Economic Development

ORLAND PARK IS COMMITTED TO RETENTION & EXPANSION

By Chris Walker

Recognizing the challenges of COVID-19, the Village of Orland Park was proactive in approving a series of economic development incentives last summer that remain available today as businesses navigate through adversities related to the pandemic. Non-traditional sales tax sharing programs, back-fill vacant restaurant programs, commercial impact programs, new hotel incentive programs and advanced manufacturing incentives are among the ways the Village’s Board of Trustees decided would stimulate economic development. “The Village board worked closely with staff to establish a range of incentives to assist Orland Park’s businesses that faced economic disruption,” said Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau. “But most importantly, we worked together to keep businesses open during the pandemic. We are committed to the continued partnership with our business community as we work together to strengthen the local economy.” The non-traditional sales tax sharing program allows newly established or proposed local sales tax generating industrial developments, as well as existing local sales tax generating industrial developments wishing to expand substantially, the ability to share in sales taxes derived from the applicants’ property or business for less than 50% of the generated sales taxes for 10 years or less. The back-fill vacant restaurant program provides similar incentives as the nontraditional sales tax sharing program for those who re-establish a restaurant in a currently vacant property. Encouraging new commercial growth and development through the temporary reduction and deferral of permit and impact fees, the commercial impact program provides 25% reductions on permit/impact and water tap fees and more. Economic incentives for the development of three- to five-star quality hotels allows applicants to share in transient occupancy taxes derived from the applicant’s property or business in an amount not to exceed 40% of the transient occupancy tax and for not more than 10 years. Advanced manufacturing incentives, including property tax exemption and large business property tax cap also are targeting business owners. Both incentives are directed at owners or applicants of existing advanced manufacturing facilities. There also are ongoing economic development initiatives that are already in place or being added, including a strategic plan for economic development. “Staff is currently completing a market assessment on the Village of Orland Park,” said Alex Scharf, economic development coordinator for the Village of Orland Park. “Information in the report will be used to craft an economic development plan.” In addition, the Village recently created www.buildop.org, a website with information and tools for the business and development community and relaunched the Business Retention & Expansion (BRE) program to proactively connect with existing businesses to better understand and respond to their needs.

In order to participate in the aforementioned program, interested business leaders complete a short online survey that will gather broad information on their business. Utilizing the info in the survey, Village staff will then follow-up with the respective business leaders to discuss how the Village can be a better partner to their business and the larger business community in Orland Park.