GUEST COLUMNIST - Partnerships key to success

TOM MCNAMARA, mayor, City of Rockford

In my recent State of the City address, I highlighted our efforts with community partners to improve neighborhoods and public safety. I believe that partnerships help magnify our efforts and leverage city resources. Here are just a few examples:

• We partnered with Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity and Rockford Housing Development Corporation to offer a home repair program to low- and moderate-income families. We know that for many Rockfordians, one of their largest investments is their home. We want to help those who struggle to make critical repairs to maintain the integrity, safety and quality of their homes. Last year, our funding for this program completed work on 21 homes, including 11 roofs, four tub-to-shower conversions, a handicapped accessible ramp and so much more. This program stops deterioration on these properties and keeps people in their homes, where they belong.

• We reimagined an unfinished subdivision near Auburn High School thanks to a partnership between the city, Region 1 Planning Council, Habitat for Humanity and Rockford Public Schools. Twenty-five tax delinquent vacant lots are now being converted into tax-paying, single family homes for working-class families. The homes – built in large part by Rockford Public Schools construction trade students – will create new, safe, affordable housing, which is a critical need in our community.

• We partnered with the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Rockford Area Arts Council to bring public art to many locations in our community. We now have 34 murals in our community with plans for nine more. And, we’re working on wrapping 55 traffic signal boxes across the community. Public art inspires, enhances values and creates a sense of place for our residents and visitors.

• We continued our partnership with Rockford Promise and Northern Illinois University (NIU). Under the Rockford Promise NIU Scholarship program, students who live in Rockford, attend Rockford Public Schools and earn a 3.0 GPA can attend NIU tuition free, including general fees. Now in its second year, more than 205 students are taking advantage of the program. Of these participants, 70% are students of color and 70% are first generation college students. This program benefits our students, increases our property values and strengthens our workforce.

• We partnered with LT Construction, a local minority-owned concrete construction contractor, to provide internships to young adults who represent at-risk and underserved populations in our community. The sidewalks they constructed helped connect people to schools, parks and other multi-use paths, and it provided valuable mentorship, experience and workforce development skills to the interns.

• We partnered with community groups, including Comprehensive Community Solutions, 815 Alive, New Genres Art Space and Boys and Girls Club to support programs that provide youth with positive experiences and help reduce the number of young people entering the criminal justice system.

I’m proud of the work we’ve done and the partnerships we’re created. I believe that when organizations come together for the betterment of our community, everyone wins.

The views expressed are those of Mayor McNamara and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.