DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC)

Remember to vote and push these two DeKalb County products to the Top 4! Round of 8 voting ends on March 30!

Registration and Sponsorship Opportunities are now OPEN for the 2025 DCEDC Economic Outlook Luncheon! The event will be held at Farandas on Thursday, April 17th from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, which includes buffet lunch and networking opportunities. Who should attend? -- Businesses of all sizes, Non-Profits, Community Leaders, Community Organizations and Institutions, Investors in DeKalb County, and all others where understanding economic trends and the changing economic landscape is essential to making informed decisions. Our guest speaker, Dr. Kristen Broady, is a Senior Economist, Economic Advisor, and Director of the Economic Mobility Project with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. DCEDC is excited to welcome her to DeKalb County and eager to hear the knowledge and insights she has to share. Please join us on April 17th for lunch, networking, and learning. Registration, event information, and sponsorship opportunities are available at dcedc.org/events

As Dick Vitale says -- "It's awesome baby!" ??????? DeKalb County has made it to the TOP 8 in the Illinois Manufacturers' Association “Makers Madness” contest, presented by Comcast Business, to determine The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois! Help get Whiskey Acres Distilling Co and Chef Heatley’s Hot Pepper Farm through to the Top 4 – vote daily; one vote per matchup per day; per device! Visit makersmadnessil.com and vote daily in the IMA bracket matchup! #MakersMadnessIL #madeinillinois #experiencedekalbcountyil

DeKalb Community Cleat Closet will host their final free distribution event for this season on April 5th at DeKalb County United HQ in Sycamore. The Community Cleat Closet is a donation and trade-in program for new and gently used soccer cleats. The initiative was created as a group project for the DeKalb Chamber Leadership Academy in partnership with DeKalb County United. The distribution event, which will feature new and gently-used cleats of various sizes, is first-come, first served. Their previous event in DeKalb found homes for 64 pairs of cleats -- including to several kids trying soccer for their first time ??? Many families face high costs each season, especially as young athletes quickly outgrow their shoes. The Community Cleat Closet’s goal is to create a sustainable solution by providing an opportunity for families to receive quality, lightly-used cleats at no cost, ensuring everyone has access to quality footwear free of charge. For more information, contact [email protected] or visit DeKalb Community Cleat Closet on Facebook and Instagram.

Top 16 voting ENDS TONIGHT! Head over to www.makersmadnessil.com and get Whiskey Acres Distilling Co and Chef Heatley’s Hot Pepper Farm through to the next round – vote daily; one vote per matchup per day; per device! The competition culminates in an awards ceremony on April 9 where the winner is named "The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois". Advancing in this competition not only benefits these makers, but showcases the talent in DeKalb County, IL! #makersmadness #madeinillinois #experiencedekalbcountyil

On World Water Day, we want to recognize the work being done by the Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District, which serves residential, business, and industrial users in and around the City of DeKalb, including more than 21,000 users at Northern Illinois University. They are also excellent environmental stewards as they pursue several green initiatives to promote the health of the Kishwaukee River and surrounding environment. ???? Sustainable economic and community development is not possible without their work! Learn more about the KWRD: https://www.kishwrd.com/

Earlier this week, DCEDC Executive Director, Melissa Amedeo, and Economic Development Specialist, Andrea Van Drew, attended the Illinois Manufacturers' Association 2025 Women Makers kick-off event in Lisle, IL. Melissa and Andrea joined nearly 100 other women in the Illinois manufacturing industry from across the state. The IMA Women Maker's group connects women in the manufacturing industry throughout the state and is open to all levels of manufacturing women makers. Manufacturers of all sizes are a critical part of the DeKalb County economy and DCEDC is committed to their continued success and growth. Staff are always looking for ways to make new connections and seek resources and knowledge to support everyone in the DeKalb County manufacturing sector. #Manufacturing #WomenInManufacturing #DeKalbCountyIL #WomenMakers #economicdevelopment #MadeInIL

Don't Miss the ExpressTalks Webinar: 2025 State of Employment! ?? Monday, March 24 ?? 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. CDT Are you ready for the future of work? The employment landscape is transforming, and staying ahead of the curve means adapting now to secure success tomorrow. Join us for ExpressTalks—a can’t-miss, insight-packed webinar that will help you navigate the evolving world of hiring, workplace dynamics, and business growth. What to Expect: 2025 Hiring Outlook: Get the latest on emerging trends to keep your business ahead of the competition. Soft Skills and AI: Discover how the perfect mix of people skills and tech is reshaping the future of work. Hiring for Success: Learn the hidden costs of a bad hire and strategies to avoid it. Workplace Glue: Find out how fostering friendships and effective management can supercharge your team's performance. This event is backed by the Job Insights survey, commissioned by Express Employment Professionals and conducted by The Harris Poll, drawing on input from hundreds of hiring decision-makers across the U.S. ?? Save the date and elevate your 2025 hiring game! Register Now to stay ahead of the trends shaping the workforce. Register today at https://lnkd.in/gibPrnHv

Don't forget -- Makers Madness 2025 is on! The Top 16 head-to-head matchups are underway at www.makersmadnessil.com and first-round voting runs through March 23 at 11:59 PM. Help us get Whiskey Acres Distilling Co and Chef Heatley’s Hot Pepper Farm through to the next round – vote daily; one vote per matchup per day; per device! The competition culminates in an awards ceremony on April 9 where the winner is named "The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois". Advancing in this competition not only benefits these makers, but showcases the talent in DeKalb County, IL! #makersmadness #madeinillinois #experiencedekalbcountyil

?? Calling all small & mid-sized manufacturers in DeKalb County ?? IMEC Illinois and Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity are again working together to offer the 2025 Made in Illinois Grant Program. This grant program offers up to $50,000 in matching funds to help small and mid-sized manufacturers with strategic technological advancements. Applications accepted from April 15-30. For full details, visit https://lnkd.in/gxvZVRWe #Manufacturing #MadeInIL #DeKalbCountyIL