Gary Skoog knows firsthand the skills required to attract retailers and other businesses to cities cast in their neighbors’ shadows.
As former executive director of the Elmhurst Economic Development Corporation, Skoog lured a variety of restaurants to give Oak Brook shoppers a reason to go to Elmhurst.
Now Skoog will work to develop a niche for Hoffman Estates, which hopes to keep residents and commuters from traveling to Schaumburg in search of shops and restaurants.
He will be Hoffman Estates’ first economic development coordinator, starting May 20.
“You want to try to get people to go someplace and stay for a while,” Skoog said. “That’s the kind of environment we want to create. … A place where people can go to feel a little more sense of community.”
Since Hoffman Estates doesn’t have a downtown, Skoog will examine revitalizing shopping centers such as Barrington Square shopping mall by recruiting both retailers and businesses. He will also focus on the Prairie Stone Business Park and the Roselle Road business district, which has more than 500,000 square feet of available space on Roselle and Higgins Roads.
“We wanted to do this for a long time,” said Mayor William McLeod about creating the position, which took 18 months to fill. “We want to be more proactive in promoting our community. He knows the players in the business community.”
Skoog, 55, who lives in Elmhurst, spent the past five years with the Elmhurst Economic Development Corp., a non-profit organization. He also was involved in the development of Elmhurst Crossing, a $35 million shopping center.
