Kane County Economic Development Board approves $5,000 for Raising Kane, caps Southwest Tech training at $15,000

The Kane County Economic Development Board voted to award $5,000 to Raising Kane and to set a not-to-exceed $15,000 allocation for Southwest Tech training programs.

A committee member proposed the $5,000 award for Raising Kane and another committee member seconded the motion; the chair called for a voice vote, a voice in the transcript said, “Aye,” and the chair announced the motion passed. "Because we get far more out of that than that $5,000 investment," one committee member said in support of the award.

Board members then turned to Southwest Tech training and agreed to treat it as a separate item. The board set a blanket not-to-exceed amount of $15,000 for Southwest Tech and voted to require the board's approval if costs would exceed that cap. The chair said they would send the contract to board members for information and requested budget numbers ahead of the county commission meeting; a committee member noted the board has until the 18th to provide materials to the commission.

During discussion, members questioned what specific trainings Southwest Tech would provide (examples raised included retail sales training and monthly CPR certification) and whether certified instructors would be available. Board members reviewed recent expense examples mentioned in the discussion — itemized references included past training bundles described as approximately $4,020 and $6,000 for components such as leadership, marketing and consulting classes — and estimated a package would be under $20,000, with the board settling on the $15,000 cap for initial approval.

Members also discussed program interpretation and promotion. One committee member said that earlier marketing bullet points had simplified the program's scope, and others recommended sharing the underlying contract and state guidance so members could see a broader interpretation of eligible activities. The board suggested using promotional follow-up (for example, short videos posted on the county Facebook page) to highlight small-business grant winners and amplify the impact of awards.

The board noted the fiscal-year 2025–26 contract was approved and that the county should receive about $200,000 by the end of the year; staff said they are still spending prior years’ funds and will provide updates via email when funds arrive. Members debated eligible uses of funds and agreed trails and other infrastructure-related projects were more clearly aligned with program goals than sports fields or pickleball courts.

The chair closed by confirming the motions were passed and that follow-up material and the contract would be circulated to the board before the county commission deadline.