Winthrop Harbor, IL
Development Tools
TIF District & Illinois Enterprise Zone
Formal incentives for businesses locating or expanding along the Sheridan Road corridor
TIF
Sheridan Road District
Main commercial corridor
5
Enterprise Zone incentives
State & local tax relief
Open
To alternative arrangements
Custom deals considered
A Village Ready to Partner
The Village of Winthrop Harbor has established a suite of formal economic development tools — including the Sheridan Road Tax Increment Financing District and Illinois Enterprise Zone designation — to provide businesses with meaningful, tangible incentives to locate, invest, and grow within our community.
These programs represent the foundation of our development toolkit. However, the Village recognizes that no two business opportunities are alike.
Winthrop Harbor's leadership is equally committed to thinking beyond the standard framework — and welcomes direct conversation with prospective businesses, developers, and investors about alternative arrangements, creative financing structures, and customized incentive packages tailored to the specific needs of each opportunity.
If your project has merit and aligns with our community's vision for sustainable, waterfront-oriented growth, we want to hear from you. Our goal is to be a genuine partner in making investment in Winthrop Harbor as straightforward and rewarding as possible.
TIF District & Enterprise Zone Overview
Sheridan Road TIF District
Tax Increment Financing Redevelopment
The Village created a TIF District throughout the Sheridan Road Business corridor — the community's main commercial spine — as a cornerstone of its waterfront redevelopment strategy.
The corridor serves as the gateway at the community's northern border with Wisconsin and its southern border with Zion. The 7th Street connector links the Winthrop Harbor Metra Station with North Point Marina visitors.
Sheridan Road TIF InfoIllinois Enterprise Zone
State & Local Tax Incentive Program
The Illinois Enterprise Zone Program is designed to stimulate economic growth and revitalization through state and local tax incentives, regulatory relief, and improved governmental services.
Businesses locating or expanding within the designated zone may be eligible for multiple layers of tax relief at both the state and local level.
Illinois Enterprise Zone ProgramTIF District Map & Official Documents
Sheridan Road TIF District — Official Boundary Map
Village of Winthrop Harbor · Lake County GIS/Mapping Division · ArcGIS Experience
Source: Village of Winthrop Harbor · Lake County GIS/Mapping Division · 18 N. County St., Waukegan, IL 60085 · (847) 377-2388
TIF District Map
PDF — Official boundary
Official Village TIF boundary map showing the full extent of the Sheridan Road redevelopment area.
TIF Fact Sheet
PDF — 3 pages
Concise 3-page summary of how the TIF District works, what it funds, and how it benefits businesses without raising property taxes.
Redevelopment Plan
PDF — 75 pages
The complete 75-page Sheridan Road TIF Redevelopment Project Area Plan adopted by the Village Board in 2019.
Enterprise Zone Tax Incentives
Exemption on retailers' occupation tax paid on building materials
Expanded state sales tax exemptions on purchases of personal property used or consumed in the manufacturing process or in the operation of a pollution control facility
Exemption on the state utility tax for electricity and natural gas
Exemption on the Illinois Commerce Commission's administrative charge and telecommunication excise tax
Enterprise Zone Construction Jobs Credits — allows eligible project owners to deduct received tax credits from their taxable income
Full Eligibility Details
For full eligibility details, application requirements, and zone boundary maps, visit the Illinois DCEO Enterprise Zone portal or contact the Village of Winthrop Harbor Economic Development office directly.
Enterprise Zone Boundary Map
Illinois Enterprise Zone — Official Boundary Map
Illinois Department of Revenue · ArcGIS Web App Viewer
Source: Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) · ArcGIS Enterprise Zone Boundary Viewer · Search "Winthrop Harbor" to locate the local zone boundary
Contact Economic Development
Village of Winthrop Harbor — Economic Development
830 Sheridan Road, Winthrop Harbor, IL 60096 · www.investintheharbor.com
W.R. McCollom
McCollom Realty · Economic Development Representative
David Alarcon
Village of Winthrop Harbor · Village Administrator
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