Officials from the City of Rochelle and Economic and Community Development staff welcomed local and regional developers, brokers, business owners, tradesmen, utility representatives, and community leaders to discuss ways to further streamline the development process and encourage business retention and future expansion. The event was held at SALT 251 at the Fairways Public Golf Course. Over 40 participants attended the meeting.
“The City of Rochelle has experienced unprecedented economic growth while investing in road, rail, airport, and utility infrastructure”, said Mayor John Bearrows. He added, “Over $51 million dollars has been spent as we team up with local, state, and federal partners to build a transportation and distribution network that can service both domestic and international businesses and consumers”.
The group heard about the importance of workforce development through collaborations with Kishwaukee College, the Greater Rochelle Economic Development Corporation (GREDCO), and Rochelle Township High School (RTHS). City officials strive to create an environment of open communication with its development partners while staying focused on its newly-revised Mission, Vision, and Strategic Goals.
The Developer Summit was hosted by Mayor John Bearrows and City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh. A presentation entitled Come Grow With Us, shared highlights of the $1.3 Billion invested in Rochelle in the recent decade.
“Mayor Bearrows and I are excited to host the first annual Developer Summit in the City of Rochelle. Both the Mayor and I know and appreciate how important new development is to our community”, said City Manager Fiegenschuh whose top priorities for the event include promoting Rochelle as a great place to do business, seeking input from the development community, and creating ways to better improve the building process. “I know that working together will move Rochelle forward”, he added.
With the addition of three Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts, Opportunity and Enterprise Zones, a Historic District, and project-specific incentives, Rochelle is positioning itself to be a driving force of economic and community development in the region. Locally-owned and operated municipal utilities offer an advantage to existing and new businesses looking to be competitive in a domestic or global market.
A follow-up to the Developer Summit is scheduled for November 7, 2019 where city officials will report on progresses made from feedback received from a small group breakout session where attendees responded to direct questions from the city to help improve core services, best practices, and city building codes and ordinances.
For more information about economic development and the right location for business visit www.excelinrochelle.com
