MEMBER PROFILE:
the
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October 2024 | Volume 37 | No. 10
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of the greater rockford business community
RVC AWARDED GRANT
The sky’s the limit
Rock Valley College received a grant from the State of Illinois for the Trade Review and Career Exploration (TRACE) Program, designed for underserved, in-school youth in Winnebago and Boone Counties, with an emphasis on the City of Rockford.
Rooted in Rockford, small businesses reach for the stars
By The Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce
Products used on Mars… Meat Industry Hall of Fame… Nationwide franchise… What do these have in common? All were accomplished by Rockford small businesses. Small companies and organizations are the backbone of the Rockford region, providing locally produced products and services, desirable jobs, and economic growth. Chamber members such as Eickman’s Meat Processing, Forest City Gear, Beef A Roo, and YMCA of Rock River Valley are small enterprises making their mark and discovering innovative ways to thrive long term in the region.
HIRING VS. OUTSOURCING MARKETING EXPERTISE
The TRACE program offers targeted career and technical training. The goal is to reduce unemployment rates, increase graduation rates from area high schools, increase available skilled labor, and increase sustainable wages.
Firmly rooted in the community Rockford’s status as a “big town, little city” has been a boon for many small businesses over the years, combining the ample amenities and resources of a metropolitan area with the close-knit community feel of a small town. Meat processing and packing company Eickman’s has been a part of the region since 1953. The company’s founder, Merlyn Eickman, was inducted into the Meat Industry Hall of Fame in 2022 – joining the ranks of Jimmie Dean, the Tyson Family, and Oscar Mayer. Current owners Tom and Katie Eickman took the reins in 2020 after Tom’s parents passed the business on to them.
“What we do requires a unique skill set, and there is a lot of time invested. Doing the process from start to finish takes special knowledge. Add in the fact that we’re working with food products means we have to also ensure safety,” said Tom. “We are a labor-intensive business. Although there are things we can try to automate, it remains an employee-driven business to this day.” Since 1955, Forest City Gear has developed a reputation as a world-class manufacturer of fine- and mediumpitch, custom mechanical gears for everything from tractors and aircraft to exam tables and prosthetic limbs. With 115 employees, it has grown from a mom-and-pop shop to a cutting-edge manufacturing firm. The best part – all
The grant will provide financial support for credentials in careers, such as massage therapy, truck driving, CNC machining, automotive collision repair, and forklift operation. It will also help expand access to RVC Career and Technical Education, which allows students to earn a high school diploma and associate degree simultaneously. Find more information at rockvalleycollege.edu.
HOUSING COUNSELING SERVICES Region 1 is now offering free, HUD-certified housing counseling for residents in Stephenson, Winnebago, Boone, and McHenry counties.
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Housing counseling encompasses a mix of financial, legal, and social topics and includes
Annual dinner draws hundreds
• Pre-purchase – budget analysis, loan education, closing costs and other fees
GRCC welcomes incoming board chair and honors Citizen of the Year
• Post-purchase – home maintenance, community resources, planning for emergencies
By The Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce
• Renting – understanding a lease, renter’s rights, renter’s insurance • Foreclosure/eviction – rights, mitigation options, bankruptcy education
THE VOICE IS PUBLISHED BY
Join the Chamber on Social Media
The Voice is online at rockfordchamber.com
A positive energy filled the room at the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce (GRCC) 2024 Annual Dinner, presented by OSF HealthCare. The crowd of 430 attendees included CEOs, entrepreneurs, and high-level managers committed to the success of both the GRCC and the regional business community at large.
As the chamber’s largest fundraiser of the year, the annual dinner helps raise funds to realize our mission to relentlessly grow, develop and support a thriving business community. It’s also the perfect opportunity to connect with and address the business community directly. The evening began with a virtual toast from CEO Angela Kay Larson as (continued on page 7)
• Home improvement – financing repairs and updates through home equity loans or lines of credit, and assistance programs • Fair housing/equity – rights, discrimination reporting procedures To set up an appointment, contact Sarah Renicker, R1 grants compliance coordinator, at srenicker@r1planning.org.