News & Events

A key component of the City of Kankakee’s West Downtown District Master Plan, the River Station Senior Apartment complex broke ground in November. A joint effort of the city, Mercy Housing Lakefront, the Kankakee County Housing Development Corporation and Presence St. Mary’s Hospital, the $16 million project aligns afforable living with accessibility and support for healthy aging.

The Economic Alliance of Kankakee County is a not-for-profit public/private partnership responsible for coordinating countywide economic development initiatives. The Alliance is seeking an accomplished candidate for the position of President/Chief Executive Officer to oversee implementation of Kankakee County’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), manage the economic development organization and provide technical assistance to local governments.

Michelle Michals of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) was on hand at the Alliance Board of Directors meeting at Olivet Nazarene University Thursday, November 12 to detail major economic development news that the state released Wednesday related to EDGE tax credits and the certification of the state’s Enterprise Zones, two of which are in Kankakee County.

For the first time, Kankakee County small business owners are collaborating to promote special discounts and boost foot traffic during the popular nationwide retail promotion Small Business Saturday. The event, set for Saturday, November 28, will involve retailers across the county that have opted to participate in the free cooperative marketing campaign being driven by the Kankakee County Chamber of Commerce.

A pair of new agreements between Kankakee Community College and Northern Illinois University will make it easier for KCC students to earn college degrees that will set them on the path to career success.

Michael Van Mill, President/CEO of the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County, was elected president of the Illinois Enterprise Zone Association at the organization’s fall conference in Rockford earlier this month.

In collaboration with the Kankakee County Chamber of Commerce, Kankakee Community College is launching an exciting new Leadership and Management Institute to enhance skills for new and seasoned professionals.

On October 1, Economic Alliance of Kankakee County President/CEO and Kankakee County Enterprise Zone Administrator Mike Van Mill provided a briefing on the performance of the two Enterprise Zones that exist in Kankakee County and the tax advantages that they provide to business located within their boundaries. Also outlined were changes to the program that users should anticipate in 2016.

Michael Van Mill, President/CEO of the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County, has been awarded recertification by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) effective October 1, 2015. Van Mill first achieved the designation in 2102.

Across all facets of life and work in Kankakee County, we are seeing significant moves to innovate – to combine resources and ideas in fresh ways – in order to meet the needs of an eager and dynamic marketplace. Our achievements in this arena were recognized again in 2015 by the Milken Institute, which named Kankakee County Illinois’ #1 Small Metro for Job Growth, Technology Growth and Economic Vitality.