itasca is a benefit to businesses too."

Other suburbs, like Bloomingdale, have previously launched programs similar to Dine Itasca that promote local shopping and dining. While Bloomingdale's B-Card program lasted three weeks because officials said they want to keep discounts novel, Dine Itasca's trial run will last through Aug. 31.

Some local eateries said the program instantly drew new customers. Vicky Homatas, owner of Bread & Butter, said 14 new customers came through her doors on the program's first day. Dine Itasca is a offers both incentives for customers and much-needed publicity, she said, because Bread & Butter opened only three months ago.

"People are looking for reasons to go out and this card gives them incentive to try something they might normally think, 'Oh, we'll leave it until next week,'" Homatas said.