Greater Freeport Partnership

What Greater Freeport Partnership does

The Greater Freeport Partnership is a public/private non-profit organization headquartered in Freeport, Illinois, formed in 2018 through the consolidation of four previously separate civic entities: a chamber of commerce, an economic development corporation (EDC), a convention and visitors bureau (CVB), and a main street program. With a staff of six, the organization serves local businesses, visitors, and residents across Stephenson County, with select services extending into Jo Daviess County. Its core function is to provide a single consolidated point of contact for business development, tourism promotion, and downtown revitalization activities in a rural northwestern Illinois market.

The organization operates a content-managed web presence built on GrowthZone's chamber software platform, which handles member management, event registration, and ticketing. Primary revenue streams include tiered membership dues from local businesses, event sponsorships, the "Partnership Cash" closed-loop gift card program involving approximately 40 participating merchants, and grant administration and information services. Operational programming includes the BASE Camp entrepreneurship curriculum, Remote Work Incentives, the Come Home relocation campaign, and co-administration of the Northwest Illinois Enterprise Zone, alongside partnerships with regional intermediaries such as the SBDC and EIGERlab.

Leadership consists of Executive Director Andrea Winter and Marketing & Tourism Director Nicole Haas. The Partnership functions as a quasi-governmental entity, channeling both private-sector membership dollars and public-sector economic development incentives, including designated enterprise zone administration. It does not compete with venture-scale SaaS nor operate in capital markets in any traditional sense; its value derives from local network integration and its role as a community institution serving a rural Midwestern county.

Name

Greater Freeport Partnership

Legal name

Greater Freeport Partnership

Website

https://greaterfreeport.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Greater Freeport Partnership is a public/private non-profit in Freeport, Illinois combining chamber of commerce, economic development, convention and visitors bureau, and main street functions. It serves businesses, visitors, and residents across Stephenson County through membership dues, sponsorships, and economic development programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Chamber of commerce
• Tourism promotion
• Community development
• Business membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Freeport

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from businesses and organizations in Stephenson County. Two levels: Basic Members with standard benefits, and Partnership Level Members who provide additional donations to support economic development, workforce development, and community improvement efforts.
2. Event Sponsorships: Revenue from sponsoring Partnership events including Business After Hours, Rise n' Shine, Pretzel City Winefest, Golf Outing, and other community events.
3. Partnership Cash Program: Gift certificate/card program that enables residents to purchase certificates to use at participating merchants. The program keeps money in the community and serves as a community gift card system.
4. Grant Information Services: The Partnership serves as an information hub for grant opportunities, aggregating federal, state, and private grant information for local businesses. While the grants themselves go to businesses, the Partnership benefits through member engagement and program delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Greater Freeport Partnership is a public/private non-profit organization that combines the functions of a chamber of commerce, economic development corporation, convention and visitors bureau, and main street program into one integrated entity serving Freeport and Stephenson County, Illinois. It provides economic development services (site selection, incentive navigation, business recruitment), tiered chamber membership, tourism promotion under the Simply Stephenson County brand, downtown revitalization through the Main Street program, and small business education through the BASE Camp entrepreneurship series.

Product overview

Greater Freeport Partnership is a public/private partnership combining the functions of a chamber of commerce, economic development corporation, convention and visitors bureau, and Main Street program. The organization operates as a unified service organization rather than a platform-product architecture. Core offerings include economic development services (site selection, incentives, business recruitment), chamber membership with networking programs (YPN, Women's Enrichment Network, Partnership Ambassadors), tourism promotion under the Simply Stephenson County brand, and small business development programs including the BASE Camp educational series. Additional services include Partnership Cash (local gift certificates), a member directory, available properties listings, grant opportunity resources, and the Downtown Freeport Main Street program supporting downtown revitalization through events like Pretzel Fest.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Chamber Membership Two-tier annual membership program (Basic Members and Partnership Level Members) providing networking events, newsletters, advocacy, promotional opportunities, community welcome packets, conference room use, and member directory listings for businesses in Stephenson County.
• Economic Development Services Comprehensive economic development services including site selection, incentive facilitation, business recruitment, and workforce development resources for companies considering relocation or expansion in Freeport and Stephenson County.
• Tourism Promotion (Simply Stephenson County) Tourism marketing and visitor services promoting Freeport and Stephenson County as a Midwest outdoor getaway destination, including event coordination, visitor guides, and itinerary planning tools.
• Downtown Freeport Main Street Program Main Street program supporting downtown revitalization through historic preservation, business development, and community events including Pretzel Fest.
• BASE Camp Entrepreneurship Program Six-class educational series ($200 for full series, $50 per individual class) teaching entrepreneurship fundamentals including business planning, financial reports, marketing, and corporate structure, culminating in a pitch competition with $2,000 cash prizes. Scholarships available for participants requesting financial assistance.
• Partnership Cash Gift certificate program enabling residents to purchase certificates usable at 40+ participating merchants in Freeport and Stephenson County, keeping spending within the local business community.
• Member Directory Online searchable directory of Greater Freeport Partnership member businesses organized by category, hosted on the GrowthZone platform.
• Women's Enrichment Network (WEN) Monthly networking meetings and professional development resources connecting, empowering, and inspiring female leaders with $40 annual membership. First meeting free for new attendees with commitment to join.
• Young Professionals Network (YPN) Networking organization for professionals ages 45 and under providing community service projects, social events, and professional development, with complimentary membership for Partnership member employees.
• Partnership Ambassadors Program Volunteer program representing the Partnership at networking events, ribbon cuttings, and community projects, with members wearing signature red jackets.
• Business Site Selection Services Assistance in finding commercial properties including vacant land, buildings for lease or purchase, with connections to financing and incentives.
• Available Properties Listing Online catalog of commercial properties for sale or lease in Freeport and Stephenson County including retail, office, and industrial spaces.
• Northwest Illinois Enterprise Zone State-authorized enterprise zone covering portions of Stephenson and Jo Daviess counties providing tax incentives including property tax abatement, sales tax exemptions on building materials, and state tax credits.
• Downtown Freeport Facade Improvement Grant Program Financial incentive program providing grants to property owners for exterior preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation of downtown buildings within the TIF district.
• Grant Opportunities Portal Resource listing federal, state, and private grant opportunities for businesses including FY26 DOT Drone grants, DOJ programs, EPA programs, and various USDA initiatives.

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBDC provides confidential business guidance, training, and resources to start-up and existing small businesses. Two SBDC offices serve the region: Rock Valley College in Rockford and Sauk Valley Community College in Dixon. Contact: Nate Jordan (Rockford) and Kim Ewoldsen (Dixon).
• Highland Community College Business InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness Institute provides customized training and business solutions including workforce challenges, operational efficiency, and leadership development. Located at 2998 W. Pearl City Rd, Freeport. Contact: Scott Anderson, Dean of Business & Technology. Serves thousands of employees annually.
• EIGERlabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-of-the-art mixed-use business incubator in Rockford providing startup, early stage, and expanding business support. Services include peer groups, business services, design engineering, prototyping, mentorship, and investor connections. Contact: Tina Leombruni at (815) 965-3522.
• Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency administering programs for Illinois business expansion including incentives, technology support, access to capital, global marketing, and job training. Contact: First Stop Business Information Center in Springfield at 800-252-2923.
• SCOREsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship. Resources available at score.org.
• FHN Healthcare SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning health system headquartered in Freeport providing comprehensive medical and surgical services. FHN Memorial Hospital offers 24-hour emergency care and is affiliated with all three major Rockford hospitals and University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics.
• SSM Health / Monroe ClinicsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare provider offering advanced medical equipment and technology including da Vinci surgery and digital mammography. Monroe Clinic has five convenient Illinois clinic locations dedicated to helping patients get better faster and stay healthier longer.
• Workforce ConnectioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional workforce development agency providing job board, career services, career pathways exploration, and job training connections for Stephenson County employers and job seekers.
• Illinois Main StreetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level program supporting a network of communities working to bring prosperity to older and historic downtowns. Part of Main Street America, a national movement for economic vitality and historic preservation.
• Northwest Illinois Enterprise ZonecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-authorized enterprise zone covering portions of Stephenson and Jo Daviess counties. Provides special incentives including sales tax exemptions on building materials, property tax abatement, and local building permit waivers to encourage economic development.
• ComEd (Commonwealth Edison)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerUtility company providing energy incentives for businesses in the region. Partner for energy cost reduction programs for qualifying businesses.
• Nicor GassecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNatural gas utility offering business energy efficiency programs and incentives for commercial customers in the region.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Strengths3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/greaterfreeportpartnership

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Greater Freeport Partnership