DuPage County Economic Development Committee Meeting, Tuesday 4/21/26

The DuPage County Economic Development Committee met on April 21, 2026, to discuss ongoing economic development initiatives and workforce training programs. A key procurement-related topic was the Connect DuPage program, a county-funded initiative launched in 2023 with an initial $50,000 ARPA grant, designed to increase visibility and business readiness of small and diverse local suppliers. The program includes a supplier portal that connects small businesses with larger regional employers to facilitate procurement opportunities. The committee reviewed the program's progress, including transitioning the portal in-house to improve efficiency and reporting, conducting 25 educational and networking events with over 2,100 participants, and registering 143 businesses on the portal. A motion was passed to approve a $30,000 grant request to continue funding the program for the current year. Additionally, the committee discussed state workforce grants supporting social media interns who promote local career paths and employers, highlighting the importance of marketing and outreach to enhance supplier engagement and procurement opportunities for small businesses in DuPage County.