Growth Dimensions

What Growth Dimensions does

Growth Dimensions is a private, non-profit economic development organization (EDO) established in 1979 to serve Belvidere and Boone County, Illinois. It is independently operated rather than governmental, funded through tiered investor contributions from private businesses, utilities, healthcare systems, and public entities (Partner, Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers), and governed by a Board of Directors under Executive Director Pamela Lopez-Fettes. The organization executes a coordinated economic development strategy across four primary functions: business retention and expansion, business attraction, entrepreneur support (through the Venture Program and the Kauffman FastTrac entrepreneurial education curriculum), and workforce development. It also administers the Belvidere-Boone County Enterprise Zone, providing qualifying businesses with access to specific state-authorized tax credits and incentives.

The organization's service portfolio includes site selection tools (available sites and buildings database, location advantages, infrastructure data), the SourceFinder regional entrepreneur resource directory launched in 2021 with SourceLink, and the Northern Illinois Data Dashboard — an interactive labor market and economic indicator tool. It coordinates with Rock Valley College's $11M Advanced Technology Center (CNC Machining, Mechatronics, Welding), partners with Belvidere CUSD #100 on workforce pipelines, and collaborates with regional entities such as the Greater Rockford Growth Partnership, Transform Rockford, the Region 1 Planning Council, and the Illinois Department of Commerce (DCEO). Major outcomes include $268M+ in capital investments facilitated through Enterprise Zone projects, 89 client projects engaged in 2022, and infrastructure influence including a 1.3M SF General Mills distribution center under construction on 111 acres.

Growth Dimensions' revenue model is subscription-recurring in nature, derived primarily from annual investor contributions at defined tiers, supplemented by event-related income (e.g., Annual Reception tickets at $125 per person and $850 per table). Its geographic mandate is restricted to Boone County, and its go-to-market motion blends sales-led direct engagement with prospective and existing businesses, government partnerships, Enterprise Zone administration, and event-driven stakeholder convening. Select enterprise clients and Platinum investors include Stellantis (operating the 5M SF Jeep Cherokee facility since 1965), General Mills, ComEd, Nicor Gas, and Midland States Bank.

Name

Growth Dimensions

Legal name

Growth Dimensions

Website

https://growthdimensions.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Growth Dimensions is a 1979-founded non-profit economic development organization serving Belvidere and Boone County, Illinois. It delivers business retention, attraction, site selection, workforce development, and Enterprise Zone administration, funded by tiered private and public investor contributions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

State/Provincial Housing, Urban/Regional Planning & Community Development (BPAIABAM), Economic Growth, Livelihoods & Private Sector Development (BPADAEAE), Marketing, Branding & Sales Skills (EDAMAHAG), Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Business retention and attraction
• Site selection assistance
• Enterprise zone administration
• Workforce development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Belvidere

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Investor Contributions: Growth Dimensions is funded through private businesses, organizations, and public/governmental entities who invest in the economic development organization. These investor contributions support the organization's mission to promote economic opportunity in Boone County.
2. Membership/Investor Fees: Organizations pay to become investors/partners, with tiered levels including Partner, Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze investor categories.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Growth Dimensions is an economic development organization that provides business retention, expansion, and attraction services for Belvidere and Boone County, Illinois. Its offerings include site selection assistance, enterprise zone incentive administration, workforce development programs, the Venture Program (with Kauffman FastTrac), and the SourceFinder entrepreneur resource directory. Services are funded by private and public investors and delivered free of charge to businesses operating in or relocating to Boone County.

Product overview

Growth Dimensions is an economic development organization (EDO) for Belvidere and Boone County, Illinois, established in 1979. The organization offers a suite of services including business retention and expansion support, business attraction, site selection, and workforce development. Key programs include the Venture Program (offering the Kauffman FastTrac entrepreneurial education), SourceFinder resource directory, Enterprise Zone management, and a Northern Illinois Data Dashboard. The organization connects businesses with resources, incentives, and site information to foster economic opportunity in Boone County.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• $268 million in capital investments brought to Boone County through Enterprise Zone projects
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SourceLinkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnered with SourceLink to launch SourceFinder, a regional tool providing comprehensive access to entrepreneur resources in Boone County and the larger region.
• Ewing Marion Kauffman FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided grant funding and support for the Venture Program and Kauffman FastTrac entrepreneurial education program offered through Growth Dimensions.
• Greater Rockford Growth PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided financial support and expertise for SourceFinder regional tool implementation.
• Transform RockfordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on regional economic development strategies and entrepreneurial ecosystem development.
• Rock Valley CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrowth Dimensions serves as liaison between Boone County, Belvidere, and RVC for the $11M Advanced Technology Center providing CNC Machining, Mechatronics, and Welding programs. Partnership connects regional industry and trades leaders with workforce training.
• Region 1 Planning CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration on Irene Road Corridor development planning for infrastructure, land use and recommended business development.
• Belvidere CUSD #100coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with local school districts to establish workforce pipeline through Illinois Education & Career Success Network. Six manufacturing internships resulted in two permanent hires. Nearly 60 students began welder training at ATC.
• Forward Boone CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrowth Dimensions was instrumental in developing this partnership of Boone County leaders representing government, healthcare, education, workforce, businesses and community organizations for unified COVID-19 recovery communications and support.
• Automotive Innovation NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork bringing together regional automotive leaders to identify and address workforce, innovation and training challenges for the automotive industry.
• Illinois Department of Commerce (DCEO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency providing expanded technical assistance, COVID-19 resources, and business support programs including PPP, EIDL, and SVO grants.
• Boone County Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided community grant specifically for the Spanish-led FastTrac entrepreneurship program supporting Hispanic business owners.
• Belvidere Area Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided meeting space for Spanish-led FastTrac program. Partnership supports local entrepreneurs and business community.
• City of BelviderecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided pass-through funding from National League of Cities and unwavering support for Hispanic-owned businesses through the FastTrac program. Collaborated on Back to Business Grants distributing $450,000+ in COVID-19 relief.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Intersect Illinois: Statewide site-selection consultancy in Illinois promoting corporate expansion and relocation. It overlaps with Growth Dimensions' business-attract and enterprise-zone functions at the state level rather than the county level.
• Greater Peoria Economic Development Council: Regional EDO serving the Peoria, IL area with similar investor-funded, public-private model focused on business attraction, retention, and workforce development in a comparable Illinois mid-size metro.
• McLean County Economic Development Corporation: County-level EDO serving McLean County (Bloomington-Normal), Illinois. Closely comparable in scope, geography type, and investor-funded EDO model to Growth Dimensions.
• Transform Rockford: Regional economic and community development organization in Rockford, IL. Listed as a Growth Dimensions partner; operates with overlapping community-development and entrepreneur-support mandates in the same Northern Illinois region.
• Kendall County Economic Development: Illinois county-level EDO providing site selection, business retention and workforce development services in Kendall County; structurally and operationally analogous to Growth Dimensions at the county level.
• Greater Rockford Growth Partnership: Regional EDO serving the greater Rockford, IL area, including Winnebago County (which borders Boone County). It is already a listed Growth Dimensions partner but is a comparable EDO with similar investor-model and site-selection services in an adjacent geography.

Broad incumbents

• Greater Des Moines Partnership: Larger regional EDO serving the Des Moines metro. Comparable in structure (investor-led, public-private, includes site selection, workforce, and entrepreneur programs), but at materially larger scale and broader geographic scope.

Others

• Illinois Manufacturers' Association: Statewide manufacturing trade association already partnering with Growth Dimensions on workforce and industry programs. Serves as an ecosystem enabler and industry advocate rather than a direct EDO competitor.

Direct peers

• SourceLink: National entrepreneur resource network whose SourceFinder product is deployed through Growth Dimensions. SourceLink provides the underlying resource directory platform other EDOs and economic developers use to support startups and small business.
• Cincinnati Children's / BioEnterprise (Now 1CPG / Cintrifity): Regional innovation and economic development intermediary offering entrepreneur support and venture services to founders - directly paralleling Growth Dimensions' Venture Program / FastTrac entrepreneurship track.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/growthdimension
• Facebookfacebook.com/GrowthDimensions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/growth-dimensions-for-belvidere-and-boone-county
• Instagraminstagram.com/growth_dimensions
• TikToktiktok.com/@growthdimensions_econdev

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Growth Dimensions