Revitalizing Our Downtowns while keeping the small town feel

Our downtowns are more than just a few blocks of shops and sidewalks. They’re where families gather, neighbors connect, we shop local stores and markets, and local pride shows up in everything from community events to amazing events like Wine on the Fox, Yorkville River Fest and our myriad of farmers markets.

That small-town feel is part of what makes Kendall County special. But “small-town” doesn’t have to mean small thinking. Our communities deserve downtowns that are walkable, welcoming, and vibrant, both during the day and after the sun goes down.

Supporting Local Revitalization

Village boards across Kendall County have already put in a lot of hard work through Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts to revitalize their downtown areas and encourage investment. While those projects are led at the municipal level, the county has a role to play in supporting their success.

As a member of the county board, I’ll advocate for stronger collaboration between the county and our municipalities to:

• Coordinate transportation and infrastructure planning to make our downtowns more accessible
• Promote economic development tools that support business attraction and growth
• Identify grant opportunities and resources that help lighten the load for village staff and small businesses
• Ensure county-level decisions align with community-driven goals

Village leaders shouldn’t have to do this work in isolation. The county can be a better partner by showing up with support.

One County, Many Corners

Every township has its own character, and that’s something to celebrate. Whether it’s the Christmas Walk in Oswego, Cruise Nights in Yorkville, or just grabbing a slice at Molina’s in Newark (RIP Geo’s), there’s potential in every corner of the county.

By working together and thinking big, we can help create the kind of places where someone can grab coffee in the morning, take their kids to a pop-up event in the afternoon, and meet friends for dinner or music in the evening, all without leaving town.

This is how we invest in who we are. And it’s how we build the kind of future our kids will be proud to call home.