GOV. BLAGOJEVICH ANNOUNCES ROCKFORD'S CERTIFICATION AS RIVER EDGE REDEVELOPMENT ZONE

ROCKFORD - Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich announced today that the City of Rockford has been certified as a River Edge Redevelopment Zone, an innovative new pilot program designed to help the city revitalize its riverfront.  With the Rock River as a backdrop, Illinois EPA Director Doug Scott joined state and local leaders at Davis Park in Rockford to celebrate the announcement. 

 

The certification will provide additional resources for the redevelopment of Rockford's riverfront and downtown rehabilitation of old industrial sites into viable commercial, residential and recreational destinations. The results of this pilot project will demonstrate innovation and collaboration among the city of Rockford, the state of Illinois, and private developers. 

 

The River Edge Redevelopment Initiative includes the designation of redevelopment zones that will be eligible to receive tax credits, exemptions and new grant funding to support clean-up, remediation and redevelopment efforts that will lead to economic revitalization in these areas.  This initiative combines resources across state agencies, primarily the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and the Illinois EPA.

 

 "River communities like Rockford were the original economic engines of Illinois, and there are underutilized and abandoned properties along major waterways prime for redevelopment. River Edge Redevelopment will provide Rockford and local businesses with the additional resources they need to be able to clean-up brownfields sites, which is going to attract more businesses and put more people to work," Gov. Blagojevich said. 

 

River Edge will allow for multiple redevelopments using several abandoned industrial sites along the river, creating both recreational and residential development spaces including: a major indoor/outdoor whitewater attraction; an office, residential and educational facility; an environmentally friendly fish passage for the Upper Rock River; a new marina, and new commercial and residential developments along the River. 

 

"We expect the River Edge initiative to lead to a renaissance along Rockford's river banks, and the transformation that will occur will manifest itself in several positive ways.  Revitalizing land that has been abandoned for years will not only enhance the beauty of the waterfront for the community, and for people across the state, but it will also lead the way to an economic revitalization for the community," said Illinois EPA Director Doug Scott.

 

The River Edge program will be very instrumental in assisting both the City and private developers with redevelopment efforts and environmental remediation along the Rock River.  The River Edge designation will help Rockford in their revitalization of the Riverfront area, which will benefit the City in several ways, including eliminating some sources of pollution.

 

"Gov. Blagojevich understands that there is a pressing need to redevelop old, underutilized and contaminated properties in Rockford.  But developers and businesses generally won't make significant investments in areas that require significant amounts of remediation.  The River Edge Redevelopment Initiative will provide vital resources to offset some of these costs so we can bring more opportunities and jobs to the Rock River Valley," DCEO Director Jack Lavin said.

 

"Rockford has the Rock River running through the heart of its downtown and is actively embracing this wonderful resource," Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) said.  Redeveloping the area is another way to take advantage of all of our assets to continue growing the economy and creating more jobs."

 

"This project is an excellent example of effective collaboration between the local, regional, state and federal levels," State Representative Chuck Jefferson (D-Rockford) said.  "I am happy to be a part of this venture and look forward to watching this area grow and benefit the community."

 

"The River Edge Redevelopment program provides the city the opportunity to move forward and move our riverfront from its historic industrial use, to a modernized, urban setting that will better meet the needs of our citizens and our visitors," said Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey.   "I would like to commend the state for putting a program in place that allows Rockford to build on the ‘live, shop, and stroll' zone of our downtown area, and for developing a program that allows cities across Illinois to bring their retired industrial riverfronts back to life."

 

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Gov. Blagojevich's Opportunity Returns regional economic development strategy is the most aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating jobs in Illinois' history.  Since a one-size-fits-all approach to economic development just doesn't work, the Governor has divided the state into 10 regions - each with a regional team that is empowered and expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges.  Opportunity Returns is about tangible, specific actions to make each region more accessible, more marketable, more entrepreneurial and more attractive to businesses.  It is about upgrading the skills of the local workforce, increasing the access to capital, opening new markets, improving infrastructure, and creating and retaining jobs.  Opportunity Returns is about successfully partnering with companies and communities, both large and small, to help all of Illinois reach its economic potential.

 

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