Fall/Winter 2012 News from Growth Dimensions

Fall/Winter 2012 Investor News from Growth Dimensions

Rockford Region Diversification Plan Identifies Workforce Development & Attraction as #1 Urgent Priority

*In 2011, Rockford Area Strategic Initiatives (RASI) received an Adjustment Grant from the Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) for the creation of an economic diversification plan for the Rockford region of Winnebago and Boone Counties. Private and public sector leaders were assembled into a Diversification Committee as part of the Rockford Region Economic Development District's (RREDD) Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), and in June 2012 hired AngelouEconomics to complete the plan, including an analysis of the region's competitiveness in the following industries: aerospace, aviation and logistics, medical equipment manufacturing, and alternative energy parts manufacturing (wind, solar and biofuels).

RREDD Chairman Bob Walberg, Chairman of Boone County, endorses the plan, stating: "I am excited to work with my fellow County Board members and community leaders on these initiatives, and have reflected on what I can do now to start implementing these measures. I am inspired to reach out to our young citizens and engage them in political and community participation."

The strategic Rockford Region Diversification Plan has been completed and presented to the community. The plan is now available to the region at large, and regional private and public leaders will begin implementation of the 10+ goals and tactics. These goals revolve around four themes: quality of the built environment, regional collaboration, targeted industries and workforce. RREDD Executive Director Patricia Diduch states, "Many community leaders, both private and public, have expressed great interest in really tackling these goals now - not tomorrow. AngelouEconomic's message of urgency has sunk in, and I'm confident we will make significant progress as we quickly move forward."

Janyce Fadden, RAEDC President, adds: "We have had some outstanding announcements this year, specifically Woodward, but this AngelouEconomics report highlights that we have much work to do in the region if we want to not only retain our recent successes but move towards transforming our larger region into wide-scale prosperity."

C. Mark Williams, Executive Director of Growth Dimensions of Belvidere - Boone County, adds: "It's important that the region can come together with a common voice to address and meet the goals that have been set forth. Our significant projects, including the Chrysler Group's recent expansion, prove that this area is a valuable place to do business, and now we must work diligently to create the type of environment that will retain our quality companies and attract the needed workforce."

Click here to view the complete Rockford Region Diversification Plan

*Information provided by the Rockford Region Economic Development District (RREDD)

Downtown Belvidere Gets Facelift with Recent Street Improvements and Mural Restorations

Belvidere's Buchanan Street and Whitney Boulevard are part of the 2012 TIF Improvement Project. The project limits include Whitney Blvd. from Buchanan to Logan and Buchanan from Whitney to Main.

The Buchanan and Whitney Street project consists of:

Replacement of watermain in Buchanan Street from Whitney to Main
Elimination of watermain in Whitney
Curb and gutter, storm sewers, sidewalks, stamped concrete and terrace landscaping improvements

Additional Improvements within the 2012 TIF Improvement Project include:

ADA Compliant sidewalk ramps; all sidewalk returns within the Downtown TIF are being updated as part of the City's ADA Transition Plan.
Brick Paver Replacement; the brick pavers within the Downtown TIF are being replaced with stamped/colored concrete.

Stenstrom General Contractors was the general contractor for the entire project, which was completed in November 2012.

The restoration of murals along Belvidere's Mural Mile was also part of the The Brick Mural TIF project. In addition to the mural work done by mural artist, John Berry, several business owners have taken advantage of a 50/50 cost share for storefront re-painting and widow replacement projects. The Brick Cafe and Art Gallery has also restored the "Welcome to Belvidere" mural and Belvidere Manley Motors has resurfaced its parking surface.

*Pictured right, The Brick Cafe & Art Gallery

Stenstrom Stresses Importance of Having a Seat at the Economic Development Table

Stenstrom Companies is entering it's second year as a gold member in the Growth Dimensions' organization. Dave Sockness, President of Stenstrom Excavation, Blacktop Group and Stenstrom Petroleum Services, represents the company on the economic development groups's board of Directors.

Dave has been with Stenstrom for nearly 40 years and believes it's important for the company to be part of the community's efforts to create a quality business environment.

"As a member of the Growth Dimensions' organization, I value the association with others that possess a common goal: enhancing the economic development efforts of our region. Our group is very active in support of neighboring communities, knowledgeable of current factors affecting our local economy, and insistent on providing leadership that will produce positive results."

The Stenstrom Company is a 3rd generation business, which specializes in general construction, underground utility, petroleum services, real estate development and residential plumbing, heating and pest control. The company is a recognized leader in their industry and has received the Loyola University Family Business of the Year Award in 2009. Along with the TIF Improvement projects, Stenstrom also worked on the Road Ranger addition project on South State Street in Belvidere. Other area projects include Anderson Car Dealership in Rockford, Illinois Tollway petroleum project and the Phase 2 portion for Nicholas Conservatory.

Growth Dimensions extends the utmost gratitude and appreciation to Dave Sockness and the Stenstrom Companies for their continued support and involvement in the organization and looks forward to the ongoing partnership in the years to come.

Unique Print Shop Brings Custom Services and Taste of Art to Downtown Belvidere

Locust Street Press is now calling Belvidere home. The print shop is located at 116 West Locust in downtown Belvidere and its 5,000 s.f. of space houses nearly 20 old world printing presses that have a unique place in the printing industry, along with the art world.

Locust Street Press operations are far from modern practice. The business is a bit of a new and old adventure. Beginning in the late sixties a thirteen year old boy with one typesetting class under his belt began Printers Specialty Services, Inc. Now approaching 2013, owner Russell Caldwell, along with his daughter, Heather Steines, find themselves with 20 presses, a new name and a passion to create products for their clients for their use and something that many would consider a piece of art. Russell and Heather recently renovated the Belvidere building that was the former Eagles Club space.

"It's fascinating to me to think that our industry thrived in an era when Model T's were rumbling down dirt roads," states Steines. "I think the most motivating thing personally is seeing and hearing feedback from our clients. One recently posted a photo of a recent project to Twitter and used the hashtag #stunning. Not sure I could ever say that about anything run off of my desktop printer."

Locust Street Press offers various services, for both commercial printers and individuals, with a focus on the artistic aspects of letterpress printing. Such services include:

*Letterpress Printing

*Foil Stamping

*Embossing/Debossing

*Die Cutting

*Perforating

Locust Street Press' oldest press dates back to 1890. Owners say the print shop is always on the hunt for more equipment. Beyond fulfilling client print orders, the shop would like to be able to offer demonstrations eventually to educate others about the process, hoping they will echo the same enthusiasm for the letterpress printing industry. Steines says the company also looks forward to producing their own line of letterpress design in the future.

"It is quite fascinating to think that anything that can be created on a computer can now be plated and used on our old equipment," says Steines. "It simply makes the art of letterpress more and more relevant today."

Locust Street press is also currently home to local calligrapher, Lindsay Letters.

Steines expresses, "Isn't it interesting that a job produced by equipment manufactured nearly a century before computers is now being touted by the likes of social media empires today. These are the types of things that make working in an old print shop in today's world interesting."

For more information on the Locust Street Press Company and their history and services, please visit www.locuststreetpress.com.

Belvidere Welcomes New Business and Enterprise Zone Investments for Eating & Treating

Below is a look at recent commercial investments in the Belvidere-Boone County Enterprise Zone. Over 20 jobs have been created among these projects.

The Measuring Cup- 1454 N. State, Belvidere

Located in the Belvidere-Boone County Enterprise Zone, The Measuring Cup is a specialty bakery with made from scratch items like "mom used to make" short breads, cupcakes, specialty cakes, scones, pies, cookies and more.

DIYogurt- 978 Belvidere Road, Suite 8, Belvidere

DIYogurt, also an investment in the Belvidere-Boone County Enterprise Zone, is a self serve frozen yogurt shop featuring a healthy alternative to ice cream.

Wicked Brew Cafe (re-opened) 506 S. State Belvidere

A charming coffee cafe beautifully restored to a vintage, turn-of-the-century style serving serving breakfasts, lunches & baked items.
www.wickedbrewcafe.com

Bush Gardens Bar and Grill (re-opened)- 622 S. State Street, Belvidere

Bush Gardens was another Enterprise Zone project located downtown Belvidere. The eatery opened their doors summer of 2012.

Unique Dodge Dart Police Car Escorts Belvidere Assembly Plant Employees to Area Food Pantry

Dodge Dart Food Pantry *Employees at Chrysler Group's Belvidere Assembly Plant had a special escort today on their way to the Belvidere/Boone County Food Pantry.

Leading their procession of Chrysler Group vehicles laden with food for Thanksgiving Day dinners was the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart compact car. But this Belvidere-built Dart looked remarkably like a police car, complete with overhead light bar and Belvidere Police Department graphics on the sides.

The police department already patrols the community in a Dodge Charger Pursuit, America's high-performance police vehicle, but Chrysler Group does not offer a Dodge Dart police car. So Belvidere Police Chief Jan Noble approached Chrysler Group with an idea - provide the Belvidere Police Department with a police vehicle made in the Belvidere Assembly Plant.

"The Belvidere Police Department wanted to drive what's built in their town by their own citizens," said Peter Grady, Vice President of Network Development & Fleet, Chrysler Group LLC. "This was a terrific opportunity to support the Belvidere police and continue to foster our longtime partnership with this city and region."

The result is a unique built-in-Belvidere Dodge Dart police vehicle that the city will use for non-patrol tasks and ceremonial purposes. Grady notes that 20 percent of law enforcement fleet vehicles typically are non-patrol vehicles used by detectives, police administrators, and other police department personnel.

The Belvidere Police Department will provide Chrysler Group with feedback on the uses for this test vehicle. The Company will use that feedback to determine whether a non-patrol Dodge Dart police vehicle could be marketed to other law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

In its first ceremonial function, the Dart was used today to escort the food drive procession from the Belvidere Assembly Plant to the local county pantry in Capron, Ill.

With Thanksgiving approaching, Chrysler Group employees across the Midwest have been taking time out from building cars and trucks to make sure their neighbors have the means to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving Day dinner. Today, everything from canned fruit and vegetables to cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie filling and stuffing mix was packed up and loaded into Chrysler Group vehicles for delivery to the food pantry.

The annual Chrysler Group Thanksgiving Food Drive taking place today in partnership with the UAW, is part of the Company's long-standing tradition of giving back to its local communities and will help local food pantries restock their shelves in time for Thanksgiving. To complete the menu, The Chrysler Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Chrysler Group, has purchased more than 1,500 frozen turkeys, which will also be distributed by the food pantries.

Pictured above right: Belvidere Mayor Fred Brereton and Belvidere Police Chief Jan Noble along side the Chrysler Dodge Dart

*Information provided by Chrysler Group LLC

3rd Annual Harvest Fest Brings Community Together

2012 Harvest Fest The third annual Boone County Harvest Fest took place on October 13th in Belvidere Park and festive event was held in efforts to raise funds for the Kishwaukee Riverfront Mutli-use recreational path.

This event included Baltic Mill festival arts area, scarecrow contest, vendor displays, build-your-own scarecrow and pick-a-pumpkin patch, beer tent, live music and much more.

Despite the rain that fel throughout the day, hundreds of community members came out to experience the annual event. New to this year's event, students throughout District 100 painted and decorated pickets fences. There were over 150 fences on display through out the park at the event, that were also available for purchase. All proceeds went to the path inititaive. There are still fences available for sale. If you are interested, please www.belviderepark.org to view.

The Kishwaukee Riverfront Multi-Use Path consists of approximately 9 miles of hard surface continuous path from State Streen in downtown Belvidere west along the river through Doty and Belvidere Parks, then north through Spencer Conservation area and along Appleton Road, crossing Business Route 20, continuing north to Beloit Road. The east path travels along Big Thunder Boulevard where it loops Prairie Fields Sports Park. The north path parallels Beloit Road.

Growth Dimensions' Kishwaukee Riverfront Development Initiative aims to connect Boone County communities through a multi-use recreational path system. Funds from the Harvest Fest Event will go towards the efforts to further path development.

Growth Dimensions for Belvidere-Boone County · 200 South State Street · Belvidere, Illinois 61008

Phone: 815.547.4252 · Fax: 866.353.2772

Mark Williams, Executive Director
cmwilliams@growthdimensions.org

Kelly Galluzzo, Business Services Manager
kgalluzzo@growthdimensions.org