Partnership looks to downtown Joliet development
By bob okon bokon@stmedianetwork.com September 17, 2012 11:04PM
The Joliet Route 66 Diner opened in July at t 22 W. Clinton St. The City Center Partnership, which promotes and markets downtown Joliet, plans to hire a professional economic developer. File photo | Sun-Times Media
Updated: November 19, 2012 2:28PM
JOLIET — The Joliet City Center Partnership looks to launch a private sector development effort to complement the public sector activity downtown.
The City Center Partnership, which promotes and markets downtown, plans to hire a professional economic developer.
“When the public sector starts making investments, this is really the time to step up the efforts in the private market,” said John Greuling, chief executive of the Will County Center for Economic Development.
The CED, which works on economic development countywide, is affiliated with the City Center Partnership.
Greuling noted two big public projects downtown: the transportation center being developed by the city of Joliet and the new building that will expand Joliet Junior College’s downtown campus.
The City Center Partnership last week announced it plans to hire an economic development professional at the same time that it announced the departure of longtime Vice President Tom Mahalik.
Mahalik had served as the staff executive for the group for 15 years and led the efforts to promote downtown as an entertainment destination.
Greuling said the City Center Partnership will continue to play its role in promoting downtown events.
“All of the activities that they have been involved in will go on,” he said. “The expansion will be into the economic development effort.”
The City Center Partnership is funded with a special tax on downtown businesses that generates about $250,000 a year.
