Lincolnshire looks to help local businesses

As businesses across the country struggle because of the recession, Lincolnshire officials are considering creating a task force to help spur the local economy.

The group likely would consist of 11 members, most of whom would represent local businesses, village Community Development Director Stephen McNellis said. At least one member would represent the village government.

Meeting monthly, the group would seek to try to serve the needs of the retail, corporate and industrial businesses throughout Lincolnshire, officials said.

It would not merely focus on Lincolnshire's much-discussed but stalled downtown development plan for the area near Route 22 and Milwaukee Avenue.

"This is not a task force for the downtown," said Trustee David Saltiel, a leading proponent of the plan. "This is a task force to work with the businesses in town ... (and) to see what their needs are and how we can address those needs so the town can continue to grow."

Saltiel had requested the board investigate creating a business task force. Some retailers have spoken to him about how best to market their businesses and help them grow, he said.

Such growth, which would generate additional tax dollars, is good for the village, Saltiel said.

Groups like the Lake County Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce serve local businesses and are supported by the village board, Saltiel said, but neither focuses solely on Lincolnshire. The proposed task force would, he said.

"It just makes sense that what few dollars we have to give be properly allocated," he said.

McNellis spoke to the village board about the proposal Monday night. The panel took no action on the plan but gave McNellis some informal direction on how the task force could be formed and operate.

McNellis said he'll have a draft plan ready for board review in July.