Francis J. Smith Named IMPACT Award Recipient

Francis J. Smith, of Manteno, is named the recipient of the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County IMPACT Award for his commitment to the growth of sustainable development in the region.

From cost of living, to a push for renewable energy, to why we don’t yet have a Portillo’s in Kankakee County, Angela Morrey dives deep into what economic development is and what it means for our area.

Ranked in the top one percent of utilities across the United States, ComEd made infrastructure improvements that helped attract $2.7 billion in investment and create 6,400 new jobs.

Now more than ever, community partners are an integral part of Kankakee County’s resiliance and growth. n 2020, United Way of Kankakee & Iroquois Counties – with our Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley – generated and distributed more than $600,000 for emergency Covid-19 relief. While this work continues, our United Way is mission driven to serve our residential and business community each and every day by investing in the strategic areas of: youth success; economic mobility; and access to health services.

Businesses that think through the needs of their customers in an ever-changing and adapting world will ultimately outlast their competition by offering solutions that work well both today, post-pandemic and in the next big world change, whatever it may be.

Business strategy can be a very large and overwhelming topic for small businesses. Many believe their pursuit of survival overwrites the need to consider long-term strategy. While this may have been true in the past, it can no longer be true in the ever-changing economic landscape that we are witnessing today.

The Economic Alliance of Kankakee County is available to coordinate with federal, state and local officials; our workforce, utility, finance and other core partners; our primary employers and small business owners; and prospective investors.