The state of Illinois has announced an almost $3.8 million business investment package for General Mills to help expand its current Belvidere facility and bring in a new frozen production line. The company is investing $38 million in this major expansion project, which will create 50 new jobs over the next two years and keep 500 other jobs there.

"General Mills' expansion of our Belvidere facility will include investments in technology and improvements to the plant. A key factor in this investment is our partnership with the State of Illinois," said Vince Castle, General Mills plant manager. "The Belvidere facility has been part of this community for more than 100 years, and General Mills is proud to build on that legacy."

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is administering the business investment package that includes Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) corporate income tax credits over ten years based on job creation and retention, a grant for infrastructure improvements, Employer Training Investment Program (ETIP) job training funds that will help enhance the skills of its workforce and additional financial benefits, such as sales tax exemptions and tax credits for job creation and retention, resulting from the company's location within an Enterprise Zone.

Growth Dimensions for Belvidere-Boone County and the city of Belvidere have also been working with General Mills on expanding the boundaries of the Belvidere-Boone County Enterprise Zone. The proposed expansion would include property on Coleman Avenue, which has recently been acquired by General Mills to be utilized for the expansion projects.

We continue to fully support and partner with General Mills in any projects that will continue to increase their competitiveness within their industry and attract further product lines," stated Mark Williams, executive director of Growth Dimensions for Belvidere-Boone County. "We appreciate the company's commitment to our community, not only through their outstanding corporate citizenship, but also their willingness to give back to the community.

General Mills commitment to the Belvidere community goes far beyond their recent investment and job creation. The company's corporate citizenry results in bettering the lives of thousands of people in the Belvidere area. General Mills-Belvidere's donation from the Belvidere United Way represents over 60 percent of the total local United Way budget. The 2007 campaign raised 10% more than last year reaching the level of $373,685.

Community leaders are pleased to see that General Mills, a significant company in Belvidere, continues to grow and remain a strong economic asset to the area.

"It's great to see the continuing expansion. Equally as important to creating 50 new jobs is the security of the current 500 jobs, "stated city of Belvidere Mayor Fred Brereton. "General Mills/Green Giant is a great corporate citizen and we are extremely happy for its success."

General Mills, with annual net sales of $12.5 billion, is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of consumer foods products. Its global brand portfolio includes Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Häagen-Dazs, Old El Paso and more. It also has more than 100 U.S. consumer brands, more than 30 of which generate annual retail sales in excess of $100 million. General Mills also is a leading supplier of baking and other food products to the foodservice and commercial baking industries.

General Mills involvement in United Way and the General Mills Foundation puts them on-track to make a difference inthe lives of many individuals in the Belvidere Community.

This year's record-setting United Way campaign from General Mills Green Giant in Belvidere came as the result of a lot of hard work and generosity on behalf of the entire Belvidere team. Through employee pledges, a parking lot sale, a silent auction, and the General Mills Foundation match, the plant raised more than $373,000.

As with previous years, the annual parking lot sale generates a large portion of the plant's donation. More than 200 employees and their families helped with the sale, and customers came from a three state area to buy product at a discounted price. The sale raises close to $80,000. Also popular this year was a silent auction, which raised more than $16,000. Among the items up for bid were Bears/Packers football tickets, weekend getaway packages and a refrigerator. A record set this year, 99 percent of plant employees also made pledges to the United Way, totaling nearly $140,000.00

In all, the donation from the Belvidere United Way represents over 60 percent of the total local United Way budget. This year's campaign also raised 10 percent more than last year's campaign. Because of team Belvidere's generosity, thousands of people in the Belvidere area will have better social services, education programs and emergency assistance. They are truly on track and making a difference!

General Mills Foundation

The General Mills Foundation was created in 1954 to focus the philanthropic resources of General Mills on community needs. Most of our resources are focused on communities with General Mills facilities and employees. The Foundation's mission is to provide financial support to nonprofit organizations that create sustainable community improvement in the areas of social service, education, arts and culture, and youth nutrition and fitness.

The General Mills Green Giant Community Action Council operated by employee volunteers is dedicated to championing the Belvidere Community through The General Mills Foundation. This councils reviews funding applications from Belvidere and suggests projects that meet Foundation funding guidelines.

"Our team has a lot of pride in the fact that they know what we give back to the community in comparison to others," stated Vince Castle, General Mills plant manager. "We excel in this area and I am very proud of our generous team members because they understand the importance of giving back to the community."

Please click here for a complete list of organizations and programs in Belvidere that were granted funds by the General Mills Green Giant Community Action Council last year.

The Growth Dimensions Kishwaukee Riverfront Development Committee is pleased to announce that the 19th Annual Kish-Walk contest raised $6,786.06. In 19 years, the event has raised almost $160,000 for efforts towards improving path development throughout Belvidere.

District 100 students in grades three thru five and sixth graders at Immanuel Lutheran and St. James schools participated in the actual walking event that was held during P.E. classes. The students in the classrooms that raised the most money (averages according to classroom enrollment) equaled 700 students who were then treated to a field trip to a Fun and Sun Day at Gray Pool in Belvidere Park on May 30th and 31st.

Thank you to all of those who helped make this year's Kish-Walk a success.

Three local companies have been recognized as the State of Illinois announced the winners of INNOVATE Illinois 2007, the third annual small business challenge, to recognize and assist some of the most innovative small companies that are contributing to our expanding economy.

Colorlab Cosmetics, K.W. Powell & Associates, Inc. and Leading Edge Hydraulics, all located in Rockford were three of thirteen winners that were selected from approximately 100 companies who originally submitted applications and business plans from the Northern, Chicagoland, Central and Southern regions of the state.

Each of the selected finalist companies will begin an accelerated six-month program that includes mentoring, growth plans, access to sales and capital opportunities, education and peer-to-peer networking. In addition, each participant will receive a $10,000 grant to develop and execute a strategic project and a stipend to travel to three regions throughout the program.

INNOVATE Illinois is being administered in collaboration with the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center (CEC) at the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, which is serving as both the Chicago region and statewide host. Other regional hosts include the Rock River Valley E-Center at the EIGERlab in Rockford for the Northern region; the Turner Center for Entrepreneurship at Bradley University in Peoria for the Central region; and the Southern Illinois E-Center at Southern Illinois University Carbondale for the Southern region.

Finalists were selected by a panel of judges from each of the regional offices based on the strength of their business and the potential economic impact of their innovation. Four companies were selected in the Chicago region as a result of a tie.

• Colorlab Cosmetics creates hand-crafted, custom- blended and fresh-made cosmetics.
• K.W. Powell & Associates, Inc. provides a web- based, manufacturing sales enabler product to manufacturers that sell through dealer/distributor networks.
• Leading Edge Hydraulics is a premier manufacturer of hydraulic tube assemblies and fittings to the off-highway & mobile hydraulics industry.

For more information on the program, please visit www.INNOVATEI llinois.org.

IMEC and Vistage International, the world's largest CEO membership organization, announce they are joining forces to help Illinois business leaders grow their companies.

"Vistage and IMEC will make a great collaboration," said Arne Stegvik, President of ABA of America Inc in Rockford. Stegvik is a four year member of a Vistage "Group", a cohort of member CEOs and business leaders who meet regularly to improve decision-making and performance in their respective companies.

"Vistage has helped me see things at the strategic level, and IMEC has worked with me to execute the strategy." Since joining Vistage, Stegvik's hose clamp and fluid systems business has expanded two- fold.

Under the arrangement with Vistage (formerly TEC International), IMEC will recruit business leaders from both the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors to participate in Vistage Groups. Trained Vistage "Chairs" mentor the members and facilitate problem-solving with other members. Mary Hallock, an IMEC business specialist, has received extensive training from Vistage and will facilitate a jointly sponsored IMEC-Vistage Group.

"The IMEC-Vistage program will be an excellent way for leaders to join forces with others and make better business decisions about how to grow their companies," said Bob Weinstein, IMEC President. "The Vistage model has been proven to help business leaders generate more revenues and increase their effectiveness as company leaders. IMEC shares this mission as well.

IMEC Board Director Ed Wolbert, President of Transco Products, has also seen his business grow due to involvement in Vistage and IMEC. "My Vistage group helps me identify issues early and keeps me accountable for my decisions," he said. Wolbert said IMEC's continuous improvement resources help accelerate the implementation of strategies that come from his involvement in the Vistage group. "Our revenues have grown 300 percent in four years. Both organizations are a great resource for me."

The first joint IMEC-Vistage group will be started in the Rockford area. CEOs will learn more about the benefits of the Vistage program at an executive briefing on July 24 at Giovanni's. Other groups will be launched in key Illinois metros such as Peoria, Champaign, and the East St. Louis area.

For more on the IMEC-Vistage affiliation, contact IMEC's Mary Hallock at 815-721-4474.

Information provided by IMEC