Carpentersville commission to survey businesses

A Carpentersville commission wants to know what it will take to keep businesses in town and how to attract new ones.

At its first meeting this week, the village's newly-formed business development commission outlined plans to survey hundreds of businesses to collect qualitative information that will help the village streamline and simplify processes the village requires of existing and potential businesses, said Trustee Kay Teeter, chairman of the commission.

"We want to get feedback from current businesses on what works for them and what doesn't," Teeter said. "Yes, we want to do business development, but we also want to look at business retention, as well."

Economic Development and Special Projects Coordinator Janice Murphy will create the survey based on information collected last summer as part of a comprehensive study of the village's businesses. The study looked at factors including the condition of the building, streets and sidewalks, outside appearance and availability of public transportation.

The survey also found that about one-fifth of the 417 business locations are vacant.

Commission members, who include local business owners, financial professionals and a local resident, will use a "divide and conquer" strategy to contact all businesses in town. The commission members will interview businesses based on their own background and knowledge, Teeter said.

"Eventually the goal will be to make contact with every business and let them know we are here to work with them," she added.

The commission is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 9, at village hall, 1200 LW Besinger Drive.