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Downtown development

Bring life to empty downtown buildings

I’ve noticed that many of our rural Illinois communities have a vacant or derelict building in the heart of their downtown or on main street. While the missed opportunities of a property sitting vacant seem basic, the concept is complicated. Intent, code, statute, and insurance classification may be used to determine whether a real property is classified as vacant, unoccupied, abandoned or derelict. Despite the definition, this category of properties can overshadow neighborhoods, business...
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Streator Incubator Feasibility Study

Streator is a forward thinking city. Successful incubation programs operate like the businesses they help launch, whether they’re located in rural areas or more urban areas. When budgets are tight, best practice programs identify efficiencies to conserve scarce resources. But they also develop new programs and implement innovation ideas that can bring additional revenue. During the spring of 2019 the city contracted with ...
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Scaling UP: Restaurant Operations: Opening Safely

Local eateries, restaurants, cafes, pubs, and coffee shops are the social and economic lifeblood of many Illinois communities. Following the stretch of statewide shutdowns that began in late March, residents may be eager to see their favorite food and drink establishments reopen and employees return to work. To prepare for successful reopening in light of the changing food industry landscape, restaurant owners and managers may participate in two free, online webinars offered by the ...
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Archive of Scaling Up Restaurant Operations Part 1 Now Available

As local restaurants prepare to reopen in Illinois, a taped webinar from Part 1 of Scaling Up Illinois Restaurant Operations: Financial Considerations held on May 28, 2020 is now available. Included on the broadcast is Gretchen Ernst from Gordon Food Service, providing broadliner perspective about supply and demand effects on restaurant food and kitchen supplies. University of Illinois Food Science and Human...
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Scaling UP Illinois Restaurant Operations: Exploring Options

In every community throughout Illinois, restaurants represent a critical element of our social and economic well-being. We’re all eager to see restaurants reopen and employees back to work. In these two webinars, we’ll address management issues and plan for ways to make the reopen safe. This webinar series will be offered in two parts, Financial Considerations on May 28 and Opening Safely on June 4.  Part 1 – Financial Considerations Thursday, May 28, 2020 at 10 AM CST...
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