GOAL: ENHANCE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
STRATEGIC STATEMENT: Leverage the assets of the county – the Lake County Workforce
Ecosystem, skilled talent, diverse communities, and effective infrastructure – to drive
balanced growth, revitalization, economic opportunities, and jobs.
Workforce Ecosystem: A concept used to describe the partnership between local workforce stakeholders such as
the Lake County Workforce Development Department, the College of Lake County and Lake County Partners, who
work together to ensure that local businesses have ready access to the talent that they need to thrive. Stakeholder
organizations/individuals that also play a role in the Workforce Ecosystem: Workforce Investment Board, elected
officials, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), Metra, Pace Suburban Bus, Chambers of Commerce,
Illinois Tollway Authority, Illinois and Lake County Divisions of Transportation, Municipalities, School Districts, etc.
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Targeted Industries: Medical Instruments, Health Care, Bio
Pharma, Professional/ Technology Services, Entrepreneurial Development and Arts/Entertainment/Culture
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Strategy 1: Enhance the economic climate and economic readiness of Lake County.
Action A: Support targeted business outreach strategies to efficiently connect employers in key industries thereby enabling
them to tap into training and continuing education programs and access a reliable pipeline of new talent.
Action B: Utilize business intelligence and market research to enhance and align workforce development strategies with
projected local industry job growth and share this information with local stakeholders.
Action C: Engage all stakeholders including organizations, educational institutions and public bodies in the Workforce
Ecosystem and ensure that they are effectively aligned to cooperatively serve the business community.
Action D: Ensure retention and foster growth of the county’s private employers to harness Lake County’s human capital
potential.
Action E: Understand and meet the needs of emerging demographic groups, such as young professionals by continuing to
make significant investments in the Leadership Lake County initiative.
Action F: Align economic opportunities with county and municipal infrastructure investment strategies, and continue to
invest in transportation projects each year to help sustain a high-quality of life and ensure continued economic development.
Strategy 2: Increase collaboration and cooperation with other units of local government to
cultivate integrated economic development and redevelopment.
Action A: Work with target communities to encourage new and innovative development methods and offer assistance with
data and information on retention and redevelopment opportunities.
Action B: Lead a countywide initiative to continuously evaluate and pursue a competitive incentives framework.
Action C: Support local and regional economic development through the use and analysis of data.
Action D: Engage and convene economic development leaders and stakeholders, including chambers of commerce and local
high schools, to share business intelligence, discuss best practices, and promote collaboration to advance economic and
workforce development initiatives.
Action E: Focus on development and redevelopment opportunities that maximize the utilization of existing infrastructure.
Action F: Identify barriers to retention and redevelopment and assess the resources available for stimulating redevelopment.
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