Kankakee Economic and Community Development Agency

Kankakee's business community is full of great stories — are you telling yours?

Join us for a Lunch & Learn on June Tuesday, 23, 2026 where local marketing expert, Katherine Henson will share simple, actionable social media tips to help your business grow online. FREE to attend. Lunch is prepared by Stefari Café and sponsored by MCA Adult Day Center.

Space is limited so reserve your spot today at the link in our bio or at https://bit.ly/ECDAJune23

We had such a fun afternoon on Saturday at our Neighborhood Cookout! A big note of appreciation goes to 2 Rivers Credit Union and UCP Center for Disability Services, for sponsoring the event, and KVTA and Riverside for being such great partners.

It is always great to see the community out enjoying the company of their neighbors, and that wouldn't have been possible without all the participating organizations who joined us at the Bill Spriggs Civic Auditorium.

Join us for our next Community Conversation with our friends from the University of Illinois Extension Office as we discuss healthy food access!

We hope to see you on Thursday, June 11 at 5:30pm at the Kankakee Public Library to learn about nutrition insecurity, identifying healthy options, and the relationship between food insecurity and our health. Get your questions answered, share your thoughts, and meet your neighbors.

Registration is not required, but encouraged. An interpreter will be available. You can find it at the link in our bio or here - bit.ly/ECDAjune26commconvo

We are gearing up for the 4th Annual ECDA Luncheon in July and had to share throwbacks from last year!

The 4th Annual ECDA Luncheon is July 23, 2026 and will be here before you know it😊 Want to make sure your organization stands out this year? Reach out to ECDA Executive Director, Barbi, at [email protected] for sponsorship packages and see how your organization can get involved.

FOR PUBLIC NOTICE: ECDA to Host Next Community Conversation at the Kankakee Public Library

KANKAKEE, IL (May 28, 2026) – The City of Kankakee Economic and Community Development Agency (ECDA) will host a Community Conversation on Thursday, June 11, 2026 at 5:30pm at the Kankakee Public Library (201 E Merchant St, Kankakee). This is the fourth Community Conversation in the 2026 series for the residents of Kankakee with future Community Conversations taking place on the second Thursday of each month through October. A different topic for education and discussion will be featured monthly in partnership with a local organization. The highlighted topic for June is healthy food access in partnership with the University of Illinois Extension Office. Kankakeeans are encouraged to attend with the purpose of learning, providing personal perspectives about their neighborhoods, and engaging with their neighbors.

Questions can be directed to the ECDA office at 815-933-0506 or via email at [email protected].

See you THIS SATURDAY at our Neighborhood Cookout! We hope you'll join us on the grounds of the Civic Auditorium on May 30th for an afternoon filled with fun, food, and fellowship with resources from community agencies including blood pressure checks from Riverside, live music from the Champagne Experience, a reptile show from Spizzirri Reptile Rescue & Rehab , and activities for all ages including one hosted by the Kankakee Public Library!

Invite your friends, tell your family this is part of their weekend plans, and we'll see you there!

You can read all the details about our Neighborhood Cookout on the ECDA website at bit.ly/ECDAoutreach.

This month’s B.R.E.W. (Business Retention Every Wednesday) Feature is Hubly’s Towing!

For over 40 years, Hubly’s Towing has been serving the motoring public in Kankakee and offers professional and ethical services to the Kankakee County area and beyond! Now expanded into a modern fleet with two locations in Kankakee, family-owned Hubly’s takes great pride in servicing their commercial, police, and private towing customers. Thank you Hubly’s for choosing Kankakee!

Strong businesses equate to thriving communities. Business retention ensures local businesses stay, grow, and succeed – creating jobs, boosting the economy, and fostering a sense of pride in our community. As part of our ongoing Business Retention initiative, we will continue to highlight these incredible businesses that have made an impact here in the City of Kankakee.

Hazardous conditions found in unsafe housing can lead to lead poisoning, asthma and other respiratory illnesses, cancer, and unintentional injuries or death, resulting in poor school attendance and performance for children, missed workdays for parents, and the loss of loved ones for all.

How healthy do you think Illinois is? Find out on our website at bit.ly/ECDA2025HHfactsheet.

Do any of the statistics surprise you?

KankakeewithKids.com is THE local website to find kid-friendly events, classes, and places to go in Kankakee County—perfect for busy parents looking for fun. You can also follow Kankakee With Kids here on Facebook!

The ECDA office will be closed on Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day. We will resume or regular hours on Tuesday at 8am.