March 24, 2020

I am writing on behalf of the Downers Grove Economic Development Corporation (DGEDC) and the Downers Grove Visitors Bureau. Because of the COVID-19 crisis, this is a very difficult time for our families, our neighbors, our businesses, and our community.

I wanted to reach out and provide an update on the DGEDC. Following the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control, and the Executive Orders of the Governor, our staff is working remotely. Our office is closed to the public until further notice. However, you can still reach our staff by leaving a voice mail message at 630.729.0380. You can also email us. My email address is mcassa@dgedc.com. Our staff is checking voice mail and email throughout the day.

In addition, we have postponed indefinitely our Annual Luncheon. The luncheon, which typically has a turnout of more than 200, was scheduled for May 8, 2020 at the DoubleTree Suites. But our top priority is the safety of our investors, our clients, our public and private sector partners, and of course, members of the community.

If you are a local business, or a company considering locating in Downers Grove, the DGEDC is here to assist you. There are links to several business resources and updated information regarding the COVID-19 crisis, on our website: dgedc.com. One of those links is for the Small Business Administration. The SBA is taking applications for Disaster Assistance Loans. Eligible businesses can apply for up to $2 million in low-interest loans.  We will continue to add additional links to our website. The Village of Downers Grove website (downers.us) is another source for up to date information.

Take care and stay well. We are all in this together.