Business Licenses and Permits

The City of Elgin, Illinois (IL) has voted to keep its business license program.

Despite calls from those involved in Eglin OCTAVE, a political group that has been lobbying for a repeal of licenses, a unanimous vote at the City Council determined that licenses will stay in the city, the Daily Herald reported.

Chuck Keysor and Craig Mason, co-founders of Elgin OCTAVE, told the newspaper that they weren’t surprised that no one had voted to abolish business licenses.

“I didn’t expect them to repeal it tonight,” Mr. Mason said.

However, officials have made concessions by redistributing business license revenue to the general fund, instead of being used to fund contracts with the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce or the Downtown Neighborhood Association for economic development work.

Through the general fund, money will be used to support programs for small businesses. However, these programs have yet to be identified.

Nonetheless, business opportunities could soon improve in Elgin, as they embark upon regeneration projects.

For example, residents can now apply for a Property Improvement Grant, to improve the standard of their home.

Tags: business license, business licenses, Illinois