McHenry County

What McHenry County does

McHenry County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) is a 501c6 nonprofit, public/private partnership headquartered in Crystal Lake, Illinois, dedicated to attracting, retaining, and expanding businesses across McHenry County's 28 municipalities and 10,000+ businesses. The organization operates a portfolio of business-support programs including CEO and Emerging Leaders peer groups, the Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) workshop, Strong Transitions advising for business succession, the Riverwalk Shoppes and Huntley Shops on Main physical small-business incubators, and the annual 400-attendee networking dinner. Its core staff is lean — only Executive Director Mark Piekos and Marketing & Outreach Manager Krista Coltrin are disclosed — and revenue is funded by recurring investor contributions from approximately 20+ local businesses, banks, healthcare systems, and educational institutions.

Name

McHenry County

Legal name

McHenry County Economic Development Corporation

Website

https://mchenrycountyedc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MCEDC is a 501c6 nonprofit economic development corporation that attracts, retains, and expands businesses across McHenry County, Illinois, delivering peer groups, entrepreneurship programs, and small-business incubators funded by a coalition of local business investors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Crystal Lake

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Investor/Membership Program: MCEDC operates as a 501c6 entity funded by investor contributions from local businesses, financial institutions, and organizations. The MCEDC Foundation is a 501c3 entity. Investors include companies like ComEd, Mercy Health, Flocon, JA Group, SCOT Forge, Marshall Wolf Automation, and various banks.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MCEDC is a nonprofit economic development corporation that attracts, retains, and expands businesses in McHenry County, Illinois. It delivers one-on-one business advising, peer leadership groups, entrepreneurship and business transition programs, small business incubators, workforce development coordination, and international trade support through the Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership. Services are funded by an investor/membership base of local businesses, banks, healthcare and energy companies, and are delivered at no cost to participants.

Product overview

The McHenry County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) operates as an economic development organization rather than a traditional technology product company. The organization offers a portfolio of business support programs including peer groups (CEO Peer Group, Emerging Leaders), entrepreneurship programs (Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition, Strong Transitions, Transition Advising), and small business incubators (McHenry Riverwalk Shoppes, Huntley Shops on Main). Additional services include a Data Dashboard for regional statistics, a Resource Library, and the monthly Development Digest newsletter. The ecosystem is connected through the Economic Development Growth Experts (EDGE) Group bringing together chamber leaders and municipal partners for quarterly coordination.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• McH Thrive: A collaborative initiative between McHenry County and MCEDC focused on community development and economic growth.
• Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA)
• Strong Transitions
• CEO Peer Group
• Emerging Leaders Peer Group
• Navigating Global Trade
• Economic Development Growth Experts (EDGE) Group

Products and services

• CEO Peer Group Peer group for CEOs and business leaders in McHenry County to connect, share insights, and address common business challenges.
• Emerging Leaders Peer Group Monthly peer group connecting rising professionals to develop leadership skills and expand professional networks.
• Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) 8-week workshop covering business acquisition from identifying opportunities to negotiating, financing, and leading an acquired company.
• Strong Transitions Program providing confidential, one-on-one guidance for business owners considering retirement, sale, or transition to the next generation.
• Transition Advising Confidential advisory service helping business owners assess readiness, build transition teams, and prepare exit strategies at no cost.
• Navigating Global Trade Program helping businesses understand and navigate international trade opportunities and requirements.
• McHenry Riverwalk Shoppes Small business incubator consisting of 10 tiny-house buildings in Miller Point Park where entrepreneurs can operate brick-and-mortar storefronts seasonally.
• Huntley Shops on Main Small business incubator program in Huntley with ten businesses operating seasonally (May to December).
• Direct Business Attraction, Retention, and Expansion Services Personalized consulting and direct engagement provided by MCEDC staff to businesses for site selection, expansion planning, incentive navigation, and retention efforts across McHenry County.

Quantifiable outcome

• $353.4 million in visitor spending generated in 2024
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership (GCEP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023GCEP is a first-of-its-kind regional alliance launched in 2023 uniting the City of Chicago with seven surrounding counties (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will) to promote inclusive growth, attract investment, and strengthen Chicagoland's global position. MCEDC participated in a nine-day trade mission to Germany (April 14-22, 2026) as part of GCEP, engaging 70 German businesses and making 73 individual contacts.
• McHenry County College (MCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCC supports workforce development through programs in healthcare, manufacturing, automation, skilled trades, and technology. The college generated $227.2 million in added income for the region in FY 2023-24 and supports 3,202 jobs. MCEDC partners with MCC for the SBDC, University Center, and Foglia Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation.
• Manufacturing Pathways Consortium (MPC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMPC aligns more than 100 manufacturers, 15 educational institutions, and 44 community partners to strengthen the local talent pipeline. The consortium supports manufacturers through initiatives like Common Hiring Application, paid internships for high school students, and career awareness efforts.
• Naturally McHenry CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNaturally McHenry County promotes local businesses, events, and destinations as the county's destination marketing organization. Tourism generated $353.4 million in visitor spending in 2024, supporting 2,195 jobs and contributing $37.5 million in tax revenue.
• McHenry County Workforce NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Workforce Network connects residents to careers and businesses to skilled talent. Over the past year, it supported more than 4,000 individuals, connected 63 employers with 835 job seekers, and reimbursed over $418,000 to local employers for workforce training and internships.
• McHenry County Conservation DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCCD manages 25,800 acres of open space across 35 sites including trails, waterways, and campgrounds that attract visitors, support local businesses, and enhance property values.
• 28 Municipalities in McHenry CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 28 municipalities invest in infrastructure and create environments where development can happen in their cities and villages, working collaboratively with MCEDC on economic development initiatives.
• 9 Chambers of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNine dedicated Chambers of Commerce connect and advocate for local businesses, helping them grow and succeed. MCEDC hosts the Economic Development Growth Experts (EDGE) Group bringing together chamber leaders and municipal economic development professionals.
• World Business ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Business Chicago coordinates the Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership trade missions and international business development efforts.
• German American Chamber of Commerce MidwestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGACC Midwest coordinated international aspects of the GCEP trade mission to Germany in April 2026.
• McHenry County Division of TransportationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCDOT maintains 500 lane miles of roadway and 50 bridges and provides transit services including Pace, MCRide, and Metra connections supporting workforce access and mobility.
• Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic OpportunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough partnerships with the Illinois DCEO's Regional Site Readiness program, MCEDC and McHenry County secured nearly $5 million in site readiness and infrastructure grants, including a $4.6 million investment to extend water and sewer infrastructure near the I-90/IL-23 interchange.
• Region 1 Planning CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional planning council partnering on site readiness and development initiatives.
• McHenry County Department of HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCDOH protects and promotes community health through prevention, inspection, and rapid response services. In 2025, the Department conducted more than 4,500 food inspections, 749 water tests, provided over 1,400 vaccinations, and supported nearly 19,000 vision and hearing screenings.
• McHenry County Farm BureauminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Farm Bureau supports and advocates for the county's agricultural industry through legislative advocacy, support of local food systems, and agricultural education programs like Ag in the Classroom and Ag Expo. In 2024, agriculture generated over $658 million in economic value.
• House of Logistics and Mobility (HOLM) GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrankfurt-based logistics and mobility innovation center visited during the GCEP trade mission to Germany, discussing collaborative opportunities in technology and logistics innovation.
• Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading German technical university visited during trade mission, with meetings on AI-integrated production and automation.
• MAFINEX Technology CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRhine-Neckar region technology center visited during trade mission for innovation and technology discussions.
• American Chamber of Commerce in Germany (ArmCham Germany)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh-level international Board meeting hosted in Baden-Baden bringing together business and diplomatic leaders from the US and Germany.
• HANNOVER MESSE 2026minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld's largest industrial trade fair attended by the GCEP delegation for business-to-business meetings with global companies considering Chicagoland expansion.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce: Regional chamber/EDO hybrid serving the Indianapolis metropolitan area — comparable in combining business advocacy, workforce development, and regional economic development programming under one structure.
• World Business Chicago: City of Chicago's public-private economic development corporation — coordinates the GCEP trade missions in which MCEDC participates; operates similar investor-funded, public-private model at city scale.
• Greater Cleveland Partnership: Large regional chamber/economic development hybrid serving the greater Cleveland area — a broader-scale, more established peer operating with similar attraction, retention, and workforce programs but at a larger geographic scale.

Others

• Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership (GCEP): 9-county regional alliance including McHenry County — both a strategic partner and a higher-level coordinating body that MCEDC participates in for international trade and FDI attraction.
• Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO): State-level economic development agency that provides site readiness funding and incentives to MCEDC and McHenry County — a funding/ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Lake County Partners: County-level economic development organization for Lake County, Illinois, focused on business attraction, retention, and workforce development — a direct peer to MCEDC within the greater Chicagoland region.
• Will County Center for Economic Development: County-level economic development organization for Will County, Illinois, also part of the GCEP alliance — operates similar business attraction, retention, and workforce programs as MCEDC.
• Kane County Development & Community Services Department: Kane County's economic development function, also a GCEP partner county — comparable county-level economic development mandate within the Chicagoland region.
• Choose DuPage: Economic Development Office for DuPage County, Illinois — direct county-level peer within the same GCEP alliance, focused on attracting and retaining businesses in a neighboring Chicagoland county.

Regional players

• Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce: Regional business membership organization serving the broader Chicagoland area — comparable in operating as a public-private, investor-funded business support body, though at a multi-county scale rather than single county.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%F0%9F%93%8A+MCEDC+-+The+Development+Digest+August+2025
• Facebookfacebook.com/McHenry-County-Edc-1036379193079425
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mchenry-county-edc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about McHenry County