Greater Waukegan Development Coalition

Small Business Support (formerly program development): This program provides technical assistance and various forms of small business support. Key accomplishments this year included assembling a steering committee of leaders of key local institutions and educating/graduating 15 businesses from the inaugural GWDC Community Contracting Procurement Academy.

Ray Bradbury Experience Museum - An experiential museum dedicated to hometown author Ray Bradbury. Programming centers on Ray Bradbury's roots in Waukegan, his role in shaping the 20th century, and his vision for a better future. The museum was closed in Spring of 2023.

Innovates: The GWDC Facility is a remodeled, repurposed 8,000 square foot former police sub-station in downtown Waukegan containing conference/training rooms, meeting spaces, and state-of-the-art networking and telecommunications systems. This facility currently serves as an economic development center. In this fiscal year, it housed all of GWDC's programs, as well as office space for local nonprofits and small businesses.

GWDC Celebrates - A series of multicultural festivals and events that bring residents together to celebrate, build community, and enjoy local downtown and waterfront spaces. No in-person events were held during the 2022 tax year, but planning is in place for an event during the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

SelectChicago - Helps local businesses and economies grow through partnerships with foreign companies and capital from foreign investors in collaboration with communities in the Greater Chicago region. The program is now on hiatus indefinitetly since March.