Client: Brighton Economic Development Corporation

The Brighton Economic Development Corporation (EDC) retained Gruen Gruen + Associates (GG+A) to prepare an economic development strategic plan and supporting research and analyses. GG+A conducted market and economic research and analysis to assess the key conditions and trends affecting Brighton. This research and analysis, such as forecasts of nonresidential growth and a fee comparison to competitive communities, was directed toward providing an information base and strategic framework for ongoing economic development programs and initiatives. A primary objective of the study includes the identification of opportunities and constraints for attracting and retaining desirable businesses and the identification of the comparative advantages these target industries derive from locations within Brighton.

GG+A prepared an extensive technical report that covers an analysis of the change in Brighton’s population and household base; and an analysis and description of trends in Ogle County’s jobs-housing relationships and labor force and housing characteristics The report includes a profile Brighton’s economic base and position in the regional economy. The report reviews the market area within which Brighton competes for businesses; the geographic origins of the firms that have moved into industrial and office space within the market area; the comparative advantages Brighton provides or could create or improve to help businesses succeed; and real estate market conditions. The report also presents an analysis of retailing conditions in Brighton to: (a) compile an information base on retail sales activity; (b) complete an assessment of the relative strengths and weaknesses of Brighton’s retailing base; and (c) forecast the scale of potential future retail space demand based on population growth. The report presents a forecast of employment by economic sector and a forecast of the demand for office and industrial space.

GG+A prepared a strategic plan that included recommendations for budget and staffing based on an analysis of resources allocated to economic development by other area communities and an estimate of the staff and budget that could be allocated for economic development in Brighton based on the benchmarking measures presented. The plan also details a recruitment, retention, and expansion program and provided interview and survey guides for the program. The plan also includes strategic recommendations related to zoning changes and development fees. The recommendations were backed up by an analysis of the demand for industrial and retail land and an analysis and comparison of typical development related fees such as impact fees for Brighton and competing communities.