Author archive for Nicole

Finding the right location to start a new business or expand and grow an existing business is a complex decision.…

Like many others, I took a recent road-trip vacation to tour well-established destination river towns; towns that have embraced placemaking…

The Greater Freeport Partnership Community Business Academy (CBA) is an experiential, interactive learning program for aspiring and current business owners.…

June marked the four-year anniversary of the Greater Freeport Partnership; when the Northwest Illinois Development Alliance (NIDA), Freeport Area Chamber…

In April of 2010, my husband, Scott Winter, and our two children, both under the age of 2, left Portland,…

The tourism industry is laden with data, just like any other economic engine. Metrics are tracked for tax revenue, visitor…

  Most businesses rely on a certain amount of data to effectively manage their operations. It is hard to know…

Graduation season was in full swing this past weekend in our area.  Congratulations to all those who have attained their…

While there have already been so many reasons to celebrate the month of May, we can not forget National Small…

Happy National Economic Development Week! In the spirit of celebration, and because entrepreneurial development and small business support is important…