FAQs

 

What is Re:New DeKalb, Inc.?

 

Who are the leaders of Re:New DeKalb?

 

What are the Re:New Committees?

 

Who are the Re:New DeKalb staff?

 

What is Re:New DeKalb’s relationship to the City of DeKalb?

 

What is Re:New DeKalb’s role in the public improvements project?

 

How is Re:New DeKalb funded?

 

Who are RNDK Financial Contributors?

 

Q:  What is Re:New DeKalb, Inc.?
A:  Re:New DeKalb is a public-private partnership dedicated to downtown economic development and revitalization of DeKalb’s urban core. Recognizing that a vital downtown is the heart of any successful city, the late Mayor Frank Van Buer created Re:New DeKalb as part of a master plan to make DeKalb a better place to live, work and do business.

 

Re:New DeKalb is currently concentrating on the revitalization of Lincoln Highway from Pearl Street to Peace Road and the areas adjacent to the north and south.

The Mission of Re:New DeKalb is to expand, strengthen, and implement the redevelopment efforts in the city of DeKalb’s urban core and related adjacent areas.

Q: Who are the leaders of Re:New DeKalb?
A:  Re:New DeKalb is led by a volunteer Board of Directors and a talented staff. The RNDK Board of Directors is made up of dedicated community members representing the many facets of our community. Many of the board members were originally appointed as task force members to oversee the downtown revitalization plan. Each member of the Board of Directors provides financial support as well as volunteer leadership and service. Board members and other community volunteers provide leadership and service on a variety of committees as well.

ReNew DeKalb Executive Board Members

Frank Roberts — President

Castle Bank — Executive Vice President

Mike Larson — Co-Vice President
Elmer Larson —Vice President & General Manager

Mike Mooney — Co-Vice President
Mike Mooney Chevrolet-Cadillac — President

Tim Lehan — Treasurer
Lehan Drugs — President

Herb Rubin - Secretary
Northern Illinois University — Professor Emeritus

Mark Biernacki
City of DeKalb — City Manager

ReNew DeKalb Board Members

Lisa Angel
NI Publishing — Special Projects Manager

Rosa Balli
Rosita’s & Eduardo’s Mexican Restaurants

Jim Briscoe
DeKalb Public School — Superintendent

Dee Coover
DeKalb Public Library — Director

Alice Freier
DeKalb Clinic — Administrator

Bob Higgerson
National Bank & Trust Company — Senior Vice President

Mary Keys
Resource Bank — Director of Marketing

John Launer
Sports Of All Sorts (S.O.A.S.) — Owner

John Rey
Family Service Agency of DeKalb County — Development Director

Lisa Small
DeKalb Park District — Assistant Director

Brian Scholle
State Farm Insurance — Agent

Chuck Shepard
Shepard Construction — Owner

Denise Weinmann
Milner & Associates — Commercial Realtor

[ top ]

 

Q:  What are the Re:New Committees?
A:  Leadership by community stakeholders is also found in six active committees working with Re:New DeKalb. These committees include the following:

Business Development Committee:
The Business Development Committee works to strengthen the downtown marketplace via business retention, recruitment, and education efforts. The committee examines market research and tracks economic factors to better understand and assist in marketplace strengthening. The committee also works to understand and enhance business clusters and incentive options and needs.

Business Development Committee Members:
Chair — Tim Lehan
Rosa Balli

Jennifer Diedrich
Micki Emmett
Katherine Gannon
John Launer
Staff — Jennifer Groce and Lindsey Engelsman

Enrichment Committee:

The Enrichment Committee works to enhance public improvements/space to reflect DeKalb’s unique history and spirit.

Enrichment Committee Members:
Lisa Angel
Lynn Batalden
Jay Bell
Mark Biernacki
Jo Burke
Jennifer Diedrich
Dee Coover
Derek Hiland
Alex Nerad
Brian Scholle
Lisa Small
Tom Smith
Staff — Jennifer Groce

Property Development:
The Property Development Committee uses the Downtown Plan as the blue print for moving forward to facilitate public improvements and key redevelopment projects (ie streetscape and site redevelopment).

Property Development Committee Members:
Chair — Brian Scholle
Mark Biernacki
Russ Farnum
Frank Roberts
Mike Larson
Staff — Jennifer Groce

 

Design and Standards Committee:
The Design and Standards Committee is a sub committee of the Property Development Committee.  The Design and Standards Committee oversees the Architectural Improvement Program. The committee is also working to address issues of historic preservation, property improvement, codes and zoning.

Design and Standards Committee Members:
Jay Bell
Sally DeFauw
Derek Hiland
Lou Larson

Lisa Small
Staff — Jennifer Groce

 

Communications:
The Communications Committee works to implement a comprehensive communications strategy that raises awareness, encourages input and promotes community participation. RNDK values transparency, community input and dialogue.

Communications Committee Members:

Dee Coover

Alice Freier

Mike Mooney

Frank Roberts

Herb Rubin
Staff — Jennifer Groce and Lindsey Engelsman

Fundraising Committee:
The Fundraising Committee works to develop and implement a long-term sustainable funding plan for RNDK. Two-thirds of our annual operating budget is funded by private contributions from community partners, business owners, residents, major corporations and local organization who care about downtown DeKalb along with special projects and grant funding. Re:New DeKalb’s long-term goal is to be entirely self-sufficient. To that end, the organization is in the second year of a multi-year private fundraising campaign. Re:New DeKalb is pleased to be supported by a broad range of financial partners that recognize the vital importance of the revitalization of the urban core.

Fundraising Committee Members:
Chair — Frank Roberts

John Launer

Mike Larson

Timothy Lehan
Mike Mooney

John Rey

Brian Scholle
Staff — Jennifer Groce

Celebrate Downtown Committee:
Celebrate Downtown is special committee of downtown business owners and stakeholders that are financially invested in the development of downtown Marketing and Special Events. Celebrate Downtown coordinate activities and special events that continue to bring more people downtown on a regular basis.

Celebrate Downtown Members:

ae photography

Blue Moon Balloon Company
Cracker Jax
DeKalb Chamber/CVB

Debutantes School of Cosmetology & Nail Technology
The Confectionary
Ducky’s Formal Wear & Prom Shop
Eduardo’s & Rosita’s
Egyptian Theatre
Glass Gardens
Hearing Help Express
The Hillside Restaurant
Helen’s Hair Designs
Kid Stuff
The Lincoln Inn Family Restaurant & Bakery
MCR Framing
Megan Morrison Home & Garden & Moxie
Mike Mooney —Mike Mooney Chevrolet Pontiac GMC Cadillac, INC
McCabe’s & Andy’s
My Faivret Things
NAPA/NAPA Auto Care DeKalb & Sycamore
National Bank & Trust

O’Leary’s Pub & Grill, Tapa La Luna, Upper Deck
Paperback Grotto

Pilates Plus With Paula
Reyna’s Peluqueria
Royal Travel & Tours, Inc
Sports of All Sorts
Stage Coach Players
Web Girl Web Designs
Womack Photography
Wrights Jewelry
Bill Cornish, North Lane Realty
Staff — Lindsey Engelsman

[ top ]

 

Q:  Who are the Re:New DeKalb staff?

 

A:  The management of Re:New DeKalb is handled by a small staff of capable professionals.

Jennifer L. Groce is the Executive Director of Re:New DeKalb. Since 2003, Jennifer has been actively involved in a variety of economic and community development activities focused on DeKalb’s urban core. She is responsible for a variety of economic development activities including property and business development. Jennifer works closely with the City of DeKalb on project creation, funding and implementation and plays an active role in the logistical workings of the downtown including codes, zoning, property maintenance and public works. She assists in the oversight of the downtown redevelopment plan and the public improvements plan including construction management and communications. Jennifer also coordinates the TIF funded Architectural Improvement Program and serves as the downtown liaison to the City of DeKalb’s Economic Development Committee. She coordinates with local organizations and governmental bodies, commissions, and agencies throughout DeKalb County to ensure success in the implementation of the downtown redevelopment.

Email Jennifer at jennifer@renewdekalb.com

Lindsey S. Engelsman is Re:New DeKalb’s Marketing and Special Events Coordinator. In this capacity, she works directly with downtown business and property owners to coordinate marketing, special events and other promotion of downtown DeKalb. A new addition to the Re:New DeKalb staff, Lindsey manages the creation and maintenance of effective marketing and promotional materials for the organization. One of Lindsey’s primary responsibilities is to work with downtown stakeholders to create Celebrate Downtown, a marketing and special events division of Re:New DeKalb. Celebrate Downtown is financed by contributions from downtown stakeholders and friends and provides the funding and administrative support for marketing and special events.

Email Lindsey at Lindsey@renewdekalb.com

Anis Stenger is a part-time Administrative Assistant, providing assistance to office management, billing and correspondence for Re:New DeKalb.

Email Anis at office@renewdekalb.com

[ top ]

Q:  What is Re:New DeKalb’s relationship to the City of DeKalb?
A:  Re:New DeKalb coordinates with the City of DeKalb on a variety of key issues to ensure the successful implementation of the downtown revitalization.

[ top ]

Q:  What is Re:New DeKalb’s role in the public improvements project?

A:  Re:New DeKalb is assisting in the implementation of a public improvements plan from First Street to Eleventh Street along East Lincoln Highway. Re:New DeKalb coordinates with downtown stakeholders and the City of DeKalb to provide direction on the plan and construction schedule. Re:New DeKalb participate in the project development, review and construction management of each public improvement project. Re:New DeKalb provides regular construction progress updates to the downtown and community at large.

Re:New DeKalb is also working with a committee of community members to enhance the public improvements to reflect DeKalb’s history and charm.

 

[ top ]

Q: How is Re:New DeKalb funded?

A: Re:New DeKalb receives both public and private contributions. Two-thirds of our annual operating budget is funded by private contributions from community partners, business owners, residents, major corporations and local organization who care about downtown DeKalb along with special projects and grant funding. Additional funds are provided by the City of DeKalb for coordination and administrative services in support of various downtown programs.

 

[ top ]

Q: Who are RNDK Financial Contributors?

A:  Re:New DeKalb’s long-term goal is to be entirely self-sufficient. To that end, the organization is in the second year of a multi-year private fundraising campaign.

Re:New DeKalb is pleased to be supported by a broad range of financial partners that recognize the vital importance of the revitalization of the urban core. The following are financial contributors to Re:New DeKalb and Celebrate Downtown.

Re:New DeKalb Partners:

Leader (10,000 and up)

Castle Bank

City of DeKalb

Lehan Drugs & Home Health Care

National Bank & Trust Company

Investor (5,000 to 9,999)

Baxter & Woodman, Inc.

Shodeen Construction Company, L.L.C.

Kish Health System

Builder (2,500 to 4,999)

John & Nancy Castle

Wendler Engineering

Sustainer (1,000 to 2,499)

American National Bank

Eduardo's & Rosita's

Elmer Larson, L.L.C.

DeKalb Clinic

Resource Bank

Founder (500 to 999)

Brian Scholle State Farm Insurance

CMSJ Partners

ComEd

DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation

DeKalb County Builders Association

DeKalb Park District

Kiwanis Club of DeKalb

M & L Joint Venture

Mascal Electric

Mike & Mary Larson

Milner & Associates

North Central Cyclery

Sponsor (250-499)

B95

Direct Response Web Solutions

Dr. & Mrs. Tom Choice

Mark & Mary Kay Biernacki

Contributor (100-249)

302 Lincoln Partnership

Alan Davenport & Sons

American Liquor AKA L&S Schoenburg

Becky Beck's Jewelry

Boyle Law DeKalb

Bob & Kathleen Higgerson

Dee Coover

Delano's Paint & Floor Covering, Inc.

Diamond Tour Golf

Crum Halsted

Herbert & Irene Rubin

Jerrold & Carol Zar

Jerry & Ging Smith

Jo Burke

Johnson Canvas

Lynn Batalden - Creative Therapeutics

Martha & George Shur

Mary Beth Van Buer

Pardrige Insurance

Pat Brown CPA

Rena  Cotsones

Robert & Mary Pritchard

Ron & Carol Naylor

Subway

Superior Environment Corp.

Theison Roofing

 

Celebrate Downtown Members:

ae photography

Blue Moon Balloon Company
Cracker Jax
DeKalb Chamber/CVB

Debutantes School of Cosmetology & Nail Technology
The Confectionary
Ducky’s Formal Wear & Prom Shop
Eduardo’s & Rosita’s
Egyptian Theatre
Glass Gardens
Hearing Help Express
The Hillside Restaurant
Helen’s Hair Designs
Kid Stuff
The Lincoln Inn Family Restaurant & Bakery
MCR Framing
Megan Morrison Home & Garden & Moxie
Mike Mooney Chevrolet Pontiac GMC Cadillac, INC
McCabe’s & Andy’s
My Faivret Things
NAPA/NAPA Auto Care DeKalb & Sycamore
National Bank & Trust

O’Leary’s Pub & Grill, Tapa La Luna, Upper Deck
Paperback Grotto

Pilates Plus With Paula
Reyna’s Peluqueria
Royal Travel & Tours, Inc
Sports of All Sorts
Stage Coach Players
Web Girl Web Designs
Womack Photography
Wrights Jewelry
Bill Cornish, North Lane Realty
Staff — Lindsey Engelsman

[ top ]