The Rockford Area Economic Development Council (RAEDC) collaborates with regional stakeholders to cultivate opportunities for primary job growth that increase the economic well-being of our region. The RAEDC markets the region to attract new capital investment, while assisting existing business with resources for sustainable growth. The RAEDC works closely with many partners to improve the competitiveness of the region by taking what it learns from the region’s employers and engaging the community in the daily work of economic development. As the economic development organization for the region, the RAEDC also serves as the area’s data collection agency on all new capital investment, retained and created quality jobs, and renovated commercial/industrial space.
The RAEDC President’s Circle investors serve as trusted advisors to the RAEDC on primary economic development priorities and strategies. Many of these investors are leaders in the Rockford Region’s business community. The members of the President’s Circle wish to establish strong lines of reciprocal communication with young business professionals so as to have a more encompassing approach to economic development in our region. The thoughts and ideas of young business leaders are a very important element in the RAEDC’s efforts to attract and retain young talent in our region.
To that end, the following steps are being proposed:
- The RAEDC has built a Facebook page as a forum for communication and will invite a designated point person from each young professional group as an administrator. Each administrator would invite their respective members to participate with the page.
- Specific topics of interest as well as questions initiated by the RAEDC and the President’s Circle would be shared via the Facebook page to solicit feedback from the area’s young professionals.
- Periodically, the RAEDC and its President’s Circle members would host an event or forum to review questions/comments which have been submitted for the purpose of fostering a dialogue with the area’s young professionals.
It is our belief that establishing a strong line of communication between young professionals in our community, the RAEDC and its stakeholders, we will fulfill the ultimate goal of making the Rockford Region a more vibrant place to work, live and play.
