What Will Make Retailers Find Channahon Sexy?

The marketing analysis report Houseal Lavigne presented Wednesday did give an opinion on whether or not the could benefit from an economic development corporation.

But, some officials and residents were disappointed. Trustee Judie Nash was one.

“I’m feeling a bit undersold, in some respects,” Nash said.

The board met on Wednesday night, along with the Village’s Planning and Zoning Committee members, to hear the preliminary report. During the meeting, it was determined that board members had not yet seen the seen the 90-page analysis, itself. Village Manager Jamie Bowden said those documents would be in the hands of board members quickly.

Trustee Jerry Papesh said he needed to see the report as well.

The Road to Wednesday

This process began in the fall of 2010, following a query of businesses, schools and the park district to determine how they could be influenced to take financial part in a local EOC. The businesses told village officials that an outside analysis was needed.

In order to get a ‘buy in’ for the creation of an EOC, the village sought the the Houseal Lavigne analysis, Village President Joe Cook said. 

Houseal Lavigne was the winning bidder for the study. On Wednesday, Daniel Garner presented the results to board members and residents.

EOC needed

Gardner’s presentation concluded that in order to be most effective in attracting and retaining businesses, the village needed an EOC.  As part of this venture, the community would also need to hire a person whose job would specifically be to work with attracting, developing, and retaining businesses. The village would need to create an economic development website as well.

“At some point we have to focus on economic development and business retention,” Trustee Scott Slocum said. “Do we make this a priority?  Now is the time to make it a priority.”

Gardner told board members the basis for the marketing analysis included the fact that many Channahon residents shop outside the village because major retailers are located elsewhere. Also, the village has less retail income than other neighboring communities. Lastly, Channahon lacks the number of residences that might attract some larger retailers.

“This is a very competitive market, what really sets a community apart are those things that make a place a unique destination, for example, recreation, medical, or retail," Gardner said.

So, to make Channahon more appealing to retailers and businesses, Channahon would need a retail or amusement focus to draw people here, Garner said. Cook raised the possibility of the river front property, although not directly accessible to the Illinois River, as a possibility to be developed as a recreational or a scenic destination.

Resident Scott McMillin, sitting in the audience, expressed dissatisfaction with the preliminary report.

“You didn’t put anything new up there.” (on the projector screen,)" McMillin said.

And he questioned the amount of money the village has spent on the marketing study.

In addition to concluding an EOC was needed, the report also listed the locations in town - including Route 6 and Interstate 55; Ridge Road and Route 6 and the Town Center - and their strengths and/or infrastructure needs.

Sam Greco, pointing out his longevity in the community, remembered a time when they village couldn’t even provide utilities to a developer.

“I think we’ve come a long way,” he said.