About Us

Who We Are

The Rock River Valley Entrepreneurship Center (RRVEC) serves as a regional hub in the Northern Stateline region (Winnebago, Boone, Ogle, and Stephenson counties) for coordinating business development for new and existing small and mid-sized companies with rapid and sustainable growth potential.

RRVEC was founded in September, 2003 by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to serve as a catalyst for high growth potential small and medium sized business enterprises to develop into economically viable and sustainable companies that can create quality job growth in our four-county region.

What We Believe

Entrepreneurial activity has become the most important job growth engine of our economy. This finding is reinforced by over a decade of public policy research and economic development. The State of Illinois, through its I.E.N. (Illinois Entrepreneurship Network) and its Entrepreneurship Centers, has developed a coordinated group of services targeted at developing entrepreneurial opportunities for the State.

To support successful entrepreneurs, it is not enough to help individual business people and companies succeed. It's incumbent to understand both the process for creating success and the changing nature of the global economy and how it affects local enterprise. No one individual and no one business succeeds alone; all entrepreneurial success is based on forming positive, affirming, mutually beneficial relationships that can withstand the test of time and change. RRVEC, in collaboration with I.E.N. partners, acts as the catalyst to support Northern Illinois Stateline Region entrepreneurs in their endeavors.

What We Know

Entrepreneurs shouldn't have to do it alone. To successfully navigate the deep and often muddy waters of creating and maintaining a high-growth business, entrepreneurs need guidance that will both help them decide where they want to go and, perhaps more importantly, how best to get there. Without proper guidance, even the most ambitious, experienced and well-educated business person can become overwhelmed by the critical challenges and opportunities facing them.

To succeed in today's increasingly fast-moving, complex and competitive economy, entrepreneurs in Northern Illinois and the surrounding areas not only must have innovative ideas, strategic and sound business plans, and solid financial backing, but also the support of the business community. The RRVEC, through its staff, partners and sponsors, possesses the knowledge necessary to assist entrepreneurs in every aspect of their business, from acquiring financial backing, to mapping out strategies, to making those targeted introductions without which businesses cannot grow. More important, perhaps, is RRVEC's unique understanding of the challenges entrepreneurs face on a daily basis, and how to best meet them.

What We Offer

The RRVEC serves as a strategic partner to its clients, offering high-value advisory services to entrepreneurs that help them negotiate crucial early-business decisions. We connect entrepreneurs with the resources and counsel they need to grow at different stages of their businesses and help them form strategic alliances that can become the backbone of their success.

Additionally, RRVEC:

Identifies gaps and limitations in clients current operations

Coordinates support services for clients that address gaps and limitations in current operations

Provides targeted accelerated services through RRVEC partnerships for clients with high- growth potential.

Our services empower entrepreneurs to accomplish these things faster than they ever could alone, giving them more time to focus on running their businesses day-to-day. We guide clients with one-on-one advisory services; peer-to-peer exchanges; and challenge grant awards to offset outside professional service costs