Despite passing a “Doomsday” budget, the DuPage County Board has approved $500,000 for operations in fiscal 2008 of the DuPageBiz plan to attract new companies and retain various businesses.

The budgeted layoffs and cutbacks scheduled for the Dec. 1, 2007, start of the county’s fiscal year will be delayed until citizens vote on a Feb. 5 ballot referendum to add one-quarter percent to the county sales tax.

Also approved was the hiring of Roger Hopkins as executive director of DuPageBiz at a salary of $130,000. Since 1988, Hopkins has served as executive director of the DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation, a non-profit organization that manages commercial and industrial retention and attraction activities for all communities in DeKalb County.

The Board realized the importance of economic development to generate more revenue for DuPage County by assisting in economic growth through the creation of more jobs and an increase in the tax base, said Michael Connelly, chairman of the economic development and planning committee.

“It is not simply something we want, but business people have told us we need it to attract new businesses and retain existing ones,” said the Lisle Republican, who represents District 5. “DuPage County can not rest on its laurels. We are competing in a global economy and with nearby business development organizations such as one in Will County.”

In accepting the post, Hopkins acknowledged the challenge before him,

“I know we have quite a task to attract new businesses and retain existing ones,” he said. “I look forward to a successful partnership with DuPage County, local businesses as well as schools. We need a good education system for employees of local businesses.”

Tom Cuculich, director of economic development and planning for DuPage County, said he expects a quick start by Hopkins and DuPageBiz.

“Since he has previous experience Roger can hit the ground running to broker deals with new and existing companies,” he said. “He will not be overly distracted with fundraising.”

Following the County Board’s approval on Nov. 27 for DuPageBiz funding, Cuculich said that plans would begin to be implemented within a few days for fundraising from local organizations.

The goal for 2008 is to raise a minimum of $700,000 for DuPageBiz so the total budget would be at least $1.2 million, including the $500,000 from the County Board.

“The efforts should begin to bear fruit in the second and third quarters of 2008,” said Cuculich.

Cuculich noted that County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom would be a strong partner with DuPageBiz as he serves on the executive committee and the board of directors while he assists in fund raising.

He emphasized that the County is committed to DuPageBiz for the long term and will be a major stakeholder. The $500,000 figure could decrease in the coming years of a four-year fundraising program as the private sector provides funds.

A consultant hired by DuPage Biz said the single biggest factor in the campaign’s success will be the County stepping up to take a large level of responsibility for the achievement of the final campaign goal of $5.5 million.

“The campaign will not succeed without the county playing a strong financial and leadership role,” reported the consultant.

“On the other hand, very strong leadership and financial support from the county could pave the way for not only a successful campaign, but a potential dramatic expansion of the scope of the underlying program and fundraising goal,” said Stellar Fundraising Executives, Inc. of Jacksonville, Fla. after interviewing 45 local business leaders.

Another key factor is what Stellar called a severe lack of awareness of DuPageBiz The dominant attitude by people interviewed for the report is that DuPageBiz must be led by someone who can penetrate the Fortune 500 companies in the county to raise money.

However, there is very little executive level awareness of the organization.

“Fundamentally the goal would be relatively easy to attain if the leadership of the major Fortune 500 companies were engaged and bought into this concept,” Stellar reported.