10/6/2015
Rockford Register Star

Rockford City Market drew more than 100,000 visitors to downtown Rockford this year. Let that sink in: More than 100,000 people came downtown, listened to music, bought goods from local vendors and ate some really tasty food. Not many of us would have dreamed of such success, but Rock River Development Partnership, led by SupplyCore President/CEO Peter Provenzano, put together the right formula and has seen attendance grow in each of the six years the market has been in operation. This year's attendance was up 35 percent from 2014. That’s a pretty incredible number itself. A pavilion off East State Street kept attendees dry during the occasional rain shower and added more of a cool factor to the weekly event. City Market was the social event of the summer. It was the place to see and be seen. Regular folks rubbed elbows with CEOs and politicians on a regular basis, creating a true sense of community. And let’s not forget the economic impact. Last season, each shopper spent an average of $31. About 60 percent went on to spend $20 or more at nearby businesses, according to a survey commissioned by Rock River Development Partnership. Shoppers spent $2.4 million at the market and an additional $1.5 million at downtown businesses during the course of the 2014 season, according to a study by Market Umbrella. The 2015 numbers will be available in November and we expect to see even more robust economic activity. When the indoor market opens next year, as we hope it will, Rockford will have a year-round attraction downtown. Throw in a sports complex, a couple of hotels and more restaurants and shops and downtown Rockford will be as vibrant, if not more so, than at any time in its history.


For More Information:
http://www.rrstar.com/article/20151006/OPINION/151009648