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Record of Proceedings

Oswego Economic Development Commission Meeting – October 7, 2026

Village Board & Commissions — Wednesday, October 7, 2026
BodyOswego, Illinois
SessionVillage Board & Commissions
DateWednesday, October 7, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 30:12

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:25

I am.

0:26

I am the master.

Speaker 2

0:27

You are the Jedi.

Unassigned speaker

0:36

Sure.

Speaker 1

0:42

No.

0:45

There's two sides here.

0:46

Two little buttons.

0:47

So

Speaker 3

0:48

it would be uh whatever side you're using now, I think that meets everybody.

0:51

Yeah.

0:52

Try to use the other

Unassigned speaker

0:53

one.

Speaker 1

0:54

This one?

Speaker 4

0:55

Yep.

Unassigned speaker

0:56

There you go.

Speaker 1

0:57

Is that better?

Speaker 4

1:02

Yeah, look at that.

Speaker 5

1:03

Okay.

Speaker 1

1:05

Laura's here.

Speaker 4

1:06

All right.

1:06

Laura's here.

Speaker 1

1:08

Now we can officially start.

1:11

Okay.

1:11

I'm gonna once again I'll call this to order in roll call, Angie, please.

Unassigned speaker

1:16

Ken?

Speaker 1

1:16

Yes.

Speaker 6

1:18

Here?

Unassigned speaker

1:19

Kevin Mike?

Unassigned speaker

1:21

Here.

Unassigned speaker

1:22

Andy Clement.

Speaker 7

1:23

Here.

Speaker 2

1:24

Raphael Ovafemi?

1:27

Bill?

Speaker 4

1:29

Here.

Speaker 2

1:29

Laura Witt.

1:30

Here.

1:33

Dowick?

1:34

Did I do that?

1:35

Say that

Unassigned speaker

1:36

right?

Speaker 8

1:39

Okay,

Speaker 2

1:39

do we

Speaker 8

1:40

had a stomach ache, so we won't be coming through.

Speaker 2

1:42

Okay.

1:42

And Kushan.

Speaker 8

1:44

Yeah.

Speaker 2

1:45

I apologize for the pronunciation.

1:47

So we're missing Dave.

1:49

And

Speaker 1

1:52

Dave.

1:55

Dave, right?

1:56

That's it.

Unassigned speaker

1:58

I

Speaker 2

1:58

think that's right, right?

1:59

Date, yeah.

2:00

Just Dave.

2:01

Okay.

Speaker 1

2:02

Okay, and he's slacking today, so.

Speaker 2

2:05

Yeah.

Speaker 1

2:07

The uh next thing on the agenda is approval of the minutes as of August 5th 2026.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Economic Development█████████████████████████████████████████████51%
Procedural████████9%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████9%
Business Awards███████8%
Public Engagement████5%
Business Retention████5%
Personnel Matters████4%
Business Concierge███3%
Investment Policy███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Oswego Economic Development Commission Meeting – October 7, 2026

The Oswego Economic Development Commission (EDC) met on October 7, 2026 at 6:00 PM in Village Hall. The meeting covered financial incentive updates, approval of 2027 meeting dates, planning for a small business development event, business of the month nominations, business retention visits, and a detailed director’s report on major projects and upcoming initiatives.

Consent Calendar

  • Unanimously approved the August 5, 2026 meeting minutes.

Discussion Items

  • Financial Incentive Requests (Kevin – Economic Development Director): Kevin reported on four recently approved grants: $5,000 for the Wilhelm building (retaining wall rehab); two grants for 8 and 12 West Washington (commercial building renovations); and a $40,000 grant for Hell’s Barbecue at the former Donnelly’s location (fire suppression and exterior work for a smoker). The tenant is investing about $100,000 and the landlord a separate project; opening is estimated late 2026 to early 2027.
  • Proposed 2027 Meeting Dates: Unanimously approved bi-monthly dates: February 3, April 7, June 2, August 4, October 6, and December 1, 2027.
  • Small Business Development Event (October 28, 2026): Kevin described a free-flow open house at the Oswego Public Library, 6:00–8:00 PM, featuring resource partners (SBDC, SCORE, Illinois WorkNet, veteran/minority/women-owned business centers). The event aims to connect entrepreneurs and small businesses with support organizations. EDC members were encouraged to attend.
  • Business of the Month Nominations: Kevin presented the current slate of nine nominees (Air Dynamics, Alpha Cleaners, Bartell’s Auto Clinic, First National Bank, Impact Sports Rehab, LPS Pavement Co., Raising Cane’s, SurfPro, Yo’s Barbershop). The commission agreed to push votes out for October–December selections without additional nominations.
  • Business Retention & Expansion Visits: Kevin completed a visit to Lumen Creek Studios (candle shop) and is working on signage and access improvements. He also updated on Dill of Dogs (no delay, going through liquor license process) and noted a neighbor (Bill) offered to split cost for a parking lot light timer.
  • Updated EDC Talking Points & Business Resource Guide: Kevin distributed an updated Talking Points document (community development highlights and commercial projects) and the new Village of Oswego Business Resource Guide. Multiple commissioners praised the guide and suggested uses (e.g., in new member packets).
  • Economic Development Director’s Report: Kevin reported on the following:
    • Attending the ICSC Chicago retail trade show (one-day event with 8–9 meetings).
    • The BRE survey will be sent to ~90% of businesses later this month; results expected at December meeting to shape future programs.
    • Project updates: Holy Granoli (build-out started, opening this year), Billybrooks (end of 2026), Elwood (permits issued, construction soon), Hell’s Barbecue (permits submitted), Trader Joe’s (sign installed, grand opening mid-to-early November), Home Goods (early 2027), Club Car Wash (approved by village board, plans to submit), new shopping center (10,000 sq ft retail at Orchard & Lewis, broker meeting tomorrow).
    • Dutch Bros coffee (permit holdup resolved, construction likely in 2027).
    • Cricket stadium (Parash) – early dirt work underway using free clay from JNS Construction; phase one final engineering review in progress.
    • Indo Gov Domini project still working on financing.
  • New EDC Member Appointments: Kevin mentioned that after vetting applications, Village President Kaufman selected two prospective members. Appointments are expected at the December meeting.
  • Needle and Groove: A larger space was found for the business, keeping them in Oswego.

Key Outcomes

  • Minutes of August 5, 2026 approved.
  • 2027 meeting dates unanimously approved.
  • Small business development event confirmed for October 28, 2026; EDC members encouraged to attend.
  • Business of the Month votes to be sent out for October, November, December from the current slate.
  • BRE survey to be distributed this month; results to be reported later.
  • Two new EDC members likely appointed in December.
  • Meeting adjourned at 6:31 PM.

Meeting Transcript

I am. I am the master. You are the Jedi. Sure. No. There's two sides here. Two little buttons. So it would be uh whatever side you're using now, I think that meets everybody. Yeah. Try to use the other one. This one? Yep. There you go. Is that better? Yeah, look at that. Okay. Laura's here. All right. Laura's here. Now we can officially start. Okay. I'm gonna once again I'll call this to order in roll call, Angie, please. Ken? Yes. Here? Kevin Mike? Here. Andy Clement. Here. Raphael Ovafemi? Bill? Here. Laura Witt. Here. Dowick? Did I do that? Say that right? Okay, do we had a stomach ache, so we won't be coming through. Okay. And Kushan. Yeah. I apologize for the pronunciation. So we're missing Dave. And Dave.

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