Rockford’s Attracting & Retaining Talent Steering Committee Announces Two “Boomerang” Events
Goal is to Return Young Professionals to the Rockford Region; Retain Them as Long-Term Residents
Rockford, IL (August 21, 2007) - Rockford’s Attracting & Retaining Talent Steering Committee today announced two upcoming “Boomerang” events designed to attract young professionals, who grew up in the area, back to the Rockford Region to live and work.
On Saturday, September 1, the Committee will host an exclusive networking party for visiting young professionals during The Janes and Their Fabulous Friends Concert at Rockford’s On the Waterfront festival.
Then, on Friday and Saturday November 23 and 24 the Committee will host LiveWell Weekend, which includes walking tours of Rockford’s downtown riverfront, driving tours of area neighborhoods, family-fun at local museums, pub crawls, and a Jobapalooza Career Expo which will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Giovanni’s on the 24th.
The Committee’s efforts follow-through on a study conducted by consultant Rebecca Ryan of Next Generation Consulting earlier this year which determined that attracting and retaining young professionals to Rockford will ensure the region’s current - and long-term - viability and vitality.
“It’s critical to Rockford’s economy and the overall health of our community to attract young professionals to this area and retain them. Without them, we won’t have the talent pool needed to help our current businesses grow or attract new ones,” explained John Groh, senior Vice President for Marketing & Public Affairs at the Rockford Chamber of Commerce. “We are getting the word out that Rockford offers great careers, great lifestyles, and promising futures for young professionals and young families. One of the Committee’s core purposes is to implement a ‘Boomerang’ strategy to help us do just that.”
On The Waterfront Concert: September 1, 2007
In the first Boomerang event, visiting young professionals are invited to an exclusive viewing of The Sensations, followed by The Janes and Their Fabulous Friends Concert on Saturday, September 1, 2007, at 6:30 p.m. This networking party will take place in the Committee’s Skybox overlooking the performance on the Oasis Stage. To get in, attendees must present an invitation. To receive an invitation interested individuals can email fabparty@gorockford.com.
The Committee identified Rockford’s On The Waterfront festival as an ideal venue for a Boomerang event because many young professionals that once lived in Rockford return to the area to visit familiy on this weekend. The Committee members, who are young professionals currently living in and around Rockford will participate in the event to talk with guests about living and working in Rockford today.
Additionally, Rockford will be further marketed to this key audience during the sold-out Northern Illinois University vs. Iowa football game on Saturday, September 1 at Chicago’s Soldier Field. During the Huskies game, Rockford will have the full-page inside back cover advertisement, host a table prior to the game near the NIU alumni village and receive ongoing announcements and video board recognition during the game. These efforts further ensure visibility for Rockford to college students and young professionals.
LiveWell Weekend and Jobapalooza: November 23 and 24, 2007
Jobapalooza will take place on Saturday, November 24, 2007, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Giovanni’s, 610 North Bell School Road in Rockford, during Thanksgiving weekend. Sponsored by the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), the job fair will represent myriad local businesses looking to hire in the 2007/2008 timeframe.
Attendees can talk with local businesses at their booths; attend informative presentations; and participate in break-out sessions lead by local businesses and organizations dedicated to growth in Rockford, such as SHRM, the Chamber of Commerce, Rockford Area Economic Development Council, the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Next Rockford. These groups will organize presentations and break-out sessions designed to educate young professionals on all that the region offers.
Jobapalooza is the main event of LiveWell Weekend, which starts on Friday, November 23 and lasts through Saturday the 24th. Other events in LiveWell Weekend include walking tours of Rockford’s downtown riverfront, neighborhood driving tours by motor coach, family-fun at the Riverfront Museum Park, pub crawls, and more. All events are designed to help young professionals understand the career and lifestyle potential that Rockford has to offer them.
“The Thanksgiving weekend presents the best opportunity to get in front of young professionals,” said Dawn de los Santos, board member of Rockford area Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) and member of the Committee. “This is the one holiday when just about everyone returns home. We’re really taking advantage of the weekend with Boomerang Events that cover every angle - not just professional career opportunities at Jobapalooza, but lifestyle and fun, too.”
“We’re dedicated to creating quality events that will give young professionals a clear and accurate picture of what it’s like to start a life in Rockford,” explained Jeff Hultman, facilitator of Next Rockford and First Vice President with JP Morgan Chase. “The Rockford community has come so far in the past decade lead by pioneering entrepreneurs, amazing groups like the River District, and local businesses that have taken leadership roles and invested in Rockford. We need to show people what Rockford has to offer - how far we’ve come since they moved away - and really take this city to the next level.”
Individuals interested in more information on the Committee or the Boomerang events should call 800.521.0849 or visit http://www.realoriginalrockford.com/
About the Attracting & Retaining Talent Steering Committee
Rockford’s Attracting & Retaining Talent Steering Committee is a volunteer group comprised of representatives from the Rockford Chamber of Commerce, Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, Rockford Area Economic Development Council, Next Rockford, City of Rockford and Winnebago County. The Committee is dedicated to growing Rockford’s population of professionals in their late 20s and 30s by encouraging young professionals that grew up in Rockford, but have since pursued careers elsewhere, to take jobs in the Rockford region and move back to the area.
Why this initiative NOW?
According to Next Generation Consulting’s key findings, three trends are coalescing in the Rockford Region. Taken together, these trends demand a proactive, strategic, and collaborative approach from community and economic development professionals to attract and retain young talent.
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Economic Trends: Rockford’s economy is shifting due to rapid technological change and globalization.
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Demographic Trends: Rockford is losing its share of educated young professionals. in 2005, about 25 percent of the U.S. population held bachelors degrees, compared with 13.1 percent in Rockford. At a time when the economy is demanding higher skills, Rockford cannot afford to lose its young, educated workforce. To make matters worse, broader demographic trends indicate that the race for young talent will become more heated as Baby Boomers retire.
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Psychographic Trends: Psychographics is the study of how people make decisions and has application in Rockford’s future. For the next generation, cities are brands. Which one they choose depends on how well they identify with its brand attributes and characteristics. Three-fourths of college graduates under 28 years old say that where they live is as important - or more important than - where they work.
To view Next Generation Consulting’s complete report, visit http://www.rockfordil.com/