$300K in grants to support workforce development, tourism in Rockford

By Mary Sisk
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The city has been awarded nearly $300,000 in state grants to promote economic recovery after the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

These grants come from the Research in Illinois to Spur Economic Recovery program, which is part of the American Rescue Plan Act to heal the economic after-effects of the pandemic.

The agencies receiving these funds are the Region 1 Planning Council and the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

“I’m grateful to see these dollars coming into our community,” said Mayor Tom McNamara. “Creating both of these plans will help Rockford’s long-term economic recovery and improve quality of life in our community.”

More in Rockford: New partnership opens part of the Coronado that hasn’t had regular guests in roughly 70 years

Region 1 Planning Council is a government partner offering planning services to northern Illinois, and it will receive $148,916 to conduct workforce and business attraction analysis.

The visitors bureau will receive $150,000 to create a tourism recovery plan designed to make the industry more resilient to fluctuations. The plan is also intended to increase employment opportunities and spur private investment.

“This RISE grant will allow the RACVB to create a plan to increase and improve the region’s tourism economy which, in turn, creates a stronger community to live and work in,” said visitors bureau president and CEO John Groh. “We are grateful to the state of Illinois for their confidence in RACVB to carry out this work.”

Also in the city: ‘A facelift for Rockford’: City celebrates first graduates of new workforce development program

This article is by Mary Sisk. Email her at msisk@rockrivercurrent.com or follow her on Instagram at @maryrrcurrent