Welcome to the Lake Forest Office of Economic
Development
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Invest in Lake Forest!
Shop and do
business locally to: create jobs for residents, generate
sales tax, keep dollars in the local economy, sustain
vibrant, walkable town centers that are environmentally
friendly, maintain our city's diversity and distinctive
character and help businesses build a healthy,
sustainable community and contribute to local charities
and non-profits.
SUMMER 2009 nEWS
Project 2010
A
bold initiative to develop a Lake Forest marketing
strategy that will create a competitive advantage to
maximize your profits.
The Mayor's CBD Advocacy Group
recommended the city develop a sustainable,
coordinated marketing strategy to grow and maintain
a competitive advantage over other communities.
Timeline for Development
June-October 2009 - Meet with
sectors to complete situational analysis
October-December 2009 - Finalize
strategies/tactics
December 2009 - Recommendation to
City Council
January 2010 - Implementation and
Evaluation of plan.
For more information on how
you can participate, contact the Office of Economic
Development at
KelseyS@CityofLakeForest.com.
Grow our Community - Together
Join the Lake Forest Spring Market
Campaign and Grow our Community - Together.
Lake Forest is a community that has always worked
together - these challenging times are no
different. Real estate professionals, attorneys, inspectors, lenders and title companies, The City of
Lake Forest and local retailers have united to
create an incentive package for buyers of
residential real estate in Lake Forest.
Growing our
Community - Together
(433k - 1 page)
From March
3, 2009 through September 3, 2009, for residential
purchase contracts, buyers will receive the
following:
-
$300 Closing Credit from
Participating Lenders,
-
$100 Closing Credit from
Participating Title Companies,
-
10% Fee Reduction
from Participating Attorneys,
-
10% Fee Reduction from
Participating Home Inspectors,
-
a "Welcome Package"
from the Chamber with coupons and specials, and
-
$500
from the City of Lake Forest in the form of "Lake
Forest Dollars" to purchase from Lake Forest
Retailers.
Western Golf Open at
Conway Farms
The city is working with
the Historical Society and the Western Golf
Association on the WGA Amateur Tournament to be held
at Conway Farms, August 3 - 8. A walking tour flyer
will be created of retail shopping, restaurants, the
location of the historical society and locations of
old golf courses in Lake Forest.
Western Avenue Improvement
Project
At the north
end of Western Avenue water and sewer lines
are being improved.
For more
information on this project, contact the City at
847-613-7005
or view the
construction updates online.
"Inside
Lake Forest"
A Channel 17 cable TV production
featuring local Lake Forest businesses. Watch
every Monday evening at 6:00 p.m. to learn more about
the history of our businesses, the buildings they
occupy, the special products/service/dining they
offer and what their particular business is known
for. Each Monday, a new show will be
aired prior to City Council meetings. Why
don't you join us at 6:00 p.m. and learn where your
perfect next gift is located!
Lake Forest
Concierge Pilot Program
Lake Forest
Concierge is a pilot program designed to get your
input toward the development of an online service
connecting residents and businesses. For more
information on the program, contact
KelseyS@CityofLakeForest.com, or
download the program and join in now.
The Lake Forest Story
Learn more about Lake Forest
through the new "Lake Forest Story" PDF file.
Local businesses can promote on their website or
send to customers.
Lake Forest
Story
The Office of Economic Development is located in City
Hall at 220
East Deerpath Road. Office hours are Tuesday through
Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Economic
Development mission is to enhance the economic vitality
of Lake Forest and maintain its outstanding quality of
life through the retention and expansion of existing
businesses, as well as the attraction of new businesses
to the Community.
The City of Lake Forest: Overview
With a population of more than 20,000, Lake Forest is
one of the largest communities on the North Shore and in
Lake County, Illinois. Located 30 miles north of downtown Chicago,
Lake Forest business owners enjoy easy access to major
interstate highways, O'Hare International Airport and
Waukegan Executive Airports and passenger railroad
systems. Lake Forest is a major business center with
several national and multi-national corporate
headquarters located within or adjacent to the city
limits. From the quaint shops in the historic downtown
to the major corporations off of bustling I-94, Lake
Forest is home to several of Chicagoland's most popular
retailers and a wide assortment of four-star and casual
dining establishments. Major area private employers
include Abbott, Hospira, Tenneco, Trustmark, Brunswick,
Salton, TAP Pharmaceutical, AKORN Pharmaceutical,
Pactiv, Grainger, the Chicago Bears, and the Lake Forest
Graduate School of Management.
The City of Lake Forest: History and Preservation
Founded in 1861, Lake Forest is physically
distinctive because of its picturesque street plan with
streets laid out in an organic manner that takes into
account many natural features including the ravines and
lake bluffs. Lake Forest is historically significant for
the many notable families who chose
 to make their
permanent or summer homes here. By World War I, the list
of property owners in Lake Forest read like a Who's Who
of the rich and famous in Chicago. In addition, Lake
Forest is noted for the quality and character of its
architecture, residential, commercial, and institutional
structures.
Doing Business in Lake Forest
The City of Lake Forest welcomes your business and
is committed to helping your business prosper. The
following offers you information on the strengths of
Lake Forest’s diverse economic base and gives you a
complete overview of our commitment to retail and office
development. The City of Lake Forest is a member of the
International Council of
Shopping Centers (ICSC) and the
Illinois
Development Council (IDC). Our profile is
available on the State of
Illinois's
Department of Economic Commerce & Opportunity (DCEO). Please e-mail
Susan Kelsey,
Economic Development Coordinator,
or call her at 847-615-3522 should you have any
questions or comments.
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