The Skokie Economic Development Commission, which I chair, conducted its first business community visit last week at Symbol Job Training
I need your help in my role as Chairman of Skokie's Economic Development Commission! What do you think of the Skokie Swift area plan?
The Village of Skokie has partnered with the Regional Transportation Authority and a team led by OKW Architects to prepare a Dempster Station Area Plan to create a circulation, land use, parking and development vision for the area’s future. The plan is the culmination of over a year of work to provide reality-based planning and development concepts and implementation strategies that encourage both public and private investment in the study area.
As many of you know, I serve as Chairman of Skokie’s Economic Development Commission. We recently took on the responsibility of reviewing the plan and providing input that will be will be used to prioritize what issues are most important for the Village to address in the near term and in the future.
Together with Vice Chairman, Howard Meyer, I will be drafting a memo to the Village Board of Trustees with the comments from our commission on this plan. Can you take a moment to review the plan and email me your feedback at shalom@mkabusiness.com?
Please click here to view the Draft Skokie-Dempster Station Area Plan.
Busy day working on Skokie Economic Development, Purple Hotel, Agudath Israel and State Rep. Sid Mathias
The Skokie Review recently profiled my community involvement: Small business guru Shalom Klein takes on robust schedule
There may be no busier person in Skokie than Shalom Klein who lives there, works there and volunteers much of his time there.
And there may be no busier month for Klein than June.
Klein helps run Moshe Klein & Associates Ltd., his father’s bookkeeping and accounting firm that helps small businesses. It has two offices on Dempster Street in Skokie – on the east side and the newer office on the west side near the Skokie Swift train station.
But this is just the tip of the iceberg regarding Klein’s activities, especially in helping small businesses grow and connect with job-seekers.
Next week, he will stage the third annual free The Business Event at Evanston High School. It will host important small businesses and key speakers and will draw thousands of people. Later this month, he will chair Skokie’s first Economic Development Commission meeting. He is founder, steering committee member and former chair of The Dempster Street Merchants Association. Newly married, he is also pursuing an advanced degree in Jewish professional studies in business and administration.
I enjoyed meeting with Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl today to continue our discussion about economic development, jobs and small business in the Chicagoland area
Economic Development
“Let’s slow the traffic down”, “This block needs more parking”, “Increased signage will attract new business”, and “Changing a zoning code is the solution”, are all pieces of feedback that those of us trying to attract business to the Chicago-land area hear on a regular basis.
My opinion – every area has a very different “personality” and attracts a different type of business that may be looking to call Chicago or its surrounding suburbs “home” as it
relocates. Having grown up in Skokie, and then thrown myself into developing a small business, and working closely with elected officials, I’ve discovered how diverse our community really is. While the culture of our residents is fascinating and so inspiring, I am going to focus this post on the business climate.
For a developing business which is interested in a change in scenery, the most intriguing area may be the far northern suburbs of Northbrook, Highland Park, and the higher end residential and shopping districts. For others (and I am personally biased in this direction), they may want to join the re-emerging business districts in Skokie, Lincolnwood, and Evanston. Certainly, a lot of recent NATO attention may attract a relocating entrepreneur to the busy business and shopping districts of the Loop / Chicago led by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, with it’s new infrastructure investments, and a strong support network in the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. At the far end, we has a diverse south side, home to President Obama, and its many malls, shopping centers, and lower costs of living.
I don’t think that there is any single solution or model we should follow in our focus on economic development. Let’s collect and solicit feedback from the stakeholders, the ones that shop, live, and work in our communities.
I believe that we can come up with the right recipe to attract business and businesses to every area in our community, encompassing all of our business districts. So, if you are thinking of moving your business or considering starting a new enterprise, please consider researching your options. We will find the right spot for you.
Chairing the Village of Skokie Economic Development Commission
