| Biodiesel Company Breaks Ground in Crosslink Business Park |
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BioVantage Fuels, LLC held a groundbreaking ceremony on a five million gallon per year biodiesel facility. The facility will begin operations in early 2008, making ASTM (American Society of Testing and Measurement) D-6751 specification, renewable biodiesel fuel for blending with traditional diesel fuel.
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Infrastructure Defense Technologies Expands Belvidere Facility
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Infrastructure Defense Technologies, Inc., a division of Corrugated Metals of Belvidere recently completed a 40,000s square foot addition to its existing facility on Morreim Drive. The project, which broke ground just after Memorial Day, was completed on schedule by CORD Construction, Inc. on October 10th. The new addition will allow for increased production of IDT's flagship product THE METALITH which is an anti-terrorism barrier that protects American military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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| General Mills Receives $3.8 Million Investment Package for Expansion |
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| 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.
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| AgTech Initiative Continues to Progress Throughout 2007 |
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Growth Dimensions' AgTech Initiative has continued its efforts to nurture the commercialization of biofuels and bioenergy opportunities.
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| Tollway Station Point
Transit Oriented Development Team Stays Focused on Plans for Smart Growth
The Tollway Station Point Transit Oriented Development Initiave made advancements in 2007 through the development of boundary agreements, growth management studies and transporation plans.
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| Region Collaborates for Workforce Development Needs |
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Representatives of area business organizations and economic development agencies are launching an effort to help companies in this area recruit and train new employees. The collaboration includes representatives from the Workforce Connection and Boone and Winnebago Counties Workforce Investment Board, the Rockford and Belvidere Chambers of Commerce, Growth Dimensions of Belvidere and Boone County, the Rockford Area Economic Development Council, Winnebago County, Abilities Center/TECHWORKS and Rock Valley College.
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| Interserve Consolidates Operations in Belvidere |
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Interserve, a local manufacturer that assembles displays for home improvement stores and building materials suppliers with facilities in Marengo and Belvidere, will be consolidating their operations to LandMark Logistics Park in Belvidere. Interserve will be constructing a 42,000 square foot facility in the business park located just north of Bypass Route 20. The new facility is expected to be complete and occupied by summer 2008. The company employs up to 70 individuals during their peak season.
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| Belvedere USA Becomes Privately Held Company with Sale |
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Belvedere USA Corporation announced that it is now a privately held company after completion of a purchase agreement between two senior company managers and parent company Proctor and Gamble. Horst Ackermann was president of Belvedere USA and Barry Sanders served as vice president of finance and administration for the company when it was a subsidiary of P&G.
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| SwedishAmerican Healthcare Facility Locating in Belvidere |
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SwedishAmerican Hospital has been granted approval by the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board to acquire Northwest Suburban Community Hospital in Belvidere. During the next year, SwedishAmerican will completely renovate the Emergency Department and Outpatient areas of the Hospital, which will be named SwedishAmerican Medical Center/Belvidere once the renovations are complete. Board certified doctors will staff the Emergency Department 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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| 173 Interchange Project is Completed |
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The interchange at Illinois 173 and Interstate 90 project is complete and opened to traffic July 2nd. The completion of the long awaited project was kicked off with a ribbon cutting ceremony, which began with the presentation of colors from the Illinois Army National Guard, Machesney Park. Local leaders took the stand and expressed appreciation on the collaboration among the local, state and federal governments and the Illinois Department of Transpiration and Illinois State Highway Authority.
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| Belvidere Business Park Development Underway |
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The University of Illinois Extension campus will be the first development in the Belvidere Business Park. The new 38 acre business park is located off of Logan Avenue, northeast of the Logan Avenue and Genoa Road intersection. The park is also getting ready to break ground on an 8,800 square foot office/medical facility.
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| Physician's ImmediateCare Relocated to Belvidere |
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Physicians ImmediateCare moved to its new location at 1663 Belvidere Road in Belvidere February 1st, 2007. The facility was formerly located at 303 Andrews Drive in Belvidere. | |
| East Riverside Bridge Opens |
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Belvidere Township held a ribbon cutting ceremony on November 15th to celebrate the grand opening of the East Riverside Bridge, located in the 1900 block of Riverside Road. Construction began on the bridge in July of this year.
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| Pacemaker Foods & Snyders Drug Make Way to Poplar Grove |
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Pacemaker Fine Foods and Snyders Drug store have announced that they will be opening stores in Poplar Grove this upcoming year. The development plan reveals a 35,000-40,000 square foot grocery story and a 14,000-16,000 square foot drug store.
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| Personal Leadership, Main Message at Annual Dinner |
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The 2007 Growth Dimensions annual dinner meeting, "On Track to Make a Difference" showcased General Mills-Green Giant's presence in the community for nearly 105 years and reflected how the company has grown to a level that adds significant value to Belvidere and Boone County. Most recently, General Mills-Green Giant has expanded their operations into a new snack food line, which will also result in the creation of approximately 50 new jobs.
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| Kishwaukee River Redevelopment Underway |
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The City of Belvidere continues efforts towards the redevelopment and cleanup of the Brownsfield sight on the Kishwaukee Riverfront in downtown Belvidere. The site has recently been enrolled in the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Voluntary Site Remediation Program, and the city will look to use Revolving Loan Fund dollars towards the cleanup of the site. The city anticipates that the revitalization of the Kishwaukee Riverfront Redevelopment area creates a cultural economic center of Boone County through building restoration, commercial, residential and recreational developments.
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| 2007 Kishwalk Event
Wraps Up 19 years of Fundraising for Belvidere Path Development |
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The Growth Dimensions Kishwaukee Riverfront Development Committee is pleased to announce that the 19th and final 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.
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