Borek: Tim Suter to keynote DCEDC annual dinner

Tim Suter, president and CEO of The Suter Co. Inc., will be the featured speaker at the DeKalb County Economic Development Corp.’s 32nd annual Dinner and State of the County event Thursday, Nov. 21, at Faranda’s Banquet Center in DeKalb.

Suter will discuss the business of the Sycamore-based, third‐generation food processor during the evening’s keynote address, highlighting factors that have contributed to the company’s success.

The Suter Co. Inc. provides innovative food solutions throughout the U.S. and Canada. Products include canned poultry, as well as chicken, tuna, ham and egg salads for restaurants, schools, hospitals and other food service operators. Refrigerated salads are prepared for restaurant chains, supermarket delis, sandwich makers and warehouse clubs. Shelf-stable lunch and snack kits are produced and co-packed for leading retail brands sold by supermarkets, wholesale clubs, dollar stores and vending companies.

Recently, Suter completed a major addition to its production, packaging and distribution facility on Bethany Road in the Sycamore Prairie Business Park. This was the company’s fourth expansion in the past 10 years.

Tim Suter and his 280 employees actively engage in the local community, providing countless volunteer hours and financial support to dozens of nonprofit and service organizations throughout DeKalb County.

The DCEDC event will begin with high-level networking among business professionals and countywide stakeholders at an exhibitor’s showcase reception from 5 to 6:30 p.m. A select number of exhibit spaces are available to DCEDC members. Contact the DCEDC on or before Oct. 31 to select your spot.

Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m., followed at 7:40 p.m. by the State of the County presentation, highlighting development projects and initiatives throughout the county, and the keynote address at 8 p.m.

Reservations are available online through Nov. 14 on the DCEDC website, www.dcedc.org.

Support economic development through DCEDC fundraising campaign

The DCEDC is entering into the final stages of its 2019 fundraising campaign. As a public/private partnership working to facilitate sustainable and diversified economic growth in DeKalb County, the DCEDC relies on membership contributions from private businesses and individuals supported by grants and service contracts with DeKalb County government, the cities of DeKalb and Sycamore, and other municipalities and taxing bodies.

DCEDC’s contributions to economic development over the past 32 years have been significant. Five of the eight largest taxpayers and employers in the city of DeKalb and DeKalb County (3M, Target, Nestle, Panduit and Goodyear) were attracted and expanded through the efforts of the DCEDC public/private partnership.

During this period, the number of industrial parks in DeKalb County increased from three to 13, the size of the industrial market more than doubled from 7.3 million to more than 15 million square feet and nearly 15,000 jobs were created.

Business attraction and expansion is a complex undertaking, with intense competition from cities, counties, states and countries. Each year, the DCEDC prepares more than 30 detailed proposals and presentations to site selectors, developers and corporate executives, addressing numerous specific requirements for land, transportation, utilities, labor, supplier industries, operating costs and incentives.

At any given time, the DCEDC is working with significant prospects that would dramatically improve the economy of the city and county, including projects presently under consideration at the ChicagoWest Business Center in DeKalb.

To improve our competitiveness, the DCEDC coordinated the creation of DeKalb County’s first Enterprise Zone and Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS Plan) with the county, member municipalities and businesses in partnership with the DeKalb County Community Foundation, Northern Illinois University’s Center for Governmental Studies and the DeKalb County Farm Bureau.

DeKalb County Thriving! CEDS Plan implementation teams are addressing the plan’s five major goals:

• Ensuring DeKalb County has a talent pipeline that meets the needs of workers and employers

• Identifying and recruiting target industries

• Creating a business climate in DeKalb County that contributes to business success

• Branding and promoting the “DeKalb County Experience” focusing on the county’s unique assets

• Collaborating countywide to maximize the economic health of all communities

Tax-deductible contributions to these economic development initiatives can be made at www.dcedc.org or by calling Karen Hoyle at 815-895-2711.

• Paul Borek is executive director of the DeKalb County Economic Development Corp.