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Welcome
to Investments
Dear
Rockford Area Economic Development Council Investors:
Welcome
to the sixth issue of the Investments newsletter. This bi-monthly report
gives you the latest about RAEDC investors and services, events and
results of our work.
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Economic
Development Results
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The
RAEDC is currently working with 78 clients, who
represent a potential of 2,500 jobs, over $195 million in capital
expenditure and over 3.2 million square feet of space.
YTD Won
Projects
represent a potential growth of approximately 986 jobs, $16.2
million of capital investment and 873,000 square feet of space
Recent
"wins" for the region include:
- The expansion of Anderson
Packaging in Rockford, adding 250 jobs, $15 million in
capital investment and 260,000 square feet of space
- The attraction of Canz,
a New Zealand food processor of dog and cat foods to Rockford,
with 5 jobs
- The attraction of Diversified
Machining to Winnebago County from Wisconsin, with 15
jobs
- The attraction of Radius
to Rockford, a high-tech Swedish company that will eventually
create 24 quality jobs
- The attraction of Regency
Hospital to Rockford, bringing 125 jobs, $9 million in
capital investment and 110,000 square feet of space
- The attraction of Upper
Iowa University to Cherry Valley, a 13,145 square-foot
center
- The attraction of WATT
Publishing's headquarters to Rockford, bringing 60 jobs,
$600,000 in capital investment and 16,000 square feet of space
A Labor Shed Analysis for Boone and
Winnebago counties was conducted by the Pathfinders in January.
Findings include:
- The labor shed has a
household population of approximately 807,300
- 65,500 potential
employees are available for new and expanding businesses
- 42,600 people commute
to a neighboring county for employment
RAEDC continues to
spearhead the Manufacturing Coffee Talks series with
City of Rockford Mayor Morrissey. These meetings provide opportunities
for area manufacturers to voice concerns and help to educate Mayor
Morrissey on issues that are most important to them. Effective
public-private partnerships are essential for companies to succeed
within the region, and these forums provide an informal setting to share
ideas.
The RAEDC Business
Retention & Expansion Solutions Team has conducted more than 20
Voice-of-the-Customer Surveys to date in 2007. In a typical community,
approximately 70% of job growth and capital investment is attributable
to existing companies. The surveys allow us to better understand local
companies' needs and opportunities for improvement in support of a
healthy economic environment. Contact Mark Podemski at 815.987.8118 or mpodemski@rockfordil.com if you would like to
participate in a survey.
The Jon W.
Lundin Trade Mission to the Swedish-American Entrepreneurial Days (E-Days) in
South Sweden in August included business matchmaking meetings, panels,
seminars and networking events. Sweden is a natural gateway to three
markets (Baltic states, northern Europe and the continent) and 500
million consumers. The RAEDC is focused on marketing the Rockford
Region for foreign investment and trade. Trade mission delegates
included:
- Judy Barnard, Winnebago
County Economic Development Administration
- Russell L. Dennis, Jr.,
Leading Edge Hydraulics Vice President
- Janyce Fadden, RAEDC
President
- Cyndie Hall, City of
Rockford Director of the Mayor's Office of Tourism, Culture and
Special Events
- Robert Lindstrom,
Freedom Field Consultant
- Joel Sjostrom, Sjostrom
& Sons President & CEO
- Tom McDunn, Rockford
Area Ventures Director of Advanced Manufacturing
- Reid Montgomery, City
of Rockford Director of Community and Economic Develoment
- Sue Mroz, Winnebago
County Director of Regional Planning and Economic Development
- Mark Podemski, RAEDC
Vice President for Development
- Steve Ward, AMCORE Bank
Regional President
Swedish-American
E-Days was also held in Chicago in April. As part of the conference,
Rockford hosted market cluster conferences for 100 Swedish delegates in
the areas of "Logistics" and "Automotive-Production
Technology." Rockford also hosted Swedish delegates from
Lidköping, Borgholm and mid-Sweden. Many thanks to the following
sponsors of the Rockford events: Presenting Sponsors AMCORE Bank, Northern Illinois Building Contractors Association
and Rockford Art Museum; Supporting Sponsors WREX-TV, National City Bank and Northern Illinois University.
The RAEDC has promoted
and will promote the Rockford Region in 2007 at the following trade shows and conferences:
- Association of
Industrial Real Estate Brokers Developers Showcase and Trade Show
- Chicago Industrial
Properties Transportation and Logistics Conference
- I-39 Festivus
- Illinois Development
Council Consultants Forum
- Illinois Real Estate
Journal's Chicago Real Estate Forecast
- International Council
of Shopping Centers Idea Exchange
- International Council
of Shopping Centers Deal Making Show
The summer issue of
the Rising Star e-newsletter targeted at site selectors and real
estate brokers was distributed in August. RAEDC investors interested in
receiving this quarterly newsletter should email information@rockfordil.com or call 815.987.8118.
UPS hosted more than 40 business leaders for a
midnight tour of the UPS Rockford facility at full
operation in January. Rockford area economic development professionals,
I-39 Logistcs Corridor Association members and Chicago area site
selectors and real estate professionals attended. In June, the RAEDC
and UPS provided a private tour of the UPS Rockford facility for the
Chicago staff of CB Richard Ellis, the world's premier, full-service
real estate services company.
The RAEDC is
collaborating with Next Rockford, the Rockford Area Convention &
Visitors Bureau, the Rockford Chamber of Commerce, the City of Rockford
and Winnebago County to implement recommendations from Rebecca Ryan's report on attracting and retaining
the next generation of talent to the Rockford Area. Current
initiatives include establishing a broad-based young professionals
organization for the region and implementing a "Why Rockford?" boomerang campaign with special
events over Labor Day and Thanksgiving weekends, including a
Jobapalooza career fair.
The RAEDC
2006 Annual Report is available online and copies are
available upon request at 815.987.8118 or information@rockfordil.com
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Events
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RAEDC
investors are invited to attend the launch of "Rockforward!
Funding the Future We Want Now," the new
five-year economic development strategy by the RAEDC on Wednesday,
October 10, 2007 at Cliffbreakser Riverside Resort in Rockford. You can
expect to receive a formal invitation in the mail.
- 7:30 - 8:00 AM
Networking & Complimentary Breakfast
- 8:00 - 8:45 AM
Presentation of Rockforward!
- 9:00 - 10:30 AM First
Meeting of the RAEDC Leadership Council
RAEDC investors are
encouraged to participate in Rockford Night at NIU on Saturday,
September 8, 2007. Students from Rockford's East High School will
be recognized during the football game on the field for being Rockford's
2006-2007 JUST GO! Attendance Champion. Thanks to First Northern Credit Union, seventy-five students
and staff from East High School will spend the afternoon in DeKalb,
touring the campus; hearing presentations by admissions, financial aid,
academic advising and CHANCE program representatives; talking with a
student panel and eating dinner in the residence halls. $7 Game Tickets
for the Rockford Section at the football game are available at First
Northern Credit Union, at the Rockford Chamber of Commerce, and online.
The RAEDC Second
Quarter Event was held in June. First Northern Credit Union served as the
Presenting Sponsor, the Business Climate Services Solutions Team served
as hosts, and RAEDC investors and staff presented updates about recent
strategies and initiatives.
Video footage of
the RAEDC 2006 Annual Meeting, featuring a Keynote
presentation by City of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, is available online.
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Rockforward! Funding the Future We Want Now
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Thank
you to the following leadership organizations for investing in the
RAEDC's new five-year economic development strategy:
President's
Circle Investors
OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center
David Schertz, Administrator
Rockford Area Association of Realtors
Terrie Hall, Chief Executive Officer
Rockford Register Star
Fritz Jacobi, President & Publisher
Woodward
Martin Glass, Vice President, Aircraft Engine Systems
WREX-TX
John Chadwick, Vice President & General Manager
Leadership
Council Investors
Anderson Packaging, Inc.
Larry H. Beckmann, President
Associated Bank
Michael Greer, Regional President & CEO
First Northern Credit Union
Edward C. Berg, President/CEO
International Distribution Alliance, Inc.
Saim Yeung, President
Larson & Darby Group
D. Kraig Pierceson, President & CEO
Oliver Emerson Development, LLC
Oliver Emerson, Owner
Rockford Chamber of Commerce
Einar Forsman, President & CEO
Rockford Park District
Tim Dimke, Executive Director
Thermo Fisher/Pierce Biotechnology
Jeff Lee, Vice President of Operations
United Way of Rock River Valley
Michael Call, President & CEO
workplace
LoRayne Logan, CEO
Rockforward! Investors
Bergners
Louis Setter, Vice President
Blackhawk Bank
R. Richard Bastian, III, President & CEO
GrahamSpencer Advertising/Design
Jay Graham, Partner
Greenlee - A Textron Company
Kathy Grisdela, Vice President Integrated Supply Chain
Gypsum Supply Co.
Jim Gabelbauer, Executive Vice President
Holmstrom & Kennedy, P.C.
Phillip R. Frankford, Managing Partner
Leading Edge Hydraulics
Russ Dennis, Jr., Vice President
Lowe's Companies, Inc.
R. Neil Buck, Rockfod, IL RDC General Manager
Noll Kaney & Associates
Steve Noll, Managing Broker/Principal
Riverside Community Bank
Willard C. Brenner, President & CEO
Rock River Valley Blood Center
Linda Gerber, CEO
Rockford College
Dr. Richard Kneedler, President
Rockford Transport, Inc.
Craig Sockwell, Vice President Sales and Operations
Schmeling Construction Co.
Stephen E. Schmeling, President
Stillman Bank
Gary L. Rhodes, Chairman & CEO
Testing Service Corporation
Jeff Martin, Rockford Branch Manager
Tote Cart Company
Paul Mills, President
U of I College of Medicine
Dr. Martin Lipsky, Dean
WQRF TV / WTVO TV
Marshall Porter, Vice President & General Manager WQRF TV
For more
information about the RAEDC's new five-year economic development
strategy, contact Tonya Lamia at 815.987.8118 or tlamia@rockfordil.com
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Welcome
New Investors
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A
warm welcome to the following new investor at the Copper level:
Hampton Properties
Doug Winter, President
A warm
welcome to the following new investors at the Bronze level:
Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, Inc.
Jeffrey G. Plapp, Office Manager
Energy Dynamics, Inc.
Patrick Bye, President
Harris Bank
Dennis Rhodes, Vice President
Klass Financial
Steve Schou, CEO
Lee & Associates
John Sharpe, Principal
Parker Hannifin Corporation
Mark W. Gagnon, General Manager
RDI Insurance Agency, Inc.
Bradley Wilfong, Owner/President
Rockford Forms & Graphics
Bob Chanson, President
Stewart & Associates, Inc.
Brian W. Stewart, President & CEO
United Way of Rock River Valley
Michael Call, President & CEO
A complete list of
all RAEDC investors is available online at http://www.rockfordil.com/members/directory.php
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Leadership
Opportunities
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RAEDC
investors interested in serving on the RAEDC Board of Directors
are encouraged to contact Tonya Lamia at 815.987.8118 or tlamia@rockfordil.com
.View a complete Board of Directors list online.
The RAEDC Board of
Directors created three Solutions Teams to help
achieve the organization's mission and goals. Committee contributions
are extremely helpful, as investors advise from their unique
perspectives and broaden considerations about how to achieve goals.
RAEDC investors are encouraged to serve on one of the following
Solutions Teams. Volunteering through committee is a great way to get
involved with the work of the organization and is recommended as a
precursor to serving on the Board of Directors.
Click Here to access the annual work plans and
committee lists for each Solutions Team.
The Business Retention & Expansion Solutions Team
will meet on Thursday, September 6 from 7:30 - 8:30 am at the RAEDC
offices (100 Park Avenue, Suite 100, Rockford).
The Business Attraction Solutions Team
will meet on Tuesday, September 11 from 4:00 - 5:30 pm at JP Morgan
Chase (6000 East State Street, Lower Level Conference Room, Rockford).
The Business Climate Services Solutions Team
will meet on Tuesday, September 18 from 4:00 - 5:30 pm at the RAEDC
offices (100 Park Avenue, Suite 100, Rockford).
For more
information or to volunteer, contact Tonya Lamia at 815.987.8118 or tlamia@rockfordil.com
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Volume
2 Issue
1
August 2007
The primary
role of the Rockford Area Economic Development Council is to enhance
wealth creation in the Rockford Region by marketing the area and helping
employers retain and create quality jobs. The RAEDC works closely with many
partners to serve as a one-stop resource for clients, to improve the
competitiveness of the region and to engage the community in the work of
economic development.
For more
information on RAEDC programs or services, please call 815.987.8118,
e-mail information@rockfordil.com
or visit www.rockfordil.com
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