Brown’s Plan Includes Establishment of Economic Development Roundtable, Job Creation and a Small Business Tax Incentive
Brown Seeks to Revitalize the 1st Time Homeowners Program and Provide Mortgage Foreclosure
Dorothy Brown speaks to reporters.
CHICAGO—Focused on ending years of “weak regional planning’ Dorothy Brown, Candidate for Cook County Board President laid out her strategic six-point economic plan that will create jobs, encourage small businesses and save taxpayer dollars.
“Now is not the time for government to balance the budget on the backs of its citizens, but it is time to create opportunities for the entire boat to rise through job creation that will ultimately expand the property and sales taxes base,” said Brown during the press conference to release her fourth position paper released.
The current recession has taken a huge toll on workers and their families. As of September 2009, the official unemployment rate in Illinois was 10.5%, and even higher in Cook County (10.6%). Just one year ago, in September 2008, the unemployment rate in Cook County was 6.6%. The biggest losers will continue to be in the trade, transportation, utilities and manufacturing sectors.
“As President of the Board of Commissioners, I will implement a six-point program of economic empowerment for Cook County,” said Brown who outlined her six-point plan:
- Establish a South Suburban Airport Authority that provides fair and balanced representation to Cook County and the region;
- Establish an Economic Development Roundtable, consisting of village presidents and suburban mayors, to coordinate economic empowerment strategies and distribute the benefits of development more equitably.
- Grant periodic Sales Tax Holidays for consumers and businesses to spur economic recovery;
- Provide incentives for small business development by creating a Small Business Administration Office and by offering property tax rebates to job-creating small enterprises;
- Reform the suburban Workforce Investment Boards to ensure greater access to job training programs; and
- Encourage the building of more affordable housing throughout the County.
In 2006-07 the City of Chicago approved an ordinance that permitted the City to issue $100 million in single-family mortgage revenue bonds to underwrite the cost of the City’s Mortgage Program. Brown detailed her ideas for strengthening the County’s Down Payment Initiative Program for first-time home buyers.
“As the housing market rebounds, I will work with the Cook County Board of Commissioners to develop a mortgage revenue bond program for suburban Cook County that would be used to help fund the County’s Down Payment Initiative Program,” explained Brown. “The program offers qualified buyers who are eligible to receive assistance, help to meet down payment and closing costs, through a five-year forgivable second mortgage (second lien) held by Cook County.”
Cook County is a great economic dynamo. However, the benefits of Cook County’s prosperity and growth are not always shared by all residents. The County’s government is partially to blame because it has failed to develop comprehensive economic development strategies for the County.
“I will spread the promise of economic opportunity for all of Cook County’s residents,” said Brown. “The future of Cook County belongs to all residents. With my plan, all residents will be able to take advantage of economic opportunities to enjoy the blessings of prosperity.”
*Dorothy Brown has served as Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County for nine years. She is a CPA, has an MBA, holds a law degree, and has the executive management experience and financial background to set Cook County’s financial house in order.
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