VIDEO: Francis J. Smith Receives IMPACT Award

The IMPACT Award by the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County was awarded to Francis J. Smith of Manteno and accepted by family members July 29, 2024 during the Denny Golf Outing fundraiser at the Kankakee Country Club, Kankakee, Illinois.

The IMPACT Award honors the accomplishments of an individual, business or organization that has propelled sustainable growth and progress within the community. Through decades of innovation, investment and service, Francis Smith (Smitty) has significantly shaped the economic landscape of the region in driving progress, attracting business, involvement in various organizations and overall dedication to Kankakee County.

Visit Kankakee County announced the area generated a local economic impact of $171.6 million and contributed to an increase in visitor spending across Illinois in 2022. In addition, this boost in tourism contributed $6.6 million in local tax revenue while directly supporting 1,229 jobs in the tourism and hospitality industry, according to the latest data provided by Tourism Economics, a global tourism research firm, which measures the number of visitors as well as their impact on Illinois’ economy during the 2022 calendar year.

With a cost of living below the national average, employment opportunities to earn a substantial income and being ranked in the top among small communities for nursing, carpentry, law enforcement and manufacturing hubs, Kankakee County is worth a second look.

In a flash poll of Kankakee County lenders on Monday, the Economic Alliance learned that in the federal Paycheck Protection Program’s initial $350 billion round of emergency funding, more than 1,500 regional businesses were served, with approved loans totaling more than $260 million. According to those polled, the majority of businesses had already received a disbursement. In this initial round, businesses served employ more than 30,000 individuals.