Park Forest Mayor John Ostenburg greets CSEDC Quarterly Forum attendees on July 27 at Freedom Hall.
Assistant Economic Development Director Sandra Zoellner provided workforce and economic development updates on the Village of Park Forest at CSEDC’s Summer Quarterly Forum on July 27 at Freedom Hall. Companies such as Image Works Manufacturing provide job training in partnership with Prairie State College and Rich Township. Additional workforce partnerships/employers include Etsy with South Suburban College, Vintrendi Wines, and Essations. Click here for her presentation slides on additional businesses. Ms. Zoellner is responsible for community vitality, advancing Park Forest for retail/commercial, residential, and industrial retention, expansion, and recruitment.
Calumet Park Deputy Village Clerk Teri Raney joined Ms. Zoellner, CSEDC and four other communities to participate in Select Chicago Southland’s retail development objectives at conferences such as RECon. There, the group met with more than 30 vendors, restaurants, stores, and developers last May. Next year’s RECON will be at the Las Vegas Convention Center, May 19, 2019 through May 22, 2019, and Ms. Raney invited communities to join them on collaborative efforts to bring retail development to the Chicago Southland.
Local and global manufacturer Agrati CEO Phil Johnson shared information about his fastener manufacturing company. Park Forest’s partnership with Agrati, along with workforce development support has resulted in them providing 150 jobs in the village. Click here for Agrati’s company profile.
On a different note, Professor of Management Dr. Olu ljose from the College of Business at Governors State University shared information about GSU’s Center for Global Supply Chain and International Business. Set to open in August 2018, the center was established to help businesses and government agencies solve complex global supply chain and international business problems. Click here for his presentation slides.
CSEDC/SSMMA Director of Economic Development Reggie Greenwood has been working on attracting industrial and retail foreign investment in the region. He attended the 2018 Select USA Investment Summit in Washington D.C., which had more than 3,000 participants from 66 international markets and 51 U.S. states and territories. CSEDC also pursued meetings with firms who are developing e-commerce and logistics facilities for consumer products and fresh food.
CSEDC thanks Park Forest Mayor John Ostenburg for hosting the forum at Freedom Hall, where he invited attendees to come back for the 2018-2019 concert series.
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