August 31, 2026 

Nik Duffle, Director of

Economic Development 

August brings several exciting updates for Normal’s business community, highlighting the continued investment, new opportunities, and resources available to local businesses.

We’re pleased to welcome Carl Teichman as Normal’s new Economic Development Coordinator, expanding our team’s capacity to support businesses and further economic development initiatives throughout Normal. We’re also excited to welcome 7 Brew Coffee to Normal as the growing beverage brand expands into our community. Finally, this month’s Business Brief highlights an upcoming McLean County C-PACE informational session, providing businesses and property owners with an opportunity to learn more about financing options for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements.

As always, thank you for your continued investment in and commitment to Normal

Carl Teichman has joined the Town of Normal as an economic development coordinator. His primary role will be business retention and expansion and will serve as an additional connection for news and up to date information with Uptown Normal businesses.

Carl is a longtime Bloomington-Normal community leader with ties to higher education, local government, economic development and civic organizations.

In this new role, Carl will serve as a liaison between the Town and local businesses during periods of construction and redevelopment. He will maintain regular contact with businesses to answer questions, identify concerns and connect businesses with appropriate Town resources.

Carl will be visiting businesses throughout Normal to introduce himself. Thank you in advance for welcoming him to the team! You can reach him at 309-433-9921 or via email. 

Normal is welcoming another nationally recognized beverage brand with the planned arrival of 7 Brew Coffee. The drive-thru-focused concept is proposed for a new location at the intersection of College Avenue and Veterans Parkway.

The approximately 910-square-foot location will offer 7 Brew’s extensive menu of coffee, energy drinks, teas, smoothies, lemonades and other specialty beverages.

The addition of 7 Brew further strengthens Normal’s retail and dining options while bringing a growing national brand to the community. With locations already operating throughout Illinois, 7 Brew’s expansion into Normal is another example of continued private-sector investment and demand for new consumer-oriented businesses in the community.

McClean County will be hosting an informational session on Tuesday, September 29th at 4:30 p.m. in Room 400 of the Government Center Building, 115 E. Washington Street, Bloomington, IL, with a short presentation and Q&A session regarding the C-PACE Funding Program.

The Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) is a public/private partnership legislated by the state to provide commercial development with a financing option offering long-term, fixed-rate, non-recourse private capital. C-PACE funding is used for costs which impact energy & water spend, renewable improvements or seismic/resiliency measures.  Repayment is made through a long-term special tax assessment on the property, making it transferable upon sale or prepayable at any time.

To learn more about C-PACE or to see if you qualify, please visit McLean County's C-PACE application page. 

Throughout 2026, the Town continues to see consistent private investment throughout the community with over $42 million invested already. Key projects from the Town's Open Data Portal highlight last month's building permit activity.