DeKalb’s mayor and the president of Northern Illinois University emphasized cooperation and economic development at a State of the City event Thursday.
Mayor Jerry Smith touted several successes, such as the arrival of Facebook and the Ferrara Candy Company to DeKalb. He also highlighted a joint effort with the University to help small businesses cope with COVID-19.
“From the get-go, a group got together to see what could be done to help these businesses, and DeKalb County UNITES was born.”
The group carried out several initiatives, including webinars on federal aid and educational posters encouraging residents to wear a mask.
NIU President Lisa Freeman also highlighted several local successes, such as attracting more students from the DeKalb area, more purchasing from local businesses, and working to research an alternate way to test for COVID-19. She said this cooperation demonstrated a strong mutual relationship.
"NIU and DeKalb will emerge stronger from this period of uncertainty. Strong and united, providing once again that we are better together as a “communiversity.'"