Oswego, a growing town in the fastest-growing county in Illinois, has a new director to lead economic development in the village.
Oswego Village President Troy Parlier recently announced the village has selected Kevin Leighty as its new economic development director. He will begin on the job May 2.
Leighty brings nearly a decade of experience with strategic development including business retention and expansion, Oswego officials said. He will be responsible for attracting new businesses and supporting existing businesses in the village.
“We are very excited to welcome Kevin to this important role,” Parlier said in a prepared statement. “We’re looking forward to his energy and passion making a great impact on Oswego’s goals for increased business development.”
Oswego is a growing community. According to U.S. census figures, the village’s population grew from 30,355 in 2010 to 34,585 in 2020, a 13% increase.
Leighty recently served as an economic development management analyst for Schaumburg which has more than 35 million square feet of commercial space and 5,000 businesses, village officials said. He procured $1.25 million in grant funding for public infrastructure from the state’s Rebuild Illinois regional economic grant program, village officials said.
He also helped manage Schaumburg’s newest tax increment financing district to support a multi-million-dollar industrial development. Prior to his position with Schaumburg, Leighty completed a two-year internship in Elmhurst where he supported the economic development commission, city manager’s office and zoning and planning committee, village officials said.
Leighty earned a bachelor’s degree, and a master’s degree in public administration, from Northern Illinois University.
“I am incredibly excited to serve the Oswego community and balance the village’s small-town charm with the endless growth opportunities that exist here,” Leighty said in the announcement. “With my experience building professional relationships in economic development in the Chicago area, I look forward to bringing a new perspective to Oswego.”
Leighty is the village’s fourth economic development director since 2016.
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Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.