By Jason Arndt
Correspondent
Volunteers with Union Grove’s Community Development Authority next week will begin the first round of business walks within the downtown area as part of an effort to recruit more businesses to Union Grove.
“We ask that no Board members be a part of it, in order to receive honest responses from the business owners on the street,” Village President Mike Aimone said.
The recruitment is part of a wider plan in progress by the CDA, which has included sending out letters to prospective businesses that could fit in with the Village of Union Grove plans.
“We sent out approximately 18-20 letters to local businesses and received positive responses from them,” Aimone said.
Targeted are those looking to expand a business or open a second location within the Village.
The CDA has offered incentives to prospective businesses in order to encourage them to make the move to the Village.
“We described rent assistance programs and grants to see if we can bring businesses in,” Aimone explained to planning commission members Monday night, regarding items contained within the letter.
The CDA has worked on this project since the beginning of 2013 in order to fill vacant storefronts within the downtown Union Grove area.
Aimone explained the CDA made some adjustments to its initial plans from bringing in larger chain stores like Walgreens to smaller businesses that closed down in tougher economic environments, such as in Illinois.
The upcoming business walks will involve business owners who can answer questions prospective businesses might have regarding the economic climate within the Village, according to Aimone.
CDA officials will also continue to reach out to more businesses through the rest of 2013 and indicated the 20 letters that have been sent out represent part of the first batch.
In addition to letters, the CDA has followed up by phone calls made within 10 business days of the mailing to assess each business’s level of interest in moving to Union Grove.
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