Posts by Doug Hessong

The value of practical skills Harlem High School’s construction program builds futures By Melissa Hagerman, Harlem High School Harlem High School recognizes that in today’s rapidly evolving job market, students need practical skills to prepare for their futures. To achieve this, Harlem allows high school students to pick a pathway of interest—one which tailors their…

Guiding small businesses to long-term success For SBDC, every week is National Small Business Week Nate Jordan, Rock Valley College Small Business Development Center National Small Business Week (May 4-10) is an ideal time to celebrate the passion and resilience of the local entrepreneurs who help drive our regional economy forward. At the Rock Valley…

Record high infrastructure projects Making Rockford more accessible to residents and visitors By John Groh, GoRockford Driving through the city of Rockford right now, you will witness a dizzying amount of roadwork. That’s because investment in our infrastructure—starting with Rockford’s streets, sidewalks, sewers and water mains, bridges, and bike paths—is at a record high. A…

Local roots and a global reach Many businesses in our area quietly contribute to global industries, while maintaining strong local roots. One such company, Aqua-Aerobic Systems, has not only thrived in Rockford for five decades but is also playing a pivotal role in revolutionizing water treatment technology—locally, nationally, and internationally. As the company undergoes a…

Government Affairs Committee update The newly formed Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce (GRCC) Government Affairs Committee is tasked with helping Chamber members get to know their local government and helping local officials—and the voting public—better understand the needs of the business community. Any individual or business concerned about promoting a pro-business economic environment in the…

Defining thriving GRCC’s vision for the future is to “relentlessly grow, develop, and support a thriving business community.” In strategic planning terms, it’s a vision that’s aspirational, akin to the Lexus slogan touting “the relentless pursuit of perfection.” Both demonstrate a commitment to continuous progress toward the goals of perfection, or, in GRCC’s case, a…

Helping local companies mitigate tariff risk Tariff-day has arrived, sending waves of uncertainty across the C-suites of global companies. How long can my cash flow absorb the impact of my inventory carrying costs suddenly increasing 10-25%? It’s questions like this that are keeping CEOs and CFOs up at night. If your company is seeking to…

Northern Illinois Council of Governments The Rockford region is a wonderful place to live, grow a family, and start a business. But it can be tough for our area to stand out as a critical economy to state and federal governments when we live in the shadow of larger markets such as Chicago, Milwaukee and…

Made for Rockford Even the best workplace culture isn’t enough to keep a loyal employee if they don’t feel at home. What happens from 5-9 p.m. can be more impactful than their 9-5. That little dash in between? That’s where Made for Rockford comes in. If you’re new to the program, let me introduce myself……

Workforce demands and housing Last month I highlighted the need for the public sector and private sector to further align towards the goal of attracting private investment and capital to our region. There is no bigger nexus for this right now than growing and improving our housing stock. The number of dwelling units available over…