Arlington Heights

Q. What signs of economic turnaround do you see in the community your chamber serves?A: Business owners are more optimistic and positive about their business recently. They are beginning to implement marketing strategies again. Consumers are starting to search for value and are feeling a bit less afraid than last year of what the economy will do.Q. Identify one project that is an example of that turnaround.A: The chamber's networking events attendance has increased and our marketing co-op programs have also increased in benefits and in participation from members.Q. What type of new development will be most prevalent? Retail, residential, industrial, office or something else?A: I think we are a ways off from any new development.Q. How optimistic are you that vacant storefronts and office buildings will be filled during this turnaround? Why or why not?A: We need to implement a better plan to recruit, assist and retain our small businesses in Arlington Heights. The chamber is developing a program that will help a potential small business owner through all the steps needed to make that happen.Q. What do you think local, state and/or national government leaders could do to enhance the recovery?A: Stop making laws that hinder small businesses and give incentives to small businesses to hire people who are currently on unemployment by supplementing their hourly wage to make up the difference in benefits.Q. Is there any pending legislation at those levels you particularly support? Any you oppose?A: Oppose - Health care reform as it currently stands. I believe the system needs to be reformed but not by the politicians who hide behind a better plan than most of us have or will have access to. Let the marketplace reform the system and provide tax breaks to those who enroll in HSA accounts and manage their own health care needs. Get those people who are uninsurable on the federal insurance plan and let the politicians pay for the premium increases it will cause.Q. Do you agree that this will be a jobless recovery or are the suburbs more or less immune to that?A: I know of friends who are currently on unemployment that cannot afford to go back to work because the hours are just not there for the hourly employee. They would loose money by going back to work. This is where the unemployment system could save money and supplement the difference to encourage small businesses to hire and those on unemployment to seek those jobs. These are the situations that will contribute to a jobless recovery.Q. What is your chamber doing to best position its membership for the economic rebound? A: Our "My Town - Arlington Heights" program is focused at educating the local residents and those who work here to support the local businesses. We are doing this by encouraging them to become a consumer member of the chamber as a My Town cardholder and then they will have access to exclusive online discounts from our local chamber members.We also are working to establish a strategic marketing education program to help business owners develop a marketing plan and budget to best understand and implement online and social media venues.Q. What is your town's biggest economic development wish?A: The village is looking to reopen the Sheraton Hotel, develop some vacant land located at the south end and in the downtown. The chamber is more focused at filling empty storefronts with new small businesses and helping to retain those who are already here.Q. What is your community's single greatest asset or selling point to potential developers?A: A professional, progressive and proactive chamber of commerce that works very well with the local government to maximize the opportunities for the business community.Q. Have the challenges presented by the current downtown forced you and your community to approach economic development differently? What are the changes and how well are they working?A: The chamber has become more focused at business-to-consumer marketing along with providing systems and resources to business owners to help them be more successful and their businesses be more profitable. Listening to the business owners and what they need is the foundation to developing and implementing economic growth for them and will serve as a recruiting tool.