May 6-10 is Economic Development Week. The Greater Freeport Partnership is proud to announce its participation in the 2024 Economic Development Week, a global initiative led by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). The IEDC created Economic Development Week in 2016 to recognize the work that economic development organizations and professionals do in their communities.
“As the local and regional economies evolve, the economic development profession must remain agile and responsive to change. The expertise of dedicated economic development professionals and organizations is vital in cultivating sustainable growth and prosperity,” said IEDC President & CEO Nathan Ohle.
Economic development is at the center of all efforts at the Greater Freeport Partnership. Our economic development efforts fall into many categories but are all integrally tied together and need to work in tandem to strengthen a thriving local economy. Businesses need a quality workforce to operate; existing and prospective employees want to live in communities with beautifully designed places; and residents want a high quality of life with things to do.
Moving the needle in economic development requires continuous synchronized efforts in all our areas of focus:
- Retaining existing businesses and helping them to expand
- Attracting new businesses to the area
- Developing sites for business expansion
- Developing our current and future workforce
- Supporting entrepreneurs
- Designing spaces that residents and visitors want to frequent
- Expanding opportunities for tourism and events
- Collaborating to build communities where all feel like they belong.
To grow our economy, existing businesses need opportunities to expand and develop sites or redevelop buildings. New businesses and entrepreneurs need to see our communities as a place where their business can take root and grow. The programs developed and implemented by the Partnership worked in each of these focus areas to bring people and businesses together. The Partnership cannot do this work alone and requires the support and collaboration with our private business, education, and government partners for Freeport and Stephenson County to become the destination of choice.
Throughout the week you will see highlights of our economic development work in social media posts and a proclamation will be read at both Freeport City Council Meeting and the Stephenson County Board. Join us in celebrating Economic Development Week, as it impacts everything we all do!
Andrea Schultz Winter is the Executive Director for the Greater Freeport Partnership. She can be reached at awinter@greaterfreeport.com or 815-233-1354
