DuPage County’s economic boom was launched in part by companies that began moving all or portions of their businesses out of Chicago and its near suburbs.
In some DuPage communities, there are worries these days about hanging onto those businesses — and their jobs — now that the county is no longer the greener-pastures destination it once was.
As land available for new development dwindles, officials suggest that DuPage may need a countywide and coordinated approach to maintaining its economic base and attracting new business.
“County government does not have a coordinated strategy for economic development. For many years, it was not necessary,” County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom said at an unusual gathering of municipal officials, Chamber of Commerce executives and economic-development consultants.
Recognizing that increased growth at the edge of the region may force DuPage to become more active in recruiting businesses and jobs, Schillerstrom held a breakfast workshop at a Naperville hotel to hear the views of 40 to 50 officials, most of whom are involved in community-development efforts in the county.
Schillerstrom also sought their assistance in defining a possible role for county government.
“I want county government only involved where it’s needed and appropriate,” he said.
Once primarily a county of bedroom communities, DuPage has become a major employment center over the last two decades. The number of jobs increased nearly 15 percent between 1993 and 1997, to 567,939 from 495,671, according to county statistics.
Much of the growth has been in the service, finance, insurance and real estate sectors.
The county projects that another 240,000 jobs will be added by 2020.
Among the issues raised at the workshop were the continuing problems of traffic congestion and downtown redevelopment, as well as the need to retain businesses that are part of DuPage’s economic base.
“I think they are looking to what has happened to the east (in Chicago and Cook County) and reacting to that,” said Jack Tenison, deputy administrator for county government. “At one time, we could just sit here and (businesses) would come.”
There also was criticism of the county’s storm-water management regulations, which were intended to prevent the flooding that often results from development but are seen by some as an obstacle to efforts to rebuild the downtowns of older communities.
“The one-size-fits-all policy of the county is not working,” said one participant.
Participants want to see DuPage attract e-commerce and “higher-end, higher-salary” high-technology businesses, as well as more conventions and tourists.
The federal community block grant program administered through the county should make funds available for commercial as well as residential improvements, said Tim Angell, Bartlett’s economic development coordinator.
There seemed to be little interest in attempting to land the economic trophies of past years — a major auto manufacturing plant or electronics factory or the corporate headquarters of a retail giant.
Tenison said economic-development officials in DuPage are aware of the type of projects they can sell in their communities and know that maintaining quality of life for their residents is as important as maintaining their tax bases.
