DCEO Director Jack Lavin Lauds Innovative Efforts of the Rock River Valley Entrepreneurship Center
ROCKFORD - Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich’s top economic development official visited the Rock River Valley Entrepreneurship Center today to announce $150,000 in new funding and to highlight the Center’s work to help local entrepreneurs and their promising ventures develop into successes in the marketplace.
“One of the greatest sources of job creation over the last several years has come from small businesses and start-up companies, so it’s essential that we continue encouraging entrepreneurship to bring even more jobs to the Rock River Valley. By bringing in new companies, making strategic investments to help small businesses grow and taking innovative steps to open new markets, we are providing the tools to create better jobs across the region. The Rock River Valley Entrepreneurship Center is helping us turn promising ideas into promising companies that are putting more people to work,” Gov. Blagojevich said.
The Rock River Valley Entrepreneurship Center has previously received $450,000 to act as a regional hub to coordinate all small business development, entrepreneurship training and development activity in the Northern Stateline region since opening in 2004.
The Rock River Valley E-Center is one of 19 entrepreneurship centers Gov. Blagojevich has opened. The entrepreneurship centers make up one vital component of the Illinois Entrepreneurship Network (IEN), a comprehensive network of resources designed to strengthen the state’s capacity to develop small businesses into market successes and help entrepreneurship act as a more dynamic engine of growth. Gov. Blagojevich launched the IEN Web site, www.ienconnect.com, which features a free business needs assessment and a referral within 24 hours for personalized, face-to-face assistance. Entrepreneurs can also call toll-free 1-800-252-2923.
“As part of our commitment to education and career development, as well as the economic stability of the region, Rock Valley College is proud to partner with the State of Illinois and our area leaders in the
opportunities available through the Rock River Valley Entrepreneurship Center,” said Rock Valley College President, Dr. Jack Becherer. “The Entrepreneurship Center reaches out to constituents with the conviction,
creativity, and passion to build a successful business. Their success directly contributes to the vitality of our region. It is an honor to play a role in our entrepreneurs’ achievement.”
The Rock River Valley E-Center offers challenge grants and a number of other specialized resources for its clients. The $5,000 awards assist entrepreneurs or small businesses with obtaining professional services for comprehensive business plan assistance, evaluation of a proposed start-up or expansion or other accelerated support purposes. Award funding is determined based on the potential for successful achievement of a significant business milestone for client firms. The Rock River Valley E-Center has awarded 28 challenge grants awards to date totaling $135,000. Additionally, the E-Center has served 880 clients.
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Director Jack Lavin highlighted some of the successes of the Rock River Valley E-Center:
ATS Medical Services, Inc. is a new ambulance service located on the west side of Rockford. ATS provides emergency and non-emergency advanced life support response to urban and rural areas in the region, which includes Winnebago, Stephenson, Boone and Ogle counties. The company received a $5,000 challenge grant to assist with marketing efforts to build relationships and increase public awareness. The company continues to expand and has purchased four more vehicles and hired the necessary crew to staff the vehicles. Andrew Schultz, Co-Owner – 815/963.6885
Deveco Corporation is an established leader in the metal finishing industry based in Belvidere. The company is moving forward with three new products formulated from renewable resources, and its current efforts focus on the development and marketing of these cleaning products that are derived from soybeans, corn and oranges as the main active ingredients. The company received a $5,000 challenge grant toward market analysis and research. The company is leveraging this information to target key consumer and customer segments for these renewable formulated cleaning products and is developing a strategic promotional campaign to foster a robust product launch. Lisa Norgard, General Manager – 815/544.9797
Emery Air Inc. is a full service Fixed Base Operator (FBO) with existing capabilities that include aircraft maintenance and modifications, air charter, line maintenance operations providing catering, fuel service, de-icing, baggage handling and airline customer support. The company received a $10,000 challenge grant for the initiation and execution of a targeted Internet and magazine recruitment campaign to support Emery Air’s new Regional Aircraft Maintenance Division, in addition to its existing operations. The company currently has 210 employees and projects growing to 325 over the next two years. Steve Thomas, President and CEO – 815/986.2170
“We must seize every opportunity to help our small businesses grow and create more good jobs across the region. With Gov. Blagojevich’s strong support over the last several years, that is exactly what the Rock River Valley E-Center has been able to do,” State Rep. Chuck Jefferson (D-Rockford) said.
“I would like to applaud Governor Blagojevich for launching the Illinois Entrepreneurship Network and the Rock River Valley E-Center. Small businesses and entrepreneurs are the backbone of our economy, and have been a key factor in our continued economic success. This additional funding will help turn new ideas into added companies, which means more jobs for our citizens,” Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey said.
“The Rock River Valley E-Center has played a critical role in helping young firms with high growth potential develop into economically viable and sustainable companies that will grow and create jobs across the region. We’ve done our homework in studying the strengths and challenges of growing a small business, and this center is designed to offer targeted services most in need by local entrepreneurs, including access to capital, markets, networks and technology,” DCEO Director Jack Lavin said
Gov. Blagojevich recently announced that Illinois added more new jobs than any other state in July. In July, Illinois led the nation in monthly job growth by creating 31,100 new jobs. This is the second time this year Illinois has created more new jobs than any other state, which has never happened before in recorded history. Illinois also led the nation in job growth in April. The total number of new jobs created this year is 76,400, which is the best start to a year since 1998. Since January 2004, Illinois has gained more than 151,000 new jobs, while the Rockford area has added nearly 8,000 jobs.
It was just announced today that the Illinois unemployment rate dropped to 4.4 percent, which is its lowest level since October 2000. It has remained at or below the national rate for five consecutive months, which is the first time this has happened in seven years. The state has dropped below the national unemployment rate for the third time this year, which is the first time this has occurred in eight years. The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security compiled these statistics.
Site Selection Magazine also ranked Illinois third in the nation for attracting new and expanded corporate facilities in 2005, and Business Facilities Magazine named Illinois the top state for biotech growth last year.