Downers Grove Economic and Development Corporation

How Michael Cassa and his team promote business growth in the community

PHOTO BY CAROLINA MENAPACE

Anne Healy, Associate Publisher, had the opportunity to interview Michael Cassa, President and CEO of the Downers Grove Economic Development Corporation and Downers Grove Visitors Bureau, regarding their mission to enhance the economic vitality of the Village. As a seasoned veteran with nearly 30 years in economic development, Michael is the 1st Vice Chairman of the Illinois Economic Development Association (IEDA) and the Chairman of the 2022 IEDA Annual Economic Development Summit. He also is a member of the International Economic Development Council Public Policy Committee and was a participant in the two most recent White House Forums on Economic Development.

At a high level, what role does The Downers Grove Economic Development Corporation play within the Village of Downers Grove?

The Downers Grove Economic Development Corporation (DGEDC) is the official agency for economic development and tourism for the Village of Downers Grove. We are celebrating our 15th Anniversary this year. Our goal is to enhance the economic vitality of the Village of Downers Grove through the retention, expansion, and attraction of business that is conducive to improving the quality of life in Downers Grove.

One key component of the mission of the DGEDC is attracting corporate and division headquarters. What do you consider some of the key wins in this area? Any that you were disappointed in losing to another town?

There have been so many corporate and division headquarters office projects in the last ten years. Here are just a few: Advocate Health Care, Crown Castle, Ensono, Fresh Thyme, Glanbia plc, Instant Brands, NEC Display Solutions, Syngenta International AG, and Univar. Downers Grove was the runnerup on the competition to land the corporate headquarters for Caterpillar a few years ago. They ended up locating in Deerfield. But we tried hard to win that deal.

Competition among communities is intense for attracting new companies. What are the crucial elements that Downers Grove offers these companies to make our community their home?

Downers Grove is a premier location for business. We are home to many corporate and regional headquarters. In addition to Class A office parks, Downers Grove has sites for commercial and industrial tenants and opportunities for redevelopment projects. Downers Grove is located in the heart of the I-88 and I-355 corridors. O’Hare and Midway Airports are less than thirty minutes away. Three Metra stations, including one in our vibrant downtown, serve our community. Downers Grove has seven hotels, including two fullservice hotels. Downers Grove is also home to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, which has the only Level One trauma center in DuPage County.

How does the community benefit from new businesses and their investment in our town?

New business investment in our community creates tax revenue for local government, including the Village of Downers Grove, the school and park districts, and several others. These revenues, which help pay for public services for our residents, include sales taxes, food and beverage taxes, and real estate taxes. In addition, these business projects create jobs for area residents.

How does DGEDC work with Downtown Management Group, Chamber630, and other organizations within the area?

The DGEDC has an excellent working relationship with the Downtown Management Corporation (DMC) and the Chamber. All three organizations have seats on each other’s boards. We are an Executive Partner level member with the Chamber, and we work with the DMC on business projects for the downtown. I am a past board member of the Grove Foundation. Thea DGEDC participates in and sponsors Grove Foundation events such as Passport to Dining and their golf outing. I am a member of the Rotary Club, and the DGEDC is a sponsor of their signature event: GroveFest.

There seems to be an inventory of commercial property in specific areas such as Grove Shopping Center or Meadowbrook Shopping Center with low retention rates. How does the DGEDC implement strategies to attract tenants?

The occupancy rate for commercial retail properties in Downers Grove is at 90%, according to CoStar, which is the nation’s largest database of commercial properties. There are 5,202,000 sq. ft. of commercial property in Downers Grove, and some older shopping centers have struggled in recent years. Virtually every town has one or two older shopping centers that have difficulty attracting and retaining tenants. In Downers Grove, those are the Grove Shopping Center and Meadowbrook.

tenants. The DGEDC has made redevelopment and revitalization of these commercial centers a high priority.

The Grove Shopping Center on 75th Street is the largest retail center in Downers Grove. Redevelopment of the center is a long-term priority for the community. The center was initially planned as a major regional mall with substantial parking. The fundamental problem is that it is too large for an open-air center. However, the owner of the in-line space has made improvements to the façade, which has helped stabilize the tenant base. Meadowbrook is on 63rd Street and is also a redevelopment priority. The center’s owner has also made façade improvements and has attracted some new

Who are our main competitors within the area? If they are looking at Downers Grove, what other towns are typically “in the running” as well?

We primarily compete with neighboring municipalities in our “trade area,” including Oak Brook, Westmont, Darien, Lombard, Woodridge, and Lisle for commercial projects. As for Class A office projects, we primarily compete with Oak Brook, Naperville, Lisle, and the City of Chicago. Downers Grove is in the I-88 industrial submarket, and so we compete with all the municipalities in the I-88 corridor on industrial projects.

The Downers Grove Visitors Bureau is part of the DGEDC. What is their role?

An essential part of the local economy in the Village of Downers Grove is the tourism market. Visitors to our community contribute significantly to enhancing the customer base of several commercial segments, including lodging, dining, and shopping. These non-resident customers generate tax revenues for the Village. The Downers Grove Economic Development Corporation promotes tourism through the Downers Grove Visitors Bureau (DGVB).

The importance of overnight stays in our hotels cannot be overstated. Downers Grove has seven hotels that have 1,235 combined rooms. Hotel guests not only generate local hotel tax revenue, but they eat at local restaurants. There are 160 restaurants in Downers Grove. The Downers Grove Visitors Bureau also promotes local attractions such as the Downers Grove Golf Club and the Tivoli Theatre.

The DGEDC launched the Partnership for Prosperity campaign to secure new investors. Did this have a positive impact?

The DGEDC launched Partnership for Prosperity (PFP) to secure financial support from area companies and organizations. PFP invites local stakeholders to become “Investors,” which is what we call our members. While most investors support our work and become part of the DGEDC team, there are some “perks” such as recognition on our website, an invitation to DGEDC events, and referrals. Investors not only provide financial support, but they also contribute their time and expertise. In no small part, our success is due to the support of our public and private sector Investors.

You are celebrating ten years as the President of the DGEDC this summer. What accomplishments are you most proud of from the last ten years?

There are so many projects I take pride in, including the Rexnord manufacturing and division headquarters in the Ellsworth Business Park, Bridge Point on Finley Road, and the ongoing project of Flavorchem to develop a corporate campus in the Oak Grove Commons Business Park. I am also proud of the many commercial and auto dealer projects on Ogden Avenue. And, of course, Cooper’s Hawk, which not only opened a new restaurant and winery in Downers Grove, they moved their corporate headquarters here and built a new distribution center. These projects would not have been possible without the support of the companies themselves, the DGEDC Board of Directors, and the team at the Village of Downers Grove. But I guess I am most proud of the DGEDC staff that work so hard: Lisa Wentzell, Millie Swift, and Barb Wysocki. ■