the September 2023 | Volume 36 | No. 9
of the rockford business community
AUTHENTICITY IN ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION MIRANDA SWANSON
BUILDING ASSETS NOT STATISTICS WILLIAM CHATMAN
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Rockford Chamber of Commerce, RAEDC and Greater Rockford Growth Partnership to merge New, combined organization – Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce – to develop and support regional businesses On Thursday, August 17, board members from Rockford Chamber of Commerce, Rockford Area Economic Development Council (RAEDC), and the Greater Rockford Growth Partnership (GRGP) voted to merge the three organizations to provide one consolidated, focused approach to benefit regional businesses. The new organization will be named the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce and will integrate all three groups under one board of directors and one leader.
Previously, the Rockford Chamber of Commerce and the RAEDC created a partnership under GRGP in which the organizations retained their individual organizational status, each with their own board of directors. For the past few months, board members and subcommittees have investigated best practices from peer organizations and communities. They also reviewed the legal, strategic and operational impact of a possible merger. “There has been extraordinary work put forth by individuals on all three boards to discuss and debate the options best suited for our businesses and our community overall,” said Jeff Hultman, board chair, GRGP. “The merged organization will provide a consolidated and relentless focus on the value proposition to deliver ROI to members, investors and the public sector.”
The committee selected the name, Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce, after conducting extensive research on the top 25 fastest-growing cities in the U.S. and evaluating the structures and naming of their combined chamber of commerce and economic development organizations. The RAEDC and Rockford Chamber will continue their focuses but as committees under the umbrella of the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce. The economic development committee work will focus on attracting, retaining and growing businesses and jobs in the region. The chamber committee will continue its focus on leading business growth by advocating for the interests of business, and providing services and educational opportunities that help its members grow. (continued on page 3)
Next generation talent
By Andrew Wright, Rockford Chamber of Commerce
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Hard Rock Casino Rockford, Ringland-Johnson Construction and the Rockford Park District unveiled plans for a permanent concert venue at Levings Park (1420 S. Pierpont Ave., Rockford), which includes an 807-square-foot concrete stage; two 165-square-foot dressing rooms, each with air conditioning and heat; and a durable metal roof along with upgraded lighting and sound equipment. Costs for architecture, engineering and construction are funded by Ringland-Johnson Construction and Hard Rock Casino Rockford. Construction began in August and should be completed before the first summer concert in 2024.
FREE LIBRARY CARDS FOR QUALIFYING STUDENTS As part of the Illinois Cards for Kids Act, the Rockford Public Library (RPL) is giving free library cards to qualifying students (K-12) based on income eligibility guidelines, even if they live outside RPL’s designated library service area. Students 13 or younger must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to apply for a free card. The parent/ guardian must provide photo ID with current address, proof of income, proof of RPS 205 attendance, and a signed copy of the Free Student Certification form, which can be obtained from library staff.
Building tomorrow’s workforce today Over the past few years, companies have aggressively competed to hire talented, dedicated employees in a marketplace with a high demand for workers. Except for a spike in unemployment that coincided with the COVID-related lockdowns, unemployment in Winnebago county has remained at or near 10-year lows, with only around 6% of the population unemployed but actively searching for employment since 2015. These trends have created a push for both public and private investment in developing a next generation workforce that’s ready to hit the ground running. Jenny Wade is senior campus recruiter for RSM, an accounting and financial
NEW CONCERT VENUE UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT LEVINGS PARK
services company. She says demand for interns in her industry is high. In an office location like Madison or Rockford, RSM has 10 or more paid interns working on accounting, consulting or auditing projects at any point. “We recruit 1700 interns across Canada and the United States each year,” she said. “This summer, I’ve recruited 28 interns for the Rockford and Wisconsin locations, with around eight this past winter. “Our goal is to transition interns into associates. Most firms have this sort of (continued on page 8)
Unaccompanied students 14 or older may be issued a card if they have photo ID, proof of address, proof of RPS205 attendance, proof of parent/ guardian income, and the Free Student Certification form signed by a parent/guardian. Photo ID includes school ID, state ID or passport. Acceptable proof of income includes recent tax return, recent pay stub or IPA form. Acceptable proof of address includes current utility bill, delivered mail or photo ID. Acceptable proof of RPS205 attendance includes school ID, mail from school or recent report card.