About the Rock River Development Partnership

The Rock River Development Partnership (RRDP) was established in 2009 as a 501c3 organization. The RRDP brings businesses and people together to create place. We are entrepreneurial and experiential market makers. Our strategies are to create connections between local entrepreneurs and customers to drive economic development to Rockford’s urban core and historic commercial districts, and to foster vibrancy through the activation of storefronts, placemaking and tourism.

We strive to develop commercial density by bringing pedestrian traffic and desirable experiences together to create gathering places. We have an interest in creating vibrant neighborhoods, rituals and pride, developing our riverfront, and celebrating our history and diversity. Vibrancy is measureable through growth in market attendance, businesses, visitors and residents in our focus areas. This vision is achieved by stimulating business attraction, driving traffic to existing business, facilitating entrepreneurship, advocating for better infrastructure, governance, and excellent urban amenities.

The RRDP partnered with LiveWorkLearnPlay to create a strategic implementable revitalization plan for our City's core. A healthy community begins with a revitalized and healthy City Center, and that leads to a phasing approach that eventually benefits all areas of the community. This is accomplished by identifying a phase 1 "focus area" in the City Center. Concentrating attention and resources in this area will increase the likelihood of success. Success in this key focus area will spur redevelopment in other areas of the city. Click here to see the map of the Phase 1 focus area.

The RRDP received initial funding from the Rockford Area Economic Development Council, the Rockford Housing Authority, the Chicago Rockford International Airport, the Rockford Local Development Corporation and the Smith Foundation. Special thanks to those organizations for their leadership and commitment.

Rock River Development Partnership Board

Chairman, Peter J. Provenzano, President & CEO
SupplyCore Inc

Douglas J. Brooks, Vice President Campus Development
Rockford Health System

Thomas D. Budd, President
Rockford Bank & Trust

LoRayne Logan, President
Workplace Staffing

Douglas Mark
Advanced Disposal

Catherine McDermott
Rock River Development Partnership