GROWTH DIMENSIONS’ ANNUAL RECEPTION HIGHLIGHTS ECONOMIC SUCCESS IN BOONE COUNTY

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Growth Dimensions Economic Development held their annual reception on Thursday, August 29, 2024, at the Community Building Complex of Boone County, with OSF HealthCare as the Presenting Sponsor. The event, which saw attendance in excess of 250 guests, celebrated the organization’s 45th year as the County’s economic development organization (EDO). Growth Dimensions welcomed elected officials, business leaders and community members, as they held a Comcast Business-sponsored networking hour, prior to the dinner. 

Robert Opperman, Midland States Bank Market President and Growth Dimensions’ Board President, opened the evening by welcoming guests and recognizing event sponsors. Opperman reminisced about his speech at the 2022 Annual Dinner, where he spoke of Growth Dimensions’ strategic plan and vision of seeing an economic and industrial growth along the I-90 corridor. He commented that within the last two years that vision has come to fruition with numerous new businesses recently completed or under construction and others that are slated to building the near future.

Opperman than handed the podium over to AJ Querciagrossa, Chief Executive Officer of the Western Region of OSF HealthCare, who spotlighted OSF’s commitment to Belvidere and Boone County. He noted, “We are proud of our Mission Partners who bring experience, knowledge and passion to their jobs each and every day to serve with the greatest care and love.” Querciagrossa concluded by serving the invocation prior to dinner. 

Next, Pamela Lopez-Fettes, Growth Dimensions Executive Director, spoke on the organization’s 45-year history and Boone County’s successes and opportunities. During her presentation, she highlighted recent project successes such as General Mills Warehouse and Distribution Center, Speed Trek Fuel Center, Midwest Refrigerated Services (MRS), Walmart Perishable Distribution Center, Stellantis, and Microsoft, along with numerous other businesses expanding into Belvidere and Boone County. Lopez-Fettes also credited our local governing bodies for “sealing the deal” on these and other projects throughout the County, as well as recognizing other local, regional and state partners in providing necessary resources for businesses to start, grow and sustain. 

Lopez-Fettes concluded her presentation revealing that Growth Dimensions Economic Development is a 2024 Official Silver Winner of the IEDC Excellence Awards, in the category of Economic Development Organization of the Year for a population of 25,000 – 200,000.

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The evening concluded with Carrie Zethmayr introducing the keynote speaker, Robert “Bob” Hess, Vice Chairman – Global Strategy with Newmark and Founding Member of Site Selectors Guild. The keynote was sponsored by UWHealth.

Hess expertly spoke about global location strategy, along with opportunities, risks and new success metrics. He discussed the changing dynamics in site selection, how Illinois is winning in the marketplace, Boone County’s position for growth and what success looks like.

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Thank You to Our 2024 Sponsors

 

 

 

 

 

 

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