Elmhurst's Marketing Group Gets Five-month Contract

Written by Carol Kania Morency

The repeated claim during Monday night's Elmhurst City Council meeting was that the debate over Findzall Community Marketing's contract extension had nothing to do with Findzall's efforts. Rather, it had everything to do with a need to review how Elmhurst markets itself to businesses and to shoppers. The night ended with aldermen approving a five-month extension of Findzall's contract.

Still, not all aldermen were originally on board with the five-month option. The Development, Planning and Zoning Committee last week issued two reports dealing with the contract. The majority report recommended a year extension, citing the need to “retain and protect our current businesses while promoting continued economic development.”

Speaking for that report, 5th Ward Alderman Scott Levin on Monday noted that the contract could be terminated at any time with a 60-day notice.

A minority report from the DPZ, however, pushed the five-month extension. Third Ward Alderman Dannee Polomsky authored this report and told the council Monday that the shorter contract time would allow the city to at least begin a complete evaluation of its marketing efforts, ideally with the help of Elmhurst College students.

The city had economic development experts on staff until 2009, when two positions were eliminated due to budget constraints. Since then, the city has contracted with Findzall to be the point of contact for businesses interested in re-locating to Elmhurst. Findzall also reaches out to businesses that might be good additions to the city and maintains online, email and social media communications about doing business in or visiting Elmhurst. 

Findzall's contract is for $85 an hour for an average of eight hours per week, with total hours not to exceed 208 hours during the five-month period.

In January, Polomsky and Alderman Kevin York asked city staff to look at all marketing efforts, identify any overlap and explore if the city needed to spend more money on business and customer attraction.

First Ward Alderman Diane Gutenkauf agreed that a full-scale review of how the city presents itself to businesses and visitors was needed.

“If we believe economic development is a priority, we should prove it by devoting resources to it,” she said.

Third Ward Alderman Michael Bram broached the subject of Findzall's performance, saying that while he was not satisfied that the company had adequately quantified how it was helping the city attract and retain business, he was not sure whose fault that was.

Levin said that Findzall reported to Assistant City Manager Mike Kopp, and that he has been “very satisfied with their services,” adding that contracting this work out has been “cost effective.”

Polomsky eventually convinced a majority of alderman to support the minority report; the final vote to accept the report was unanimous. The contract with Findzall will receive final approval at the next City Council meeting. 

Findzall's association with the City of Elmhurst has been the topic of much debate over the years. For more history, click here.