Home l Lifestyles l Business
& Retail l Location
& Transportation
Government
l Recreation l Community l Education l Healthcare
l Information
Being
the Best
Accomplishments
of the Rockford government proves why
Rockford
was one of two cities in Illinois to receive $600,000 from the HOPE
program for housing in the first round of the West Side Alive Program,
which has provided new single-family homes in targeted areas. In addition,
Rockford has been one of the top ten cities in performance for housing
assistance programs in the country. Former Mayor, Charles Box planned
and implemented the Harrison-Springfield project with the county and
annexed the Greater Rockford Airport, Clock Tower Resort and more than
4,165 acres of land. The Head Start program was expanded to serve 514
children annually. The Police Department expanded its community-policing
program into Rockford’s neighborhoods and enlarged the department
with the addition of 56 new officers since 1989.
Rockford has the largest groundwater supply in the state of Illinois.
Rockford’s water supply is monitored and controlled by a complex
computer system. Rockford Water Division has never had a violation of
contaminant levels or other water quality regulations.
Rockford Water Division is supplied by groundwater pumped from 38 wells
located throughout the City of Rockford. The original wells in Rockford
are pumped from the sand and gravel aquifer underlying the Rock River
Valley. The shallow wells are typically 220-250 feet deep. Modern wells,
up to 1,500 feet deep, take water from a porous sandstone aquifer. There
are currently 30 deep wells in the system.
In 1991, the city of Rockford was selected by the U.S. Conference of
Mayors and the National Association of Realtors as one of 11 demonstration
cities in the U.S. for affordable housing.
In 1992 Rockford was one of ten cities to be named an “All America
City” by the National Civic League. Rockford’s entry into
the national competition highlighted three outstanding community efforts
that reflected the Mayor’s priorities: a successful recycling program,
which boosted recycling from 1% to 34%; the Rockford Area Affordable
Housing Coalition, convened by the Rockford Community Foundation with
a $500,000 grant from the Ford MacArthur Foundation; and the Riverfront
Museum Park, which formerly was the site of Rockford’s downtown
Sears Roebuck Store, and now is home to six arts organizations.
Economic Development
The Economic Development Division of the Community Development Department
is responsible for administering a variety of economic development programs
such as small business loans, the Enterprise Zone, tax increment financing,
downtown redevelopment, and neighborhood commercial district revitalization.
The Division works closely with a number of community and neighborhood
organizations to develop and implement effective programs for local
businesses and distressed neighborhoods.Volunteers In Government of
Rockford
The city utilizes the services and expertise of volunteers in a number
of areas. Through Volunteers in Government of Rockford (VIGOR) citizens
are able to involve themselves in their local government and the City
benefits in cost savings. For information, contact (815) 987-5593.
Rockford Report
•Rockford is governed by a mayor-council form of government.
•The Rockford Police Department has 292 sworn officers plus a support
staff of 34 persons.
•Rockford police officers promote the national Neighborhood Watch
program, visit the City’s schools under the D.A.R.E. anti-drug
program, and provide Officer Friendly school visitations. The department’s
community policing program involves officers who patrol on bicycles
and officers who are assigned to the City’s housing developments.
•The Rockford Fire Department has 248 full-time firefighters and
a support staff of 15 individuals. Rockford has a Class 2 fire rating.
•Members of the fire department promote fire prevention and safety
in the schools and through talks and demonstrations at high rises and
retirement facilities.
 PREVIOUS
– Locatiion & Transportation |
NEXT
– Recreation
|
