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FOIA Request to City of Harvard Regarding Newly Registered Businesses on May 7, 2025.
As part of our ongoing commitment to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at McHenry Times have submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the City of Harvard. Our request seeks access to records concerning businesses registered with the city in the past week. Specifically, we are requesting information that includes the business name, business number, business type, business address, issued date, status, and registered agent name.
This request is made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, and we have asked for the records in electronic format for ease of access and analysis. As members of the media involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, we emphasize that access to public records is essential for fulfilling our professional responsibilities. These responsibilities include holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency for the public.
In line with our role in disseminating information and our membership in The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy—a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Missouri Corporation—we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals. This coalition assists news media companies, publications, and public advocacy groups in investigating state and federal governmental agencies by leveraging Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws to promote transparency and inform the American electorate.
We look forward to receiving the requested information promptly. For more details about our coalition’s mission and efforts against governmental secrecy, please visit [https://stopsecrecy.org/about/](https://stopsecrecy.org/about/).
